An FCC draft ruling and orders would undo 2015 net neutrality regulation and Title II broadband classification under the Communications Act, as Chairman Ajit Pai and staffers outlined Tuesday (see 1711210020). The 210-page draft declaratory ruling, report and order, and order released Wednesday would "reverse heavy-handed utility-style" broadband regulation "and return to the light-touch framework" that promoted a "free and open internet" before Title II classification, it said.
Ex-House Commerce Committee Chief Counsel David Redl sworn in Tuesday as assistant secretary-communications and information, Department of Commerce, where he will be NTIA administrator ... Arizona Corporation Commission adds Ryan McCarthy, ex-Maricopa County Attorney's Office, as policy adviser for new (see 1710240054) Commissioner Justin Olson ... Wireless ISP Association board hires Richard Bernhardt national spectrum adviser, a full-time job; he had worked in that role for WISPA as a contractor.
Ex-House Commerce Committee Chief Counsel David Redl sworn in Tuesday as assistant secretary-communications and information, Department of Commerce, where he will be NTIA administrator ... Wireless ISP Association board names Richard Bernhardt national spectrum adviser, a full-time post; he had worked in that role for WISPA as a contractor ... Applause hires from Nasuni Robert Mason as senior vice president-engineering.
Mulling whether to join FirstNet, California issued a request for proposals seeking alternative radio-access-network plans. The California Office of Emergency Services RFP seeks bids by Dec. 6; states have until Dec. 28 to opt out. “California is seeking responses from Bidders who can offer a no cost solution to the State of California, other than those wireless rate plans identified, while providing the professional services, products, equipment and warranties required to design, build, deploy, finance, operate, maintain and continually improve and update a statewide wireless broadband system to serve California [public safety entities] that is fully interoperable with" FirstNet, the RFP said. California previously collected responses to a request for information. FirstNet took some heat earlier this month from Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., for estimating it might cost California up to $15 billion in fees if the state chose an alternative plan and it failed (see 1711010035). Colorado last week selected a plan by Rivada and Macquarie Infrastructure Developments as its preferred opt-out option if it doesn't join the national network (see 1711170026).
Enterprise communications systems (ECS) should have the same E-911 functionality as other phones, 911 and public safety groups commented last week on a September FCC notice of inquiry (see 1709260040). That includes the ability to dial 911 directly without additional digits, automatic location identification and location-based routing to the correct public safety answering point and call-back capability if a call is interrupted, the National Emergency Number Association commented in docket 17-239. APCO called the lack of those capabilities “a significant shortcoming in 911 emergency response.” The National Association of State 911 Administrators concurred. “Just as E911 for landline, wireless and VoIP has resulted in improvements in the speed at which emergency responders are able to reach the caller, so would E911 for ECS,” NASNA commented. State commissions also rallied behind the cause, with NARUC last week passing a resolution supporting required direct dialing of 911 in hotels and other enterprises (see 1711130035). Verizon agreed people should be able to dial 911 without a prefix. But AT&T urged the FCC to “first ‘do no harm’ by not impinging on enterprise owners’ discretion to adopt customized 911 calling solutions that enhance public safety.” Enterprise owners can address many of the issues raised in the NOI, the carrier commented. The Telecommunications Industry Association urged the agency “to consider the complexity of the ECS marketplace and the diverse needs of its users before acting to add regulations.” The Ad Hoc Telecommunications Users Committee said “not to interfere with the wide discretion currently enjoyed by companies to develop solutions that best meet the safety of their employees.” FCC action on direct 911 dialing isn’t necessary because Congress may pass Kari’s Law (S-123), the American Hotel & Lodging Association commented. The bill passed the Senate in August and was sent to the House.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative late on the afternoon of Nov. 17 released an updated list of NAFTA negotiating objectives, including new language on objectives to “increase transparency” in import and export licensing processes among the parties and to reinforce commitments to continue practices to review and correct countries’ final administrative actions, “if warranted.” The updated list continues most of the language of the original negotiating objectives released in July (see 1707180022), including all of the same customs proposals, consisting of positions to raise Canada’s and Mexico’s de minimis thresholds to $800, reduce customs documents and procedural formalities, and provisions to provide for automation for import, export and transit processes.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted that she concurs with calls by the National Weather Service, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a sped-up time frame for implementation of device-based geotargeting of wireless emergency alerts (see 1711150011), She pushed Wednesday for her agency to act.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted that she concurs with calls by the National Weather Service, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a sped-up time frame for implementation of device-based geotargeting of wireless emergency alerts (see 1711150011), She pushed Wednesday for her agency to act.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted that she concurs with calls by the National Weather Service, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a sped-up time frame for implementation of device-based geotargeting of wireless emergency alerts (see 1711150011), She pushed Wednesday for her agency to act.
The FCC approved its ATSC 3.0 order 3-2 Thursday over the objections of Democrats, as expected (see 1711140053). Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn were highly critical of 3.0's transition plan order, which was little changed from what circulated last month. The plan is “cavalier” about possible consequences for consumers and MVPDs, Rosenworcel said. “Not ready for prime time,” said Clyburn. The order intentionally doesn't address every aspect of the new standard, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said. “Many questions remain,” he conceded. “This won’t be the last time we address ATSC 3.0,” he said.