Judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals questioned the FCC on how the commission structures its Universal Service Fund and oversees the role the Universal Service Administrative Co. plays in determining quarterly contribution factors during an en banc hearing Tuesday. Some pressed Consumers' Research on how the private nondelegation doctrine applied to its challenge of the Q1 2022 USF contribution factor (see 2309010060).
Gabriella Novello
Gabriella Novello, Assistant Editor, is a journalist for Communications Daily covering telecommunications and the Federal Communications Commission. She joined the Warren Communications News staff in 2020, after covering election integrity and the 2020 presidential election at WhoWhatWhy. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in health promotion at American University. You can follow Novello on Twitter: @NOVELLOGAB.
NTCA and the Rural Wireless Association continued to raise concerns about USTelecom and the Competitive Carriers Association's joint petition to extend the FCC's waiver of broadband data collection (BDC) rules allowing filers to submit information by a nonlicensed professional engineer (PE), per reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 19-195 (see 2309050065). Others disagreed and urged the commission to consider granting a permanent waiver due to continued workforce shortages.
Industry and consumer advocacy groups continued to disagree on whether the FCC should extend certain robocall rules to all voice service providers in reply comments posted Monday in docket 17-97 (see 2305180036). Many debated the use of rich call data and the standard that should be set regarding the use of a do-not-originate (DNO) list.
The FCC’s Disability Advisory Committee approved a report Thursday on best practices for implementing and promoting the use of direct video calling from its Direct Video Calling Working Group (see 2304260060). The group also heard from other working group leaders, plus updates from Commissioner Nathan Simington and FCC staff on artificial intelligence accessibility. The meeting was the first in-person meeting in three years.
Nearly 300 broadband experts, ISPs, consumer advocates, and business groups urged NTIA to eliminate its letter of credit requirement for the broadband, equity, access and deployment program. The coalition, in a letter Wednesday, raised concerns about how the requirement will affect local providers and competition. Under the current rule, awardees must obtain an LOC for 25% of their award amount.
Industry groups clashed on whether the FCC should extend its current waiver of broadband data collection rules allowing filers to submit information by a non-licensed professional engineer (PE). Competitive Carriers Association and USTelecom sought an extension for an additional three filing cycles, citing workforce issues (see 2308070042). The current waiver is to expire after the next submission deadline Sept. 15. Comments were posted Tuesday in docket 19-195.
Broadband experts highlighted the status of current risks facing the rollout of NTIA's broadband, equity, access and deployment program and efforts underway by industry, during a Broadband Breakfast panel Wednesday in Orlando after the Fiber Broadband Association's annual conference. Some cited the need to use data to make long-term, sustainable investments in future projects.
Industry urged the FCC to give providers more time to honor requests from consumers to revoke prior express consent through any reasonable means under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, in reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 02-278 (see 2308010071). Some commenters sought clarity on what would constitute "reasonable means" for a consumer to make an opt-out request.
Industry groups disagreed on an FCC NPRM proposing to expand certain robocall rules to all voice service providers, in comments posted Thursday in docket 17-97. Commissioners adopted the item in May (see 2305180036). Some urged caution and asked the FCC to grant flexibility if it mandates any additional call blocking rules.
Consumer advocates, industry and local officials want more details in the five-year action plan California will submit to NTIA as part of the broadband, equity, access and deployment program Many in comments posted Tuesday in docket R-23-02-016 (see 2307180013) sought additional information in the final plan about affordability and digital equity efforts.