Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announces retirement of Wireline Bureau Deputy Chief Diane Holland after 25 years with the agency … NAB promotes Alex Siciliano to senior vice president-communications … YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki says she’s leaving the company, Chief Product Officer Neal Mohan to succeed her as CEO … Comcast promotes Sophia Marshall to senior vice president-communications, Central Division, headquartered in Atlanta.

The NARUC board passed telecom resolutions Wednesday on the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and extending FCC spectrum auction authority. The RDOF resolution recommends a referral to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, but that body’s state members told us at NARUC’s meeting this week the joint board hasn’t met in several years. The FCC’s continuing lack of five commissioners could be a big reason, they said.

The NARUC Telecom Committee unanimously agreed Monday to proposed resolutions on the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and extending FCC spectrum authority. It’s critical to keep RDOF awards in the location that won them even if the FCC rejected the winning bidder, said Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chair Gladys Brown Dutrieuille in an interview Sunday. The draft resolutions, passed at the state utility regulator association’s winter meeting, need NARUC board approval.

NARUC draft resolutions on FCC spectrum auction authority and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) got support from some industry and other groups ahead of this week’s state utilities regulators’ meeting in Washington, D.C. In an interview last week, Nebraska Public Service Commissioner Tim Schram (R) said it’s critical to use auction revenue to fully fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, which repays federally funded carriers required to “rip and replace” equipment from Chinese vendors that may pose a security risk.

The Senate Commerce Committee set its third hearing on FCC nominee Gigi Sohn for Tuesday, in line with Democrats’ plans to move the candidate swiftly through the committee (see 2302030073) in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the Senate’s 2022 confirmation stall. President Joe Biden renominated Sohn in January after the new Congress convened (see 2301030060). The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell. The American Accountability Foundation, among the most vocal groups opposing Sohn urged four Democratic senators Wednesday to recuse themselves from voting on her confirmation because the nominee donated to their campaigns. Sohn supporters called AAF’s donation claims overblown.

Intelsat and SpaceX officials gave high marks to a draft updated version of the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act and refiled Secure Space Act (HR-675), in written testimony before a planned Wednesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing on the bills. Representatives from the FCC and Planet Labs gave more measured but positive reviews. Witnesses also spoke positively about the Leveraging American Understanding of Next-Generation Challenges Exploring Space Act (HR-682) and two other draft satellite bills the subcommittee will review Wednesday: the draft Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act and draft Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity (PASC) Act. The hearing will begin at 10:30 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn.

The number of items the FCC is considering at its monthly meetings has slowly declined in the two years since Jessica Rosenworcel was designated to lead the agency. The January meeting was over in about half an hour and had two items for votes. Similarly, Rosenworcel has teed up just two items for this month's meeting. A review of the record found the FCC tackled 59 items, large and small, at meetings the first year under Rosenworcel. That was down to 42 in year two. In more than half the meetings in year two, commissioners tackled three or fewer items at the meetings.

Republicans’ return to a House majority is unlikely to mean a big shift in the chamber’s approach to space policy and legislative priorities since those matters have generally been an area of bipartisan cooperation, policy experts said in interviews. The House Commerce Committee made its first foray into space matters for this Congress Thursday via a Communications Subcommittee hearing (see 2301270076) that lobbyists saw as a precursor to panel leaders’ plans to prioritize advancing legislation to revamp the FCC’s satellite licensing rules. House Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., staked the panel's claim to a role in space policy, saying during the hearing it has "been far too long since Congress reassessed the role of satellite technology in the communications marketplace and whether or not our regulatory environment encourages investment and innovation in the space economy, or hampers it."

The FCC’s sixth biennial report on media ownership shows efforts to increase broadcast ownership diversity led to little improvement, and sweeping policy changes in that area aren’t expected soon, said diversity advocates in interviews. The report, released earlier this month, is based on broadcast ownership forms from 2021, while the previous report was based on data from 2019. Following release of both the new report and the previous one, diversity advocates made similar calls for the return of the minority tax certificate (see 2109070051).

The FCC will do more to help survivors of domestic violence get access to communications services during the agency's Feb. 16 meeting (see 2301250061). Commissioners will consider a draft NPRM on implementing the Safe Connections Act. The draft item would seek comment on the law's requirement that mobile providers separate a survivor's phone line from an abuser within two business days after receiving the request, said a fact sheet. The item would seek comment on whether there are "operational and technical limitations" that covered providers may face to complete such a request. It also proposes to require that consumer-facing call logs and text message records omit calls or texts made to hotlines listed in a central database created by the commission and updated monthly. If adopted, the item will seek comment on ways to streamline enrollment in Lifeline and the affordable connectivity program for survivors facing financial hardship. "We believe that these measures will aid survivors who lack meaningful support and communications options when establishing independence from an abuser," the draft item said. Comments would be due 30 days after Federal Register publication, 60 days for replies. The agency will also seek comment on ways to encourage tribal participation in E-rate, said a draft NPRM also set for the February agenda. The draft item asks for feedback on creating a separate or extended filing window for tribal libraries, simplifying E-rate cost allocation rules, and increasing the maximum discount rate level and funding floor for tribal schools and libraries. It also seeks comment on allowing tribal college libraries to be eligible for E-rate funds, defining “Tribal” in E-rate and adding a tribal representative to the Universal Service Administrative Corp. The draft also asks whether “similar reforms may be needed to encourage greater participation by non-Tribal applicants, particularly if they face barriers that impede equitable access” to E-rate. The draft NPRM would also direct the Office of Native Affairs and Policy and the Wireline Bureau to “conduct government-to-government consultation as appropriate with Tribal Nations” on the issues raised in the NPRM. Comments would be due 45 days after FR publication, replies 75 days after.