SpaceX's move this spring into offering broadband service aimed at RVs (see 2205240020) might face some competition from low earth orbit constellation rivals, but the broader land-mobile broadband market isn't likely to be a big growth area soon for LEO, satellite broadband and vehicle connectivity experts told us. The FCC International Bureau approved SpaceX operating Ku-band earth stations in motion (ESIM) and Kepler operating Ku-band earth stations in vessels (ESV) in U.S. territorial waters and on U.S.-registered watercraft internationally last week, but with conditions.
Country of origin cases
The FCC expanded the interstate Telecom Relay Service Fund contribution base to include intrastate and interstate end-user revenue, to ensure "fair treatment of intrastate and interstate communications services and users in the funding of relay services," said an order released Thursday in docket 03-123 (see 2206280060). The order modified contributions for video relay and IP relay services based on the "total interstate and intrastate end-user revenues of each telecommunications carrier and VoIP service provider." It denied an NTCA request to limit the contribution cost of rural providers' intrastate end-user revenue and set a compliance date of July 1, 2023. The order takes effect 30 days after Federal Register publication. Also released Thursday was a second order amending VRS and IP captioned telephone service rules, an NPRM proposing to modify certain VRS rules, and a declaratory ruling on COVID-19 pandemic waivers. The second order gave VRS and IP CTS providers a two-week "grace period" to be compensated for "providing service to new and porting-in customers ... after initial submission of the consumer's registration data." The change will allow users to "immediately start making and receiving relay calls," the order said. The NPRM seeks comments on increasing the percentage of a VRS provider's monthly minutes a communications assistant (CA) may handle from home to 80% and reducing or eliminating the requirement that CA's have at least three years of interpreting experience. The notice also seeks comment on whether to allow VRS providers to contract interpretation services for "up to 30% of their monthly call minutes." The commission also waived its cap on the rules for one year. Comments are due 30 days after Federal Register publication, 60 days for replies. The declaratory ruling clarified that the maximum period a VRS provider may be compensated for calls originating abroad by a VRS user is one year.
Crisis call centers around the U.S. expect a slow rise in National Suicide Prevention Lifeline traffic once Lifeline's 988 calling capability goes nationwide later this month. Local exchange carriers are in various stages of readiness for the July 16 deadline.
On Thursday, the day NTIA’s reconstituted Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee was scheduled to have its initial meeting, NTIA announced in the Federal Register a "correct meeting date" of July 15. Members of CSMAC had earlier been informed of the change, members confirmed. The meeting was originally expected May 26. CSMAC grew out of a 2004 presidential memorandum on Spectrum Management for the 21st Century but in recent years has been hampered by a lack of political leadership at NTIA (see 2201190062). The committee held its last meeting in April 2021 (see 2104080060). The meeting starts at 1 p.m. EDT and the public can call in.
The House Appropriations Committee expects the FCC to "take further action to help eliminate the potential for future interagency spectrum disputes" beyond a coordination agreement between commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson (see 2202150001), the panel said in a report accompanying the Financial Services Subcommittee's FY 2023 bill. The underlying measure (see 2203280069), set for a Friday committee vote, would give the FCC $390 million, up 2.3% from what Congress appropriated in the FY 2022 omnibus appropriations package President Joe Biden signed in March (see 2203150076). The bill would give the FTC $490 million in FY23, up 30% from FY22. The markup begins at 9 a.m. in 1100 Longworth.
A draft FCC notice of inquiry would seek comment on expanding access to the affordable connectivity program and Lifeline for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, if adopted during the commissioners’ July 14 meeting. It would seek comment on the agency’s authority to adjust both programs to better assist survivors and whether the FCC should adopt certain requirements set in the proposed Safe Connections Act.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., won’t bring up bipartisan privacy legislation the House Commerce Committee introduced for markup this week, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told reporters Wednesday.
Allow ISPs to have "at least a six-month initial implementation period" after OMB approval of the FCC's final rules for consumer broadband labels, NCTA asked in separate meetings with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr, per an ex parte filing posted Friday in docket 22-2 (see 2203250053). NCTA also asked the FCC to treat its 2016 consumer broadband labels "as the model" for the new labels required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The group was on the commission's consumer advisory committee that established the original labels. "Additional mandated disclosures are unwarranted," NCTA said, and would make the labels "less effective in assisting consumers in choosing the broadband service that meets their needs."
Europe's focus on the behavior of internet platforms advanced Thursday on several fronts. The European Parliament's lead committee endorsed a provisional agreement with governments on the Digital Services Act (DSA). The European Commission announced stricter rules for tech companies to fight disinformation. And European telecom regulators are examining the role Big Tech plays in internet connectivity issues and competition dynamics.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel now expects a final estimate of demands for money from the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program to repay U.S. carriers for removing from their networks equipment made by companies deemed a national security risk to be ready on or soon after July 15. The House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee, meanwhile, advanced by voice vote Thursday its FY 2023 bill with FCC and FTC funding mirroring what President Joe Biden is seeking for the agencies (see 2203280069). The Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee advanced by voice its FY23 bill Thursday with funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency well above what Biden sought.