An FCC proposal for a reassigned-number database drew a fair amount of backing and some resistance, in comments posted Thursday and Friday in docket 17-59 on a March Further NPRM (see 1803220028). Comcast, retailers, financial interests and an electric company group were among those supporting the proposal to create a database of reassigned numbers to help businesses reduce unwanted robocalls and liability under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Most telecom entities and some others were more skeptical or less enthusiastic, citing cost and other concerns, and backing market-based solutions and commission actions to address TCPA issues. There was much support for giving callers an effective TCPA liability safe harbor.
Growing delay in establishing a Lifeline national verifier is worrying some states and put Utah in a difficult situation, where its state eligibility system may terminate before the national system is available, state officials told us this week. Utah eligible telecom providers plan to self-certify consumers starting July 1, though some warned such a process can increase fraud risk.
The FCC approved 3-1 an order to further relax telecom service discontinuance duties and related regulatory processes in an effort to remove barriers and encourage the industry shift from legacy wireline to next-generation, IP-based offerings. Commissioners also voted 4-0 to adopt an order to relieve certain rural telcos of USF contribution obligations on their broadband services to equalize their treatment with other carriers and promote affordability. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel largely dissented on the discontinuance order and concurred on the rural telco USF order.
A March FCC order on wireless infrastructure attracted reconsideration petitions this week from localities, a major American Indian tribe and a tower company in docket 17-79. NATOA said the order isn’t in the public interest, fails to acknowledge existing limits and ignores impact of dense deployments in small areas, among other problems. It “will inflict serious injury” on tribes, said the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. The move is a “step forward,” but the FCC should have stepped further, said T-Mobile unit and tower company PTA-FLA. Residents of Montgomery County, Maryland, also sought reconsideration due to concerns including about possible radiation from RF emissions.
Facebook, Google and Microsoft support the Federal Election Commission rulemaking to increase online political advertising transparency (see 1805250032 and 1805290037), but the commission should look to recent industry response for guidance, they commented. The commission is considering two proposals that would update online ad disclosure requirements for the first time since 2006.
The FCC proposal to bar USF spending on products or services from companies seen as posing a national security risk is meeting with mixed reaction, with disagreements about whether rules should be limited to USF-funded equipment and services or should have broader reach, recent docket 18-89 comments show. Huawei called the rulemaking launched in April (see 1804170038) an "improper and imprudent" blacklist, and some critics questioned the efficacy of the proposed approach. Comments were due Friday, replies July 2.
Sharing the C band now used by satellite operators and by broadcast and other programmers sending content using it could be tricky, many stakeholders agree. Where they differ is on whether it should be repurposed or shared or mainly left as-is. True to predictions and comments posted through Thursday, even newer filings reveal differences between carriers on one hand and current users on the other (see 1805310058), a docket 18-122 review shows. A couple dozen filings were posted Friday, from tech companies, carriers, equipment makers, cable and content interests plus other industries.
AT&T said it won't continue challenging FTC broadband authority, declining to appeal a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals en banc ruling that the commission has authority over the non-common-carrier activities of common carriers, such as telcos (see 1802260031). Broadband is considered a non-common-carrier activity under the FCC's reversal of Communications Act Title II net neutrality regulation. “We have decided not to seek review by the Supreme Court, to focus instead on negotiating a fair resolution of the case with the Federal Trade Commission,” said an AT&T spokesman Thursday. An FTC lawsuit in the Northern District of California (No. 14-cv-04785-EMC) alleged AT&T Mobility promised millions of wireless customers unlimited data, then throttled the speeds they got. The company says it no longer throttles unlimited customers once they hit a monthly data allotment. The FTC didn't comment.
Industry supported a proposed Alaska USF revamp that would sunset the revised AUSF after June 30, 2023, with a comprehensive review to begin by June 30, 2021. At a teleconferenced hearing Wednesday, officials for General Communication, Alaska Communications Systems and other providers largely supported the Regulatory Commission of Alaska proposal based on a plan by the Alaska Telephone Association (see 1805090027). Commissioner Robert Pickett doesn’t like parts of the proposal, including its definition of “remote” and capping the revenue-based USF surcharge at 10 percent rather than 9 percent, but “collectively” finds the plan “somewhat workable.” The Alaska Attorney General Regulatory Affairs and Public Advocacy (RAPA) section recommended clarifying some language in Tuesday comments in docket R-18-001. RAPA doesn’t seek a specific rule addressing an “eroding intrastate contribution base,” but said “the possibility of shifting to a connections-based contribution base needs to be studied through future Commission, industry, and RAPA actions including possible workshops and studies.” Rural providers agree contributions reform is a critical state and federal issue and support looking at connections-based reform in a separate docket, said Moss & Barnett attorney Shannon Heim, representing a coalition of rural carriers. Heim is “unconvinced that there are enough connections in Alaska to make that type of methodology actually work here,” she said. Written comments are due June 15.
The FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee will meet June 8 in the Commission Meeting Room, said a Federal Register notice. The meeting is to start at 9 a.m. The committee will be updated by FCC staff on recent developments and “may discuss topics including, but not limited to, consumer protection and education, consumer participation in the FCC rulemaking process, and the impact of new and emerging communication technologies,” the notice said.