AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon agreed to start providing vertical-location information where available on all calls to 911 nationwide within seven days, to implement compliance plans, and to each pay a $100,000 fine, the FCC said Thursday. Public safety groups applauded the action. The agency's two Republican members were upset over process and technological issues.
ISPs protested a NARUC task force’s focus on electric utilities expanding into broadband. Utility officials at the group’s virtual meeting Wednesday applauded a proposed recommendation to reduce barriers to nontraditional providers. Don’t forget wireless or anchor institutions, said other commenters.
A congressional commission said the Commerce Department has “failed” to carry out its export control responsibilities over emerging and foundational technologies, which is hindering the work of other government bodies and allowing some sensitive dual-use technologies to be freely exported from the U.S. The commission said Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which is in charge of the export control effort, has taken “limited action to strengthen or introduce new controls” since its 2018 congressional mandate and should look to other agencies to help with the process.
FCC staff said emergency broadband benefit program providers can’t receive support if their subscribers aren't enrolled in the National Lifeline Accountability Database. The Wireline Bureau denied Lumen and LICT petitions to be reimbursed for discounts passed to their subscribers not enrolled in NLAD by the snapshot date. Allowing the petitions "is not in the public interest and unavoidably threatens the integrity" of EBB, the order said in Tuesday's Daily Digest. The bureau denied Lumen and LICT's request for one-month delay.
WTA members are experiencing “significant difficulties and delays” in enrolling households in the National Lifeline Accountability Database for the FCC emergency broadband benefit program, the group said in a letter posted Friday in docket 20-445. It's affecting smaller providers enrolling households that aren't Lifeline subscribers and are claiming eligibility through the program's other categories, WTA said. The group wants a one-month delay for all affected providers to submit initial snapshot data of new subscribers.
FCC staff said ISPs can get emergency broadband benefit reimbursement for connected broadband devices even when customers switch providers, granting two requests and applying them throughout the EBB program. The Wireline Bureau granted Cox Communications and the National Lifeline Association's requests, said an order Friday in docket 20-445. Cox and NaLa asked to waive the requirement that a provider can't request reimbursement for a connected device for subscribers who aren't receiving EBB-supported service from the provider at the time of the snapshot (see 2105240063). “This waiver permits all participating providers offering a connected device to submit a reimbursement claim for a connected device discount provided to a household that had been receiving an EBB-supported service from that provider at the time the device was supplied to the household, even if the household subsequently transferred its benefit to another provider prior to the snapshot date,” staff wrote: “We grant this waiver to remove a disincentive” to providers. Cox said its participation in the connected device program depended on the waiver (see 2105110047).
FCC staff said ISPs can get emergency broadband benefit reimbursement for connected broadband devices even when customers switch providers, granting two requests and applying them throughout the EBB program. The Wireline Bureau granted Cox Communications and the National Lifeline Association's requests, said an order Friday in docket 20-445. Cox and NaLa asked to waive the requirement that a provider can't request reimbursement for a connected device for subscribers who aren't receiving EBB-supported service from the provider at the time of the snapshot (see 2105240063). “This waiver permits all participating providers offering a connected device to submit a reimbursement claim for a connected device discount provided to a household that had been receiving an EBB-supported service from that provider at the time the device was supplied to the household, even if the household subsequently transferred its benefit to another provider prior to the snapshot date,” staff wrote: “We grant this waiver to remove a disincentive” to providers. Cox said its participation in the connected device program depended on the waiver (see 2105110047).
President Joe Biden proposed substantial budget increases Friday for the FCC, FTC and most tech-focused agencies within the Commerce and Justice departments for FY 2022, in documents released Friday. The administration proposed a smaller increase for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and would keep CPB's funding at $475 million.
President Joe Biden proposed substantial budget increases Friday for the FCC, FTC and most tech-focused agencies within the Commerce and Justice departments for FY 2022, in documents released Friday. The administration proposed a smaller increase for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and would keep CPB's funding at $475 million.
Drafts released Thursday revealed details of what acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wants FCC colleagues to vote on at the members' June 17 meeting. On letting companies market RF devices pending FCC authorization, a draft would allow a greater number of the products than initially suggested. CTA sought limited marketing and sales of wireless devices to consumers before they're authorized.