Under a draft FCC order tackling robocalls and robotexts, related issues will need addressing before consumers will trust telecom networks again. The FCC released the draft Thursday, along with an order on using 17 GHz spectrum for satellite broadband and an order and a Further NPRM on accessibility in videoconferencing. Commissioners are set to consider the items at their Sept. 26 open meeting.
Verizon will purchase Frontier in a $20 billion all-cash valued transaction, the companies announced Thursday. The deal is expected to close in 18 months, subject to regulatory and Frontier shareholder approval. Verizon will gain 2.2 million fiber subscribers, extending the company's network reach to 25 million locations across 31 states and Washington, D.C., as a result. Frontier also renewed a commitment to build out an additional 2.8 million fiber locations by the end of 2026.
NCTA supports an FCC proposal exempting some video programmers from captioning registration and certification requirements when another entity, such as a programming network, has filed the relevant certification, the cabler said in comments posted Wednesday in docket 05-231. “Adopting the proposed exemption would relieve numerous program suppliers, including many small businesses, of needless paperwork obligations,” NCTA said. “Removing this regulatory burden will have no impact on the substantive captioning obligations for nonbroadcast programming.” The agency should make filing such certifications on behalf of multiple networks easier, NCTA said.
The FCC Wireline Bureau said Wednesday the window opens Sept. 17 and closes Nov. 1 for filing FCC Form 484 applications to participate in the agency’s three-year, $200 million cybersecurity pilot program for schools and libraries. Commissioners approved the program 3-2 in June with Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington dissenting (see 2406060043).
A bipartisan coalition of 51 mayors asked the FCC to abandon its proposed ban on bulk billing arrangements for broadband and cable services in multi-tenant environments (see 2407090049). In a letter posted Tuesday in docket 17-142, the mayors said that residents' rates "would rise significantly while service capabilities would be frozen in place" should the FCC continue with its proposal. Given the "clear benefits to consumers and the competitive marketplace, regulatory intervention would be detrimental," the letter said: "Bulk deals serve the public interest and directly benefit countless individuals within our communities." The FCC declined to comment. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel defended the proposal in a letter to lawmakers in June (see 2406280056).
SpaceX told the FCC it’s time to close a proceeding examining use of the lower 12 GHz band for fixed wireless. The agency should “finally” end Dish Network’s “undeserved and relentless quest to steal spectrum rights in the 12.2-12.7 GHz band at the expense of millions of Americans who depend on this band to deliver their satellite broadband and broadcast content,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 20-443. SpaceX submitted an analysis which it said shows that approving the change would mean “harmful interference and service outages” for Americans dependent on satellite broadband. Dish’s interference analysis relies on “fictional technology” that’s “trumpeted by RKF Engineering -- whom the Commission unanimously found submits studies based on ‘unsupported’ and ‘speculative’ assumptions,” SpaceX said.
The record reflects consensus on the need for federal funding for consumer education that will make the FCC’s voluntary cyber trust mark program a success, CTIA told the FCC in reply comments posted Wednesday in docket 23-239. Other aspects of the program require “further consideration and clarification,” CTIA said: “In particular, the Bureau should reduce uncertainty about the role of [cybersecurity labeling administrators] and minimize the burdens that will be placed on CLAs.” FCC commissioners approved 5-0 in March a voluntary cyber-mark program while adopting a Further NPRM seeking comment on some details (see 2403140034). Reply comments were due Tuesday. Initial comments last month urged the regulator to proceed cautiously when crafting rules for the CLAs and for the lead administrator, who will oversee an IoT product registry under the program (see 2408200037). The Electronic Privacy Information Center stressed the importance of a fair and transparent process in selecting CLAs. “We support the [Public Safety] Bureau’s proposals that the standards, testing criteria, and label design be stakeholder consensus-based, but urge that the relevant stakeholder entities should include representatives from consumer advocacy groups and not merely … representatives from industry groups,” EPIC said. The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation called on the FCC to accept and conditionally approve CLA applicants provided they meet the requirements standard 17065 from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). “The principles of ISO/IEC 17065 ensure the technical competence in undertaking the scope of work; the need for resources to fulfill the work is reviewed and satisfied; suitable policies and procedures are established and implemented to undertake the work with integrity; impartiality in practices is maintained and confirmed; and operations are supported with a quality management system,” the group said. Somos said the IoT registry should include sensor data, while protecting consumer privacy. “The IoT registry should include general information about sensor types and their cybersecurity features, without revealing specific personal or sensitive data collected by these sensors,” Somos said: “This approach aims to provide transparency regarding device capabilities and risks while protecting user privacy.”
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions. Lawsuits added since the last update are in bold.
Some IP-captioned telephone service (IP CTS) providers welcomed an accessibility coalition's petition asking the FCC to require that all IP CTS providers using automated speech recognition (ASR) as the sole means of transcribing speech also provide users the option of requesting a communications assistant (CA) at the start or any point during an IP CTS call (see 2408010057). The coalition also sought quality metrics for the service and asked that the commission not certify new IP CTS providers until its petition is addressed.
China is ahead of the U.S. on many fronts in its plans to emerge as the world leader in 5G, and eventually 6G, experts warned Wednesday during a webcast by the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub. The group released a paper urging that the U.S. reassert leadership in wireless technology.