The telehealth industry fears the $200 million the FCC has available for emergency COVID-19 funding will quickly run out, before all forthcoming applications are considered. Stakeholders we spoke with this month are seeking additional funding, but called the funds included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act a good start. Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Don Young, R-Ala., proposed an additional $2 billion in such spending Friday via their Healthcare Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act (HR-6474).
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said he will introduce a bill when the Senate returns to Washington that would raise tariffs on Saudi Arabian oil and oil byproducts. “Our nation’s economy, national security and the economic welfare of families across Louisiana is threatened by oil being dumped on the world market at below-production costs,” Cassidy said in an April 9 press release. “Tariffs will restore fair pricing.” The tariffs would vary by the current market price of oil, and would make Saudi imports cost at least $40 a barrel. The law orders the president to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act within 10 days of passage. The bill was described as actions “in response to Saudi Arabia’s aggression towards the United States petroleum industry.” It also instructs the administration to withdraw all military personnel from Saudi Arabia.
The scope of the digital divide exposed during COVID-19 is "an inflection point for action," FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said during a Brookings Institution webinar Wednesday. She applauded the ISPs that have taken the Keep Americans Connected pledge but said Americans shouldn't have to rely on industry generosity for internet access: "Having digital justice means getting everyone connected." Equipping school buses with Wi-Fi hot spots and placing them outside students' homes can help fill gaps. Francis Marion School in Perry County, Alabama, discussed it when school closed. "We can't get hot spots," said Principal Cathy Trimble. "Everyone wants to get hot spots now." Getting internet access is a challenge for districts without resources to acquire textbooks for all students, she said. Policymakers at the state, local and federal level should better coordinate, Trimble said. Broadband subsidies should be more widely promoted, she said: "We have local and state personnel who seem to forget about us. We need people to advocate for our needs." Keep "making noise," said Brookings fellow Nicol Turner Lee. "Keep this top of mind." Rosenworcel correctly seeks reporting from broadband providers similar to what they have to provide in other emergencies (see 2003310075), said Jon Sallet of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society on a Fiber Broadband Association webinar. Networks weren’t “built in every case to be the most robust in the nation, not of enterprise quality, not with the kind of multi-homing redundancy that big enterprises have,” said Sallet. The FCC needs to update consumers on “what is working” and what isn’t, he said. “Not every place in America is the same,” he said: “There are different technologies.” The commission didn't comment Thursday. Videoconference apps like Zoom create more demands on networks than watching Netflix or playing a videogame, said Gary Bolton, Adtran vice president-global marketing. Netflix is “rate adaptive” and will “degrade gracefully” depending on demand, Bolton said. Zoom uses up to 2.4 GB/hour, he said. A low quality Netflix stream uses only 300 MB/hour, a Fortnite game 100 MB and World of Warcraft 40 MB, he said.
NAB signed on to the push for Congress to include emergency funding for local media and stations in the next stimulus bill addressing COVID-19. Some Democrats and other groups made similar requests in recent days (see 2004080069). Officials from some pro-funding groups are hopeful Congress will provide in the coming measure, perhaps billions of dollars. Lobbyists we spoke with were divided on whether it will be a top priority.
Recently announced restrictions on exports of personal protective equipment (PPE) only apply to commercial shipments, and exports to Canada and Mexico are exempt from the policy, said CBP in a memo dated April 9. The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America included the memo in an April 9 email on COVID-19 developments.
The scope of the digital divide exposed during COVID-19 is "an inflection point for action, and we need to seize it," FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said during a Brookings Institution webinar Wednesday. She applauded the ISPs that have taken the Keep Americans Connected pledge but said Americans shouldn't have to rely on industry generosity for internet access: "Having digital justice means getting everyone connected."
The California Public Utilities Commission teed up a COVID-19 resolution for members' April 16 meeting to retroactively apply emergency customer protection measures from March 4 until the emergency ends. Meanwhile, industry opposed CPUC plans for power backup, among other comments. Also Friday, the CPUC clarified a state LifeLine rule.
The FCC rejected Free Press’ emergency petition for inquiry into broadcasters airing allegedly false information about COVID-19 (see 2004060026). FCC Republicans slammed the petition as an attack on free speech. “At best, the Petition rests on a fundamental misunderstanding of the Commission’s limited role in regulating broadcast journalism,” said a Monday letter from General Counsel Tom Johnson and Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey. “At worst, the Petition is a brazen attempt to pressure broadcasters to squelch their coverage of a President that Free Press dislikes.”
CTIA asked for additional help as industry addresses COVID-19. One change would be a streamlined process for spectrum loans, said a Friday letter to be posted by the FCC. “The Communications Act and the Commission’s rules allow the agency to receive and process requests outside of established formal procedures in the event of national emergencies,” the group said: “The Commission could allow licensees to complete temporary license swaps upon written notice to the Commission, either by informal letter or email, rather than prior Commission approval.” The FCC could “accelerate approval of all applications for license assignments and transfers of control, particularly where: any applicable public notice period has elapsed and the application is unopposed,” CTIA said: Allow all paper filings electronically and expedite access to high-band spectrum.
TV and radio public service announcements are a good choice for spreading information about the COVID-19 pandemic in the fractured U.S. media landscape, said academics and marketing CEOs asked about the White House and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's focus on PSAs as a virus response (see 2003170068). “Considering how broken up mass media is, the ability to reach a large audience is something they have to take advantage of,” said Joseph Cappella, University of Pennsylvania professor of communication.