Advocates Cheer Text-to-988 OK, Fret Over Resources

While applauding the FCC for requiring covered text provider support of text-to-988 capabilities, mental health and disability communities raised caution flags about the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline having adequate resources come July to handle texting traffic. Commissioners unanimously approved an order Thursday that requires routing of texts sent to 988 to the Lifeline, and setting outer bounds for text message formats to be sent. The final item wasn't released. Also OK'd 4-0 was U.S. market access for French-flagged satellite IoT operator Kineis, as expected (see 2111030008), and a Further NPRM on creating an enhanced competition incentive program aimed at boosting spectrum access by small carriers and tribes (see 2111180071).

Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters that she's confident covered text providers will meet the July deadline for voice calling and texting. She said the agency will be in constant contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration “to make sure if there are any problems or technical issues down the road, to resolve them.” Anything the commission can do to lower the barriers to receiving care "is so important," said Commissioner Brendan Carr.

"Carriers will be able to quickly and easily implement the connectivity," emailed Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing CEO Eric Kaika, The Lifeline "'might need to make some adjustments, [but] I don't see why Lifeline wouldn't be ready to address the texting traffic if they work with stakeholders and test everything thoroughly." Applauding approval, Mental Health America tweeted that texting "is a key part of human communication, particularly for youth and we are pleased texters will be able to use 988. Congress now needs to provide resources for quick response to texts."

The Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness emailed that it supports text-to-988. It said the FCC needs to make "a substantial initial investment to get the crisis line off the ground, [and] continue the investment to ensure that individuals receive timely attention from appropriately trained personnel. We believe that without proper financing, the 988-crisis line cannot be utilized to its full potential and may lead to unnecessary harm to individuals, as they may not receive the care they need in time.”

The Trevor Project said it handled more than 200,000 crisis contacts in FY 2021, with more than half via text or chat. "For 988 to be effective, it must be modern, widely accessible, and prepared to address the unique challenges of groups like LGBTQ young people," emailed Executive Director Amit Paley. "We are optimistic that Congress and the Administration will provide the resources necessary for 988 to include text to chat."

The order got some industry plaudits. "We all have a role to play in suicide prevention and normalizing conversations about mental health," said Internet Association President Dane Snowden. "The COVID-19 pandemic has helped shine a light on the importance of ensuring people experiencing a crisis have access to tools and resources to connect them to the help they need. This is a priority for IA and for our member companies, which is why our members have partnered with mental health experts and advocates to promote mental health both generally and on their platforms.” AT&T said it's "committed to making this vital support available to our customers by voice or by text." The FCC said AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile already support calls and texting to 988.

Spectrum

Rosenworcel is “confident” aviation concerns about 5G in the C band can be resolved through mitigation, she told reporters. “I have every confidence in the work of the engineers” at the FCC “and I know that they are committed to public safety,” she said: “Our discussions are ongoing.” Verizon and AT&T agreed to not turn the band on until January as the FAA and FCC address concerns (see 2111040042).

Carr told reporters he doesn’t want further delays. “The data and the analysis shows you that it’s time to light up this spectrum for 5G,” Carr said. “If you look around the world, you’ve got carriers that are using this C-band spectrum in many cases closer spectrally … without any known incidents,” he said. “There’s a process here and the FCC ran a very fair, lengthy, transparent process” before releasing the rules for the auction, he said.

Meanwhile, major trade associations asked Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council, Thursday to make sure C-band questions are resolved by Jan. 5, when Verizon and AT&T plan to start using the band for 5G (see 2111040042). “Our member companies have invested billions of dollars in developing the equipment and technologies necessary to make 5G a reality in this country and around the world,” the letter said: “Our member companies also understand the importance of rapid deployment of 5G networks in the U.S., including networks utilizing C-Band spectrum. Further delays in launching C-Band could have serious consequences for our nation’s ability to leverage the economic growth associated with 5G.” Among the signers were CTIA, CTA, USTelecom, the Competitive Carriers Association, Wireless Infrastructure Association, Telecommunications Industry Association and 5G Americas.

Rosenworcel said she's interested in receiver standards, as promoted by Commissioner Nathan Simington (see 2109100068). As spectrum becomes more congested, “we have to think not just about transmitting equipment, but also receiving equipment,” she said. She and Simington “have had a really fruitful discussion,” she said. Rosenworcel expects after the 3.45 GHz auction “to find a way forward to move on the 2.5 GHz band.” The FCC will look at additional spectrum for 5G, she said: “It’s a challenge; of course that doesn’t excuse us from the task.”

Meeting Notebook

The FCC will open a proceeding on MVPD carriage of independent programmers that also concerns the effect of streaming on the video marketplace, Rosenworcel confirmed, as she said during her confirmation hearing Wednesday that she would do so (see 2111170071). Though the FCC had a previous docket on programming concerns, Rosenworcel said a new proceeding will need to be started.

U.S. satellite rules "are not always the easiest to navigate," Carr said during the Kineis approval vote. Afterward, he said the regulatory and approval process is convoluted, but with such features as processing rounds that complexity is also perhaps necessary.

The agency's not completing the 2018 quadrennial review now appears “inevitable,” said Carr during a news media call Thursday. Rosenworcel on her own call declined to say how the FCC will handle the proceeding going forward but said the review is still under consideration. Broadcasters don’t expect QR action in 2021 (see 2111120057).