Tougher Robocall Rules and LPTV Changes Headline December FCC Agenda

The robocall order picks up where the FCC left off last year when commissioners approved VoIP numbering authorization rules that required new applicants to make robocall-related, public safety and national security certifications and other information disclosures (see 2309210055). That item included a further NPRM, which set the stage for the draft.

The proposed order is “an important next step in fighting the harms of illegal calls, fraud and abuse” and requires all direct access authorization holders to comply with the requirements, closing a potential gap, the draft says. All would be required to file ownership and control information, “reporting foreign ownership as outlined in our rules.” The requirements will “enable consistent and comprehensive oversight of the authorization program and ensure that there are no gaps in safeguards against bad actors seeking to exploit our numbering resources.”

The accompanying FNPRM would “refresh the record on the feasibility and impacts” of reclaiming numbering resources “obtained directly from the Numbering Administrators … when the Commission has revoked or terminated their VoIP numbering authorization or when the provider is no longer providing services due to bankruptcy or other critical circumstances,” the FCC said. The FNPRM asks about advantages and costs. “Would the disruptions to end-users outweigh the potential benefits? What are the possible ways to mitigate impacts on end-users and consumers?”

The FNPRM also asks about whether to restrict authorizations or reevaluate existing approvals for companies “that may threaten national security, for example, entities identified on the Commission’s Covered List” of unsecure companies. “Should we limit the prohibition to entities whose services, rather than equipment, [are] identified on the Covered List, or whose domestic or international section 214 authority (or that of its affiliate or subsidiary) has been denied or revoked on national security or law enforcement grounds?” The notice asks about how to address providers found to have “covered” equipment in their networks.

In addition, commissioners will vote on a draft report and order that would update a number of LPTV and translator rules “to provide regulatory certainty and clarity, streamline processes” and “create a level playing field,” said an FCC fact sheet released with the item.

The order would update how relocation distances are calculated for displaced and channel sharing stations, change LPTV call sign rules, and clarify alerting and programming responsibilities for the service.

The item rejects a number of proposals teed up in a 2024 LPTV NPRM from the Biden-era FCC, including changes to minimum operating hours and limits on community of license changes. It also doesn’t take up proposals to establish online public file requirements for LPTV that were associated with that NPRM as well.

The 2024 NPRM “contained a companion proceeding, MB Docket No. 24-147, that concerned the political programming and online public file requirements for LPTV stations. The R&O takes no action on the proposals in that docket,” said a footnote on the fact sheet. “In light of changes within the broadcast industry and LPTV Service over the last forty years, we adopt changes to our rules to ensure that the LPTV Service continues to flourish and serve the public interest long into the future,” the draft item says.

Lastly, the commissioners will vote on a draft direct final rule "Delete" order that would repeal 35 rules connected with the Office of Engineering and Technology. The order gives commenters 20 days after Federal Register publication to object to the deletions. As with previous DFR orders, the item provides only extremely brief descriptions of the targeted rules. The provisions marked for deletion appear to include compliance deadlines that have passed, outdated disclosure requirements and rules related to analog TV tuners.