Regulators approved a declaratory ruling Thursday allowing carriers to block unwanted robocalls by default. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mike O’Rielly, who had signaled concerns (see 1906030008 and 1905310061), partially dissented. A Further NPRM asks about additional steps and was strengthened last week to add a proposal that the FCC mandate secure handling of asserted information using tokens and secure telephone identity revisited technology if major voice providers don’t comply with demands Shaken Stir be implemented by year-end.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
What is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the U.S. federal government’s regulatory agency for the majority of telecommunications activity within the country. The FCC oversees radio, television, telephone, satellite, and cable communications, and its primary statutory goal is to expand U.S. citizens’ access to telecommunications services.
The Commission is funded by industry regulatory fees, and is organized into 7 bureaus:
- Consumer & Governmental Affairs
- Enforcement
- Media
- Space
- Wireless Telecommunications
- Wireline Competition
- Public Safety and Homeland Security
As an agency, the FCC receives its high-level directives from Congressional legislation and is empowered by that legislation to establish legal rules the industry must follow.
Latest News from the FCC
Some USF program allies raised alarms in interviews and statements about Friday's FCC 3-2 NPRM calling for an overall budget cap for the four programs (see 1905310069). Some plan to spread the word about the rulemaking to the public, hoping for a critical response. Advocates for government fiscal discipline had kinder words about the rulemaking.
By a party-line FCC member vote, the regulator began asking about starting an overall USF budget cap, as expected (see 1905240064). "Mindful of our obligation to safeguard the USF funds ultimately paid by ratepayers," and to ensure the money is "spent prudently" and consistently, the NPRM asks a number of questions.
Chairman Ajit Pai told fellow commissioners Friday a Further NPRM on robocalls is being changed to add a proposal that the FCC mandate secure handling of asserted information using tokens (Shaken) and secure telephone identity revisited (Stir) technology if major voice providers don’t comply with demands that it be implemented by year-end, officials said. The change came after the start of the sunshine period on the item, closing off outreach.
The FCC and competition aren’t enough to protect customers from service-quality problems on IP-based connections, said California Public Utilities Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves. At the CPUC's meeting Thursday, she slammed the FCC’s 3-2 Wednesday report showing a narrowing digital divide (see 1905290017) and urged the California legislature to allow the state to regulate VoIP. Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen said carriers aren’t doing enough to ensure adequate service quality and questioned the effectiveness of a California policy that allows companies to avoid penalties.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission split 3-2 to clear T-Mobile's buy of Sprint. At the PUC’s livestreamed Thursday hearing, Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille and Commissioner David Sweet opposed approval without strong Pennsylvania-specific conditions on jobs and rural broadband. With FCC Chairman Ajit Pai supporting the deal Monday (see 1905200051), deal opponents see California’s pending review and possible intervention by state attorneys general as key remaining ways to try to stop the big wireless deal. While an FCC majority is poised to approve the takeover, DOJ's decision is less certain (see 1905220071).
The House Commerce Committee moved forward with a Wednesday hearing on the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act (HR-2741) despite the simultaneous torpedoing of talks between President Donald Trump and top Capitol Hill Democrats on a plan to pay for additional spending on broadband and other infrastructure projects. HR-2741 would allocate $40 billion for broadband projects, offer $12 billion in grants for implementing next generation-911 technologies and $5 billion for federal funding of a loan and credit program for broadband projects. Democrats first filed the bill in 2017 (see 1706020056).
From more promotion of text-to-911 to better credentialing and verification of contractors, interested parties had an array of suggestions related to the FCC wireless resiliency cooperative framework. That's especially in light of recent hurricanes, in docket 11-60 replies this week. Industry groups have said the agency shouldn't impose new mandates and should rely on the voluntary approach that's working (see 1904300140).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s announcing ahead of DOJ his proposed approval of T-Mobile's buy of Sprint bucks some precedent under which the commission almost always announces second. It short-circuits the process and simplifies imposition of conditions on the transaction, said lawyers active in the proceeding. If Justice seeks conditions, it would have had to go to court to oppose the deal absent concessions by the companies. Pai's announcement was coordinated with DOJ, the lawyers said.
A Connecticut bill to resolve a long-standing fight about municipal broadband is headed to the Senate floor. SB-846 got wide support from the Joint Finance Committee, which voted 42-6 Tuesday. It clarifies local governments may use a reserved space on poles called the “municipal gain” for municipal broadband. Frontier Communications claims the bill would stunt broadband growth.