The California Public Utilities Commission should pump the brakes on state LifeLine changes until the FCC resolves federal Lifeline minimum service standards (MSS), the National Lifeline Association commented Thursday in CPUC docket R.20-02-008. Many at the federal agency seek to freeze MSS at 3 GB and oppose an FCC plan to raise MSS to 4.5 GB monthly; it would increase to 11.75 GB on Dec. 1 otherwise (see 2009150072). NaLA raised legal concerns with the CPUC’s proposal, saying it’s “likely to be challenged in federal court because it breaks with the Commission’s own precedent and mandates that the wireless Basic and Standard Plans be provided to California LifeLine participants for free in violation of Section 332(c)(3) of the Communications Act.” Federal law bans state commissions from setting wireless Lifeline co-payments, TracFone commented. Requiring free services is prohibited rate regulation, said the company, being bought by Verizon. The CPUC Public Advocates Office praised the agency’s plan to include wireline broadband service in LifeLine. "Given more than six months have passed since the start of the pandemic and many Californians may be in need of affordable broadband options to perform these essential activities, Cal Advocates urges the Commission to implement the [proposed decision's] interim rules swiftly and with urgency.” The California Emergency Technology Fund agreed. Frontier Communications raised concerns the proposal recommends replacing only $2 of a $4 monthly federal funding reduction coming in December. “This proposal will result in rate increases of up to $2.00 and harm low-income consumers at a time when they are most vulnerable from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing financial crisis.”
Washington, D.C.’s 911 audit will test if “specific incidents add up to a larger picture” of systemic dispatching problems at the Office of Unified Communications, city Auditor Kathy Patterson said in a Friday interview. After the Office of D.C. Auditor (ODCA) released a request for proposals Thursday (see 2009240066), OUC and D.C. Council Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Chairman Charles Allen (D) welcomed an audit. They offered some defenses for local 911 personnel.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted 4-0 to clear Frontier Communications' bankruptcy reorganization but pledged to investigate the impact of the carrier’s “virtual separation.” Chair Katie Sieben was absent. Communications Workers of America raised concerns nationally about virtual separation, saying it could mean separating fiber deployment from copper operations, possibly to some areas’ detriment. Frontier sought to reassure policymakers it’s only an internal exercise (see 2009090055). At Thursday’s livestreamed virtual meeting, Commissioner John Tuma proposed an investigation as an “early warning system” to notify local governments if Frontier doesn’t invest in fiber in their areas. Frontier officials disagreed with requiring the inquiry in the same order clearing the reorg because they said it might prevent them from emerging from Chapter 11. Citing her experience with bankruptcy cases, Commissioner Valerie Means agreed that might be problematic. Tuma at first disagreed, saying it didn’t create a condition on the commission’s approval, but later agreed not to mention the probe in the decision. Instead, Tuma announced he was making a “clear signal” the “investigation will be opened ... before bankruptcy is completed.” Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Richard Dornfeld supported approving the deal despite no most-favored-state provision and lingering concerns about service quality, especially rural. Frontier earlier got OK from U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, plus several states. Reorg remains under review by others and federally (see 2009210055).
The National Emergency Number Association hailed House passage of the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451) and other telecom measures this week (see 2009230032). HR-451 and other measures “ensure a resilient communications network amid the coronavirus pandemic,” said Director-Government Affairs Dan Henry in a Thursday statement. He also cited House approval of the Emergency Reporting Act (HR-5918). House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., earlier praised passage of HR-451, HR-5918, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (S-2661) and Measuring the Economics Driving Investments and Access for Diversity Act (HR-5567).
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, led filing of the Unplug the Internet Kill Switch Act (HR-8336/S-4646) in a bid to bar the president from using emergency powers to unilaterally take control over or deny access to the internet and other forms of communication. The measure would remove from Communications Act Section 706 language that allows the president to take control of or shut down "any facility or station for wire communication” if the White House deems it "necessary in the interest of the national security and defense” after a proclamation “that there exists a state or threat of war involving" the U.S. "If you give government an inch, it takes 10 miles, and this has been vividly illustrated by the surveillance state’s overreaches in a time of seemingly endless war," Paul said. "No president from either party should have the sole power to shut down or take control of the internet or any other of our communication channels during an emergency." Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., are lead co-sponsors of S-4646. Rep. Tom Massie, R-Ky., is co-sponsoring HR-8336. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel previously raised concerns about the Section 706 language (see 2001280069).
Senate Communications Subcommittee members intermingled questions about FirstNet’s progress during a Thursday hearing with forays into how broader communications policy could affect the public safety broadband network. Subcommittee Chairman John Thune R-S.D., and others at times focused on whether legislation to further streamline permitting processes would aid FirstNet’s deployment. FirstNet CEO Edward Parkinson and AT&T Senior Vice President-FirstNet Program Jason Porter highlighted their progress in building the network and expressed willingness to carry out GAO recommendations that it improve communications with stakeholders (see 2009170071).
Washington, D.C.’s 911 office will be audited (see 2009240064) after concerns raised by the media and local and federal officials about possible dispatching mistakes, the Office of D.C. Auditor said Thursday. A final report could be finished May 15, said a request for proposals. District of Columbia Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 4B01’s Evan Yeats requested the audit and Thursday applauded Auditor Kathleen Patterson, who earlier said the office was considering such a move (see 2008070042). Other stakeholders also backed the review.
While some individual companies in the medical and protective equipment sector testified that advantaging U.S. production will prevent shortages in the next pandemic, trade groups generally emphasized that stockpiling is the best solution, and that production needs to be globalized for the lowest risk. All were testifying across two days this week to the International Trade Commission, which was tasked with investigating the U.S. production and trade in goods needed for COVID-19 pandemic response, and supply chain challenges revealed in the crisis.
Before Wednesday’s meeting, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai likely doesn’t have the three votes he needs for the 4.9 GHz order and Further NPRM, FCC and industry officials said. Commissioners Mike O’Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks have concerns that could get resolved before the meeting. The approach faces opposition, especially from public safety groups (see 2009230048) that lobbied commissioner aides.
Entertainment Software Association hires Tara Ryan from Association for Accessible Medicines as vice president-state government affairs; Karen Gravois Elliott, ex-Adtran, as vice president-communications and public affairs; David Thomas, ex-Sandler Travis, is senior counsel-global policy and international trade; and Annie Chavez, ex-Sandia National Laboratories, becomes senior director-federal government affairs.