Industry urged the FCC to tread lightly in bolstering slamming and cramming rules targeting providers making unauthorized changes to consumers' preferred telecom providers or inserting unauthorized charges on phone bills. Major telco, cable and billing interests expressed concerns about potential new regulations teed up in a July NPRM (see 1707130054), while consumer groups were more supportive. Comments were posted in docket 17-169 Wednesday and Thursday. Replies those days in docket 17-97 on a July notice of inquiry (see 1707130054) also saw the telco industry and consumer groups at odds on whether the FCC should mandate a call authentication standards framework.
SEATTLE -- The wireless industry agreed with local telecom officials that the FCC should update RF safety rules. In Q&A following a Tuesday keynote speech at the NATOA conference, Wireless Infrastructure Association CEO Jonathan Adelstein supported resolving a proceeding that’s been pending since 2013. On the more contentious subject of wireless small cells, Adelstein warned communities not to discourage broadband deployment by asking for too much money from industry to use rights of way (ROWs). Localities should realize that the political winds are with industry, agreed NATOA Executive Director Steve Traylor in a Wednesday interview.
SEATTLE -- Localities urged industry to partner with them rather than fight for pre-emption of local authority on wireless siting of small cells for 5G networks. At NATOA's annual conference Monday and Tuesday, local and industry officials predicted more small-cells bills in states’ 2018 legislative sessions that would seek to pre-empt localities. An FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) member said he doesn’t believe federal pre-emption is likely.
Big business interests seek to “run out the clock” to avoid California legislators voting on broadband privacy rules based on the FCC rules repealed by President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, privacy advocates told us this week. The California legislature has a Sept. 15 deadline to pass pending legislation, but the state's chamber of commerce asked the state Senate leader to hold the privacy bill and he hasn't scheduled a vote. Meanwhile, big wireless companies are pushing for passage of small-cells legislation, but local governments remain opposed and plan to take the fight to the governor's office, a local lobbyist said.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and other committee members told us Wednesday they Are receptive to calls to delay discussions about a replacement or major overhaul of the Lifeline USF program until the national verifier program instituted in the FCC's 2016 Lifeline overhaul order fully rolls out in 2019. Most witnesses at Commerce's Wednesday Lifeline hearing said Congress should give the FCC a chance to fully implement the 2016 order's provisions. Thune and other committee Republicans also signaled interest in working with Senate Homeland Security Committee ranking member Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., on a Lifeline bill if offered.
Friday heading into the three-day Labor Day weekend saw the FCC issue a slew of announcements, including one after business hours. Similar moves in the past drew fire as seemingly aimed at avoiding attention. Now, the actions raised the eyebrows of one open governance expert. Others defended the agency.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long names Field Operations Directorate Assistant Administrator Michael Byrne federal disaster recovery coordinator for Storm Harvey-hit (see 1709010042) areas ... Utilities Technology Council hires Rob Thormeyer, ex-aide to then-Federal Energy Regulatory Commission member Colette Honorable and before that at NARUC, as its first director-communications and advocacy ... Last Mile Communications CEO Peter Kahelin, a founding partner, retires effective in Q4, and will be non-executive chairman ... Cox Media Group moves up Paul Curran to market vice president-Orlando.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is facing criticism for not doing more in reaction to racism following events in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month where white supremacists held a rally and an anti-racism marcher was killed. Former federal officials who attended last month's Aspen Institute communications conference said there was buzz that Pai should convene a diversity summit.
Southeast Texas won't quickly recover after Tropical Storm Harvey damaged and flooded 911 facilities and utility infrastructure (see 1708290029 and 1708280049), emergency and utility officials said in interviews last week. Surging numbers of calls overwhelmed public service answering points (PSAPs) used to far fewer requests, said one official. Industry officials said providers are working together and continue to restore service and assist with relief. The FAA cleared drones to fly into the area.
Neustar told the FCC the world doesn’t need a new database of reassigned numbers to curb unwanted robocalls. Other commenters representing companies that make calls to consumers were more supportive of FCC proposals. Comments were due Monday in docket 17-59 on a July 13 notice of inquiry.