FCC Wireless Alerting Order Expected to Be OK'd; Tweaks Possible
A few tweaks appear likely as FCC commissioners vote Thursday on a proposed order that would require participating wireless providers to transmit emergency messages in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S., in addition to English and American Sign Language, and make other changes to the rules (see 2309280071). CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association have sought changes.
One potential tweak would be giving carriers additional time to update a new FCC WEA database on changes to the capabilities of their mobile devices within 30 days of making a change, industry officials said. A lawyer active in the proceeding said the FCC appears open-minded on that change. CCA and CTIA didn’t comment Tuesday.
CCA sought a relaxed reporting deadline in meetings with commissioner aides, said a filing this week in docket 15-91. Many CCA members are “small companies operating with limited staff and resources,” CCA said. It urged rules that would update the database while easing the “administrative burdens” on carriers. “Updates on a regular cadence (for example, annually or biannually on set dates), rather than a rolling and continuous compliance requirement would be easier and less resource-intensive for small carriers to adhere to,” it said.
CCA also raised concerns about a proposed 30-month time frame for providers to put in place templates for additional languages, which the group said would require the cooperation of original equipment manufacturers. “Smaller carriers often face challenges in obtaining sufficient attention and resources from OEMs in implementing new features and functionalities as compared to nationwide carriers,” CCA said. It promised to keep the FCC informed if compliance deadlines prove a problem.
CTIA representatives reported on meetings with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel (see 2310100056) and aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington. CTIA said it largely supports the order but also raised implementation issues. It urged the regulator to require biannual updates to the database “shortly after the filings for the Broadband Data Collection are due.” The FCC should seek additional comment on “potential implementation requirements” before adopting a Wireless Bureau follow-up order, which could be done when the bureau seeks comment on the costs of supporting additional languages, CTIA said.
CTIA urged the FCC to consider the implications of relying on templates stored on devices to translate alerts into other languages. “Adoption and use of an extensive number of templates may reduce overall user experience, and not all legacy devices may be capable of supporting templates,” it said. CTIA also questioned whether the 30-month deadline for getting templates in place allows enough time.
Industry officials predicted easy approval of a declaratory ruling allowing E-rate funding for Wi-Fi on school buses. The draft was largely supported in filings in docket 13-184. “We agree … that the FCC has legal authority to move forward with including both Wi-Fi on school buses and hotspot lending in schools and libraries within the E-rate program,” the American Library Association said in the most recent filing. Objections came from RF safety advocates who view additional Wi-Fi as a threat to the health of children and bus drivers.