Broadcasters, ham radio operators and trade groups opposed a U.S. Forest Service proposal to charge an additional administrative fee to communications facilities on USFS land (see 2202180051), by Tuesday's deadline in USFS rulemaking docket 2021-27681. “The proposal is unlawful, inequitable, and undermines the public interest,” said NAB. The rule will undermine access to broadcasts in rural areas because it disproportionally affects rural TV translator stations, NAB said, saying “there is no statutory justification” for the USFS to apply the fee to existing users. If the proposal moves forward, it should allow for a “phase-in” period so existing users can make adjustments, NAB said. NAB also suggested an alternative fee that would assess fees based on market size and higher value uses. The rule would affect numerous public broadcasters that have prioritized universal access, said NPR, America’s Public Television Stations and PBS in joint comments. The USFS should revise the rule to include a discretionary waiver for nonprofit and governmental organizations, the public broadcasters said. The vast bulk of the over 700 comments in the docket came from amateur radio operators and related organizations and almost universally opposed the fees. Amateur radio operators provide “valuable communications services for the government and citizens during major emergencies” in areas that have little cellular service, said the Staunton, Virginia-based Valley Amateur Radio Association.Since amateur radio operators are prevented by law from charging for their services, the repeaters and other facilities they use are privately owned, the group said. “The only recourse the owners of the radio repeater resource have to cover any additional expense levied on them is directly out of pocket or additional donations.” The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association said the fee should be one time instead of annual. Georgia-based Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation said the fee would jeopardize the private radio network its employees use to communicate while restoring electrical and broadband services during weather events. “If we can't afford to break even on these services we will likely be forced to discontinue them, which will impair both BRMEMC services as well as the USFS.” CTIA said the fee appears to overlap with other fees already charged by the agency, and the USFS should revise the fee to prevent redundant charges. CTIA also argued the fees should lead to a streamlining of the broadband deployment process on USFS lands: “CTIA urges the FS to endeavor to reduce its current timeframes to act on communications use applications, particularly those proposing modifications to existing facilities.”
The FCC made few edits to its final Further NPRM on rural healthcare program revisions, according to our comparison with the draft (see 2202180054). The final FNPRM includes questions sought by Commissioner Brendan Carr about whether the Universal Service Administrative Co. should "process applications and make funding commitment decisions within a specified period of time after the close of the filing window," and whether any program rules need clarification.
Congress “should consider reauthorizing FirstNet and ensure that key statutory and contract responsibilities are addressed before the 2027 sunset,” the GAO said in a report released Tuesday. “Without congressional action on FirstNet’s key statutory responsibilities … it is unclear how the federal government will continue to oversee network operations and the network’s required enhancements when FirstNet’s authority sunsets” in 2027, GAO said in the report, sought by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J. “Given the interconnectedness of FirstNet’s ongoing key statutory responsibilities, dispersing these responsibilities among multiple federal agencies might complicate oversight, add complexity to continuing network operations, and lead to inefficiencies.” Congress “could reauthorize FirstNet to fulfill the key statutory requirements and contract responsibilities” currently within its remit, GAO said. “This option could prevent any potential operational uncertainties surrounding the oversight and management of the network and contract with AT&T.” Lawmakers could also “deliberate on FirstNet’s organizational placement” by either keeping it within NTIA, place it “within another federal agency” or make it “independent of an existing federal agency,” GAO said. “FirstNet officials told us that if Congress considered moving FirstNet, the least disruptive move would be as an independent entity within the Department of Commerce but outside of NTIA.” Making FirstNet independent of a federal agency would have “advantages and disadvantages” for the entity, GAO said. FirstNet stakeholders believe “NTIA has begun to be more involved as it relates to future reinvestments policies and decisions; this involvement can affect FirstNet’s ability to independently plan for reinvesting in the network.” Disadvantages to making FirstNet independent include losing the Commerce Department inspector general’s oversight, GAO said.
Comments are due April 4 for the FCC’s biennial report to Congress required by the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, said a public notice in docket 10-213 Wednesday. The agency is seeking comment on accessibility topics including internet browsers in mobile phones, the extent of barriers to accessibility in telecom, and the effect of CVAA enforcement on innovation. The agency is “especially interested in comment on whether people with disabilities are able to access the telecommunications and advanced communications services and equipment necessary to work, study, and obtain healthcare in a remote environment,” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PN said. “Since our last biennial Report to Congress, accessibility needs have evolved, and we anticipate that this year’s report will highlight specific accessible devices and services, as well as those that may need improvement, in this area.”
A draft Further NPRM that would seek comment on changes to how the rural healthcare program’s rates databases are calculated and to internal funding cap rules is expected to be unanimously approved during Friday’s FCC commissioners meeting, officials told us (see 2202040042). The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition suggested additional questions be added about whether the program’s overall cap should be raised and how the FCC should clarify the eligibility of broadband equipment, per a filing in docket 17-310. GCI Communications lobbied aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in separate meetings, suggesting “several small additions … to reflect questions on the state of market competition,” per a filing last week. Unanimous approval is also expected for a draft order requiring Aureon to submit certain information the FCC Wireline Bureau would need to calculate refunds to its customers (see 2202150036).
The Feb. 23 virtual meeting of the FCC’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council will include remarks from Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, new Media Bureau Chief Holly Saurer and discussion of the group’s workstreams, said an agenda released Wednesday. The agenda identifies the workstreams as involving the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. “The workstreams will provide a roadmap for how each working group will support the Council’s mission” of increasing equity and diversity in the communications sphere, the agenda said.
National broadcasters said Tuesday they’re “wholly satisfied” that shuttered rebroadcaster Locast has transferred “all of its physical assets” and certain intellectual property and has paid the entirety of its remaining cash assets, as agreed in an October lawsuit settlement (see 2110280039). The satisfaction of judgment statement (docket 19-cv-7136) cites the original $32 million settlement figure rather than the lower $700,000 figure included in a confidential revised settlement (see 2201260056) that became a central issue in Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn’s stalled confirmation process. Senate Commerce Committee Republicans said last week after a second confirmation hearing for Sohn that the nominee still hasn't been sufficiently candid about whether she played a role as a board member for Locast operator Sports Fans Coalition in securing the revised settlement (see 2202090070). Locast, Sohn and broadcasters involved in the lawsuit didn’t comment. Senate IP Subcommittee ranking member Thom Tillis, R-N.C., urged his colleagues during a Tuesday floor speech to vote against Sohn, arguing she’s still “hiding relevant information” about the Locast settlement. If confirmed Sohn “would undermine public confidence in the FCC and our government,” Tillis said. “If this were any other nominee, especially a Republican nominee, any one of these issues would be enough for my colleagues on this side of the aisle to stand up and as the president of our party to withdraw the nominee.”
Global revenue from AI software, hardware and services is forecast to grow 19.6% year over year in 2022 to $432.8 billion, topping the $500 billion milestone in 2023, reported IDC Tuesday. AI is "the next major wave of innovation,” with advancements in language, voice and vision technologies “revolutionizing human efficiencies," said IDC analyst Ritu Jyoti. IDC projects AI software revenue will decline slightly in 2022, as spending for AI hardware and services grows more quickly. It forecast AI services will deliver the fastest spending expansion over the next five years with a 22% compound annual growth rate, compared with a 20.5% CAGR for AI hardware spending through 2026.
AT&T has done what it can and won’t delay shuttering its 3G network starting next week, Joan Marsh, AT&T executive vice president-federal regulatory relations, blogged Tuesday. “No network transition is easy,” she said: “We’ve undertaken extensive efforts to minimize the inconvenience for our customers and allow as seamless a transition as is possible. We will continue to remain focused on assisting customers through and past the 3G sunset date.” AT&T offered subscribers free and discounted phones to switch off 3G, created a dedicated transition webpage, certified more than 100 devices for use on AT&T’s 4G/5G network, provided more than $100 million in incentives for businesses to replace devices, and took other actions to ease the transition, she said. Less than 1% of AT&T traffic now runs on the 3G network, she said. “Three years ago, when we announced the 3G sunset, we gave notice to our business customers that then relied on 3G devices,” Marsh said: “We even gave notice in contracts years before that. And most of those companies have used this time effectively to migrate their devices. For example, ADT, one of the largest alarm companies, has publicly said it expects to have all its 3G devices upgraded before the February 22 sunset date.”
NAB didn't oppose Gigi Sohn's FCC nomination but raised concerns about her affiliation with streaming service Locast (see 2202100056).