The FCC released the third iteration of its national broadband map Friday, showing nearly 1 million additional homes and businesses having access to high-speed internet access since the last iteration. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in an FCC note that with "each refresh of the map we are more confident in the accuracy of the data." The map included an additional 800,000 broadband serviceable locations and "any changes in the number of locations will overwhelmingly reflect on-the-ground changes such as the construction of new housing," Rosenworcel said. About 4.8 million challenges to provider-reported availability were made to date, with more than 1.5 million location challenges accepted. "We’ve also seen hundreds of corrections to provider reported data based on FCC-initiated verification efforts," Rosenworcel noted.

The FCC’s notice of inquiry asking how AI can fight robocalls, as well as potential risks from the technology, saw a few changes over the draft (see 2311150042). The FCC approved the NOI 5-0 Wednesday and released the final version Thursday. Comments are due Dec. 18, replies Jan. 16. Among the changes, the NOI now mentions the administration’s AI executive order (see 2310300056), released after the draft circulated. The FCC added a series of questions in a new paragraph. “What other steps can we take to identify the root causes of AI-driven robocall or robotext scams?” the NOI now asks: “Should we solicit information from industry regarding the type of AI technologies used in particular scams, either on a regular basis or in connection with investigations? Should we inquire as to whether the AI technology used was developed for general legal uses, and misused, or whether it was purpose-built for unlawful applications? If the AI technology was developed for general use, were there safeguards in place to ensure it was not misused? If so, how were they disabled?” The NOI also now asks, “How best can we share the information that we gather about fraudulent uses of AI within our purview with our sister agencies, who are charged with addressing malicious uses of AI in other contexts?” Commissioner Geoffrey Starks indicated Wednesday he asked for those changes. The NOI includes statements from Starks and Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

Jared Carlson, Nese Guendelsberger and Thomas Sullivan were named deputy chiefs of the FCC Office of International Affairs, with Michele Wu-Bailey as assistant chief and chief of staff, OIA said Wednesday. Formed in the reorganization of the International Bureau into the Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs, OIA is headed by Ethan Lucarelli (see 2304110002).

Cable interests urged an ongoing pipeline of unlicensed and shared-licensed spectrum and a maximization of already in-use bands during a meeting with aides to FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, said a filing Wednesday in docket 18-295. They also pushed for easier relocation and change of incumbent federal or commercial services. Meeting with Gomez's aides were representatives of Comcast, Charter, Cox Enterprises, CableLabs and NCTA.

FCC Administrative Law Judge Jane Hinckley Halprin scheduled a Dec. 5 status conference on Mongoose Works' petition for de novo review of a Wireless Bureau order upholding the C-Band Clearinghouse's reduction of Mongoose’s C-band relocation lump sum claim (see 2309180019), according to an initial order Tuesday in docket 21-333.

Twenty-six governors are urging federal lawmakers to ensure additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. "Preserving the ACP will allow us to build upon the progress we’ve made in expanding connectivity rather than falling behind in a mission we cannot afford to lose," the bipartisan group said in a letter Tuesday to House and Senate Majority and Minority leaders. Agency officials also called on Congress to provide additional funding during a Connect20 Summit Tuesday hosted by Network:On, National Digital Inclusion Alliance and Broadband Breakfast. "If you're going to have a goal of affordable, reliable high-speed internet for every American, you have to make a serious commitment to the affordable piece," said Capital Projects Fund Director Joseph Wender, "and that serious commitment is the ACP." Wender cautioned that "we are approaching a cliff where it will run out of money at some point early next year" and there could be "cascading effects" should the program be forced to sunset. ACP "has been a really critical way for all of our agencies to make sure that once we help support the infrastructure costs, that it's affordable for consumers," said Rural Utilities Service Assistant Administrator-Telecom Program Laurel Leverrier. The program has especially benefited rural areas where "the economics aren't there for a lot of rural providers," Leverrier said, and it's "a really critical piece for our rural communities." NTIA is "fully invested" in ensuring that ACP "remains an active program," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Deputy Administrator Sarah Morris, "both to connect these households and also for the ongoing success of our BEAD program."

Residential phone service costs in the U.S. in October rose 5.5% year over year, as were cable, satellite and livestreaming TV service costs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index unadjusted data released Tuesday. Wireless phone service costs were down 0.4% year over year, but internet service was up 4.4%. Smartphone prices dropped 12%, and computers, peripherals and smart home assistants fell 5.7%. Video purchase/subscription/rental was up 3.1%. BLS said September prices overall were up 3.2% year over year before seasonal adjustment.

The FCC announced a proceeding Monday proposing to establish a schools and libraries cybersecurity pilot program that would allow the commission to "obtain valuable data concerning the cybersecurity and advanced firewall services that would best help K12 schools and libraries address the growing cyber threats and attacks against their broadband networks and data," said an NPRM. Comments are due 30 days after Federal Register publication, 60 days for replies, in docket 23-234. “This pilot program is an important pathway for hardening our defenses against sophisticated cyberattacks on schools and ransomware attacks that harm our students and get in the way of their learning,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “Protecting our students is a critically important task and one that touches on the mission of several federal agencies." The proposed pilot program calls for an investment of up to $200 million over three years funded by the Universal Service Fund, per a news release. It would be separate from the E-rate program to "ensure gains in enhanced cybersecurity don’t come at a cost of undermining E-rate’s success." The pilot program would also provide funding to eligible K-12 schools and libraries to "defray the qualifying costs of receiving the cybersecurity and advanced firewall services needed to protect their E-rate-funded broadband networks and data from the growing number of school and library-focused cyber events."

The FCC violated the Administrative Procedure Act when it amended its rules to incorporate four new equipment testing standards, and did so without the proper notice and comment protocol, alleged iFixit, Public Resource and Make Community in a petition for review Wednesday (23-1311) at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The FCC didn’t publish the proposed rules in the Federal Register, and they weren’t otherwise “reasonably available for use in commenting on them,” said the petition. The petitioners aren’t asking the court to vacate the rules, only to remand them to the FCC for a new and proper NPRM, it said. The amendments were published as a final order in the Sept. 29 FR and took effect Oct. 30. An FCC spokesperson declined to comment Thursday.

Pointing to growing U.S. concerns about increased cybersecurity risks and threats, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau is adding to its cybersecurity and privacy resources, bureau Chief Loyaan Egal said Thursday at a Media Institute lunch. The bureau has "more than doubled" staff handling these types of cases, with a number of hires having privacy and data projection experience, he said. By early next year, the bureau will have four senior officials with significant DOJ and interagency experience in national security, data protection and cybersecurity, he said. The $150,000 FCC fine against Dish Network for improper disposal of a satellite (see 2310020049) "made clear that the U.S. government is serious about enforcing the rules governing satellite orbital operations" and orbital debris, he said. The FCC's investigation into and nearly $300 million fine against perpetrators of scam auto warranty robocalls (see 2212210054) resulted in a 99% decline in those types of calls, he said. Asked about the challenge of collecting fines bought by the bureau, Egal said DOJ has "a ton of priorities." He added, "But we believe this is a priority." Egal said access to Bank Secrecy Act information, as Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has urged (see 2306080043), would allow for expanded FCC investigations related to finances of bad actors and let the agency rebut arguments about inability to pay.