Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon agreed to start providing vertical-location information where available on all calls to 911 nationwide within seven days, to implement compliance plans, and to each pay a $100,000 fine, the FCC said Thursday. Public safety groups applauded the action. The agency's two Republican members were upset over process and technological issues.

The California Public Utilities Commission shared proposed resolutions on California LifeLine and inmate calling services for its Thursday meeting. Commissioners plan to vote on a resolution to comply with a May 5 order (in Pacer) by U.S. District Court for Northern California (case 3:20-cv-08312-MMC) that granted the National Lifeline Association’s request to stop the agency from implementing a zero dollar co-pay for basic and standard LifeLine plans. The proposed resolution would rescind that: “Wireless providers may file a Tier 2 advice letter if they wish to charge a co-pay for these plans, subject to review for affordability and compliance with program rules.” The CPUC would comment at the FCC supporting the federal agency lowering “the extremely high cost of communications for inmates and their loved ones.” The FCC sought comment on permanent rate caps in a May 24 (see 2105240055). The CPUC is weighing lowering intrastate ICS rates (see 2105030059). Also Friday, the commission sought comment by July 2, replies July 19 in its broadband-for-all rulemaking (docket R.20-09-001) on three digital redlining studies by the Greenlining Institute; University of Southern California; and Communications Workers of America and National Digital Inclusion Alliance.

President Joe Biden proposed substantial budget increases Friday for the FCC, FTC and most tech-focused agencies within the Commerce and Justice departments for FY 2022, in documents released Friday. The administration proposed a smaller increase for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and would keep CPB's funding at $475 million.

Drafts released Thursday revealed details of what acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wants FCC colleagues to vote on at the members' June 17 meeting. On letting companies market RF devices pending FCC authorization, a draft would allow a greater number of the products than initially suggested. CTA sought limited marketing and sales of wireless devices to consumers before they're authorized.

The FCC will launch a proceeding aimed at increasing telecom security by making changes to its equipment authorization rules and competitive bidding procedures “to help keep insecure devices off the market,” acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday. Commissioners will also take up a proposal sought by CTA allowing the limited marketing and sales of wireless devices to consumers before equipment authorization. All the items are to be voted at the June 17 commissioners' meeting.

House Commerce Committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Communications Subcommittee ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, pressed committee Democrats Tuesday to set an FCC oversight hearing on implementation of the $7.17 Emergency Connectivity Fund and $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit. EBB and ECF “could be subject to waste, fraud, and abuse,” Latta and Rodgers said in a letter including to Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J. “The Commission still is without a permanent Chair and short-handed with only four commissioners.” The GOP leaders want the committee hearing to examine what they view as acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s “lack” of “commitment to free speech.” They cited the letter Reps. Anna Eshoo and Jerry McNerney, both D-Calif., sent providers in February asking them to justify carrying Fox News, Newsmax and One America News Network (see 2102220068). Rosenworcel “ignored” Commerce Republicans’ “request that she denounce efforts of these Federal government officials to silence speech,” Latta and Rodgers said. Commerce Democrats and the FCC didn’t comment. The committee's last FCC oversight hearing was in September (see 2009170068).

The FCC seems unlikely to backtrack on last year’s 5-0 order splitting 5.9 GHz between Wi-Fi and auto safety (see 2011180043). Commissioner Brendan Carr considers this a key early test of the commission’s resolve to stick with controversial decisions (see 2105130064). Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed concerns, similar to those in the last administration (see 2103250071).

Ossia wireless power firm taps Jim Cottrell, ex-HP, to lead regulatory efforts as senior director-regulatory compliance ... Comcast adds Toni Beck, ex-NextDecade, as vice president-external affairs, Houston Region ... Liberty Global and Digital Colony creating AtlasEdge Data Centres in transaction they expect to close in Q3, with industry executive Josh Joshi to be AtlasEdge executive chairman ... Hearst Television promotes Andrew Vrees to president-general manager, WMUR-TV Manchester, New Hampshire, succeeding Jeff Bartlett, retiring this summer.

Citing the impact of COVID-19 on incarcerated people and their families, FCC commissioners unanimously approved an order and Further NPRM Thursday to cut interstate rates for inmate calling services (see 2105120031). It’s “not the last action we will take because there is more that needs to be done,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel during Thursday’s meeting.

Scott Harris of Harris Wiltshire appears to be the front-runner for NTIA administrator, communications sector officials and lobbyists told us. The Biden administration may announce its NTIA pick as soon as next week. The Senate Commerce Committee voted down 14-14 Wednesday a bid by ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., to attach his Improving Spectrum Coordination Act (S-1472) to the Endless Frontier Act (S-1260) amid Democrats' belief a permanent administrator needs to be in place before lawmakers consider major changes to spectrum policymaking. Senate Commerce advanced an amended version of S-1260 24-4 (see 2105120063).