If the FCC doesn’t impede state regulation, the California Public Utilities Commission will support FCC open internet rules and reclassifying broadband information access service (BIAS) as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act, the CPUC decided Thursday. Through a unanimous vote on the consent agenda during the state commission’s livestreamed meeting, commissioners agreed the CPUC should file comments urging the FCC to reclassify broadband as a telecom service and mobile BIAS as a commercial mobile service.
The FCC should make clear that, consistent with the national spectrum strategy, the 7.125-8.4 GHz band should be targeted for 5G and 6G, CTIA said in comments on an NPRM on implementing 2015 and 2019 decisions by the World Radiocommunication Conference. Most comments were short and urged the FCC to preserve the 60-meter band for amateur use. Replies were due Tuesday in docket 23-120.
The U.S. Supreme Court might opt to avoid likely fights over the FCC's digital discrimination rules or proposed Title II net neutrality rules, Andrew Schwartzman, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society's senior counselor, told Communications Daily this month. In an extensive sit-down interview, Schwartzman spoke about his long career as a public interest advocate within telecommunications, evolution of that domain, and how the FCC's net neutrality regulatory push is not merely a repeat of the past. The following transcript of our conversation was edited for length and clarity.
The California Public Utilities Commission should reject a proposed change to NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) model rules that would affect how the state treats licensed fixed wireless (LFW) services, wireless industry groups said this week. The CPUC released comments Tuesday on volumes one and two of draft BEAD initial proposals (docket R.23-02-016). AT&T, CTIA and California’s cable association urged the commission to reject a cheap broadband requirement proposed in case Congress doesn’t renew the affordable connectivity program (ACP).
Golden State Connect Authority challenged many AT&T applications for last-mile support from the California Public Utilities Commission’s federal funding account (FFA). AT&T seeks to upgrade current infrastructure with public funds without expanding broadband service, the authority’s general counsel, Arthur Wylene, said in a letter about a San Luis, California, project that was similar to 49 other letters he sent to the CPUC Monday. “Additionally, in examination of the sheer number of projects proposed by AT&T statewide and commensurate funding requests, the cumulative request by AT&T for all its projects statewide indicates that the applicant will not have the financial, technical, or operational capacity to complete all the proposed projects within the timeframe required by the Last Mile FFA grant program.” Also, Wylene raised concerns with AT&T proposing aerial installations in areas of the state with elevated wildfire risk. The carrier should lose points for not proposing any partnerships with local governments, nonprofits or tribes, he said. In one of the letters, Wylene added that an AT&T project proposed for Nevada County completely overlapped an area where Race Communications received a grant to deploy last-mile fiber. AT&T “submitted applications that align with the CPUC FFA Guidelines, make efficient use of existing infrastructure, and speed deployment of robust broadband service to Californians as quickly and efficiently as possible," said a company spokesperson: The carrier is working with state, local and tribal governments to increase access to affordable broadband across the state.
Telecom companies raised concerns about adding state USF goals on service quality and other issues in comments posted Monday at the Nebraska Public Service Commission. And as the PSC considers sweeping Nebraska USF (NUSF) changes, Charter Communications warned that it might be unlawful to support broadband with a fund designed for telecom services. Small rural companies said the fund should support ongoing costs that make networks expensive in remote areas even after they are deployed.
Requiring platforms to verify age forces businesses to collect sensitive information in conflict with data minimization principles, the Computer & Communications Industry Association told NTIA in comments Thursday in docket 230926-0233. NTIA requested comment on risks associated with youth mental health and privacy related to social media use. CCIA urged policymakers not to adopt burdensome age-verification regulations and instead focus on passing a federal privacy law. “Any further government measures should be tailored to address specific harms and encourage participation from all stakeholders, keeping in mind who is best equipped to address the issue,” President Matt Schruers said. “Age-specific regulations that require sites to collect and maintain additional sensitive data on more users to show compliance are counterproductive.” CCIA recommended policymakers find ways to increase resources for law enforcement agencies policing crimes against children. Numbers show that convictions are lagging behind a gradual increase in reports of child sex abuse material, NetChoice said in its comments. NetChoice cited statistics from the U.S. Sentencing Commission showing that reporting of CSAM jumped 18.8% between 2021 and 2020, but the number of offenders remained flat for the previous five years. NetChoice noted that age-verification laws in California and Arkansas have been deemed “unconstitutional attempts to regulate online speech.”
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- The FCC seemed more open to collaboration with states in its final NPRM for its rulemaking to possibly reclassify broadband as a Title II service, a California Public Utilities Commission staffer said during a panel Tuesday at NARUC’s meeting here. NARUC Telecom Committee Chairman Tim Schram told us Monday that the state regulator association would probably have a resolution about the FCC net neutrality rulemaking at its February meeting in Washington (see 2311130063).
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Congress should continue “lifeblood connectivity” provided through the affordable connectivity program (ACP), Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chairman Stephen DeFrank said in an interview at this week’s NARUC meeting. Expect broadband, universal service and pole attachments to be key issues for the state PUC in the year ahead, he said. Industry officials debated possible USF changes during a Tuesday panel.
House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and others are hopeful that AI can aid in spectrum management activities, they said during a Communications Subcommittee hearing Tuesday. Rodgers and Pallone also praised the Biden administration Tuesday for releasing its long-awaited national spectrum strategy (see 2311130048). However, Senate Commerce Committee member Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., was far less enthusiastic about the plan, which directs NTIA to study the 3.1-3.45, 5.03-5.091, 7.125-8.4, 18.1-18.6 and 37.0-37.6 GHz bands over the next two years for potential repurposing.