Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., acknowledged Friday that the Senate won’t be able to act on the House-passed Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation package (HR-5376) this year while talks with centrist Democrats remain at an impasse. The measure includes $500 million for NTIA connected device vouchers, $490 million for next-generation 911 tech upgrades and $300 million for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund (see 2111190042). The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and some 85 other groups are urging the Senate to remove the FTC privacy bureau funding (see 2112160038), and the National Emergency Number Association wants the chamber to restore the full $10 billion for NG-911 lawmakers originally proposed. Schumer acknowledged the delay after President Joe Biden said Thursday his talks with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, will “continue next week.”
Satellite, wireline, wireless and broadcast industry groups almost uniformly opposed FCC proposals for stricter network resiliency requirements, in comments posted in docket 21-346 through Friday. Providers work voluntarily to share information and preserve their networks, so the FCC should “avoid unnecessary and burdensome additional regulation” said NTCA, similar to NAB, USTelecom and others. The FCC “shouldn’t take an overly prescriptive approach to unpredictable and highly variable events,” said the Competitive Carriers Association.
The Commerce Department should immediately expand an exemption to allow U.S. companies to participate in standards-setting bodies that have members designated on the Entity List, industry representatives said. U.S. firms said they have been forced to avoid the bodies because they fear running afoul of U.S. export laws, a practice that could result in the U.S. losing important influence over the future of emerging technology standards.
The National Emergency Number Association issued a request for information Thursday seeking next-generation 911/public safety broadband network (PSBN) contract language. “No contract language currently exists for entities to include in a procurement to communicate specific interconnection requirements between PSBNs and NG9-1-1 to broadband network providers,” NENA said: The goal is language that "measures/demonstrates interoperability function(s) and performance." Responses are due Jan. 16.
President Joe Biden extended a national emergency that authorizes certain sanctions against human rights abuses and corruption, the White House said Dec. 16. The “prevalence” of human rights violations and corruption continues to threaten U.S. security, the White House said. The emergency was extended for one year beyond Dec. 20.
An NTIA request for comment on implementing programs funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could come “before Christmas holiday or shortly thereafter,” said Director-Communications Policy Initiatives Russell Hanser at a Fierce Technology virtual event Monday (see 2112140086). Experts debated during panels throughout the week how states and federal agencies should prioritize the new broadband funding, with several suggesting public-private partnerships.
Citing a GAO report identifying fraud risks in E-rate's competitive bidding process, FCC commissioners during a meeting Tuesday unanimously approved an NPRM to establish a central online bidding portal and seek comment on requiring additional documentation from applicants (see 2111300047). The NPRM had a tweak that Commissioner Brendan Carr sought. Members also adopted 4-0 an NPRM on revising the commission’s non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed satellite service (FSS) spectrum sharing rules and proposals to improve emergency alert system accessibility.
Ad-supported and transactional VOD models are growing as a way for over-the-top video providers to differentiate in an “incredibly crowded” streaming market, said Parks Associates analyst Jennifer Kent, opening the company’s online Future of Video event Tuesday.
The Supreme Court likely will decide in late January or early February if it will hear the challenge by various localities of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision on the FCC's cable franchise fees order (see 2111010048), said Tim Lay of Spiegel & McDiarmid Monday in a NATOA webinar. He said the deadline for NCTA to seek SCOTUS review of the 1st Circuit's decision on Maine's public, educational and government access channel carriage provisions (see 2108040022) has passed, so the cable industry seemingly is hoping other states don't follow Maine legislatively. NCTA didn't comment. Congressional action on legislation will sharply drop off as it gets closer to midterm elections, making the next few months "pretty critical," said Angelina Panettieri, National League of Cities legislative director-information technology and communications. The Build Back Better Act (HR-5376) passed the House, but take it "with a whole shaker full of salt" that all its provisions -- such as an emergency connectivity fund extension -- will ultimately pass, since negotiations are ongoing, she said. The National Defense Reuthorization Act (HR-4350), which also passed the House, will likely bring with it a requirement local governments report cybersecurity incidents, she said. Key bills for coming months likely include the Broadband Incentives for Communities Act (HR-5058), the Wireless Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act (HR-1058) and the Protecting Community Television Act (S-3361), she said. Gerard Lederer of Best Best said the FCC will likely have a 2-2 split at least until mid-February. He said Democratic commissioner nominee Gigi Sohn not being up for vote by the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday seems to indicate a lack of sufficient Democratic support. He said that points to difficulty mustering the 60 votes needed to pass a motion to end debate. He said there's a large contingent in the Senate "that is just not giving the president any of his team."
The Senate plans a Tuesday vote on invoking cloture on the compromise conference version of the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (S-1605). The conference NDAA, which the House passed Tuesday, jettisoned some previously included telecom language but retains text directing DOD to brief the National Security Council on “potential harmful interference” to GPS posed by Ligado’s planned L-band operations (see 2112080070). The measure also expands on language from the FY 2021 NDAA that required DOD to estimate the cost of damage to department systems from Ligado's L-band use (see 2012040043), to now give the Pentagon explicit authority to seek recompense from the company. The National Emergency Number Association is "disappointed" lawmakers dropped language in the revised NDAA from the 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act (HR-2351) since the proposal to change 911 dispatchers' "federal classification from 'office support' to 'protective service' would cost nothing, but it would more accurately reflect their specialized training and skills, as well as their crucial role in public safety."