The FCC is soliciting nominations for a new advisory committee focused on stopping robocalls to hospitals, said a public notice Wednesday. The Hospital Robocall Protection Group will work to issue best practices for carriers to combat such calls, and how hospitals can protect themselves. It stems from the Traced Act. “Health care facilities are critically important, especially in the face of the current pandemic, and the last thing they should have to worry about is receiving robocalls that distract,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The group will have an equal number of representatives from hospitals, voice providers that serve hospitals, robocall mitigation companies, consumer groups, VoIP providers, state government officials, and one member each from the FCC and FTC. Best practices are expected to be issued within 180 days of the group’s establishment. Nominations are due “as soon as possible” but by May 1 (see the release).
Former FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell tweeted Tuesday that he has been hospitalized for the second time with “double pneumonia and likely #COVID19.” McDowell, now a partner at Cooley, tweeted Saturday that he likely had the disease and said Sunday he had been released from the hospital after three days. Cooley didn't comment Wednesday. McDowell's tweet Tuesday asked readers not to text or tweet him but said prayers were welcome. Many said they were doing just that.
House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., urged ISPs and wireless carriers Tuesday to temporarily make available as much data as possible to customers amid increased reliance on home networks during the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted many ISPs agreed to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s call for them to keep everyone online during the epidemic (see 2003130066), but “more can be done.” Increasing “data caps for hotspots is the fastest way to connect Americans temporarily who do not have Wi-Fi at home,” Walden said. That “temporary action can fill the gap during this crisis,” but “it could cause network congestion in the long-term if everyone were to rely on this access. We must not lose sight of the bigger problem: the need to deploy broadband in the long-term.” The “broadband divide has never come more clearly into focus than now where states, including Oregon, are saying online school work won’t count in part because not all students have access to broadband,” he said. CTIA didn't comment.
Increase Lifeline support, some 250 groups asked the FCC Monday. United Church of Christ, Public Knowledge, NAACP and others want to "immediately prohibit disconnections of Lifeline consumers," require providers to offer unlimited voice and texting plans and commensurate voice-only financial support, and create an emergency Lifeline broadband benefit. "The Commission has ample precedent to take this action," the groups said, citing actions taken after Hurricane Katrina. Eliminate the non-usage rule and continue to waive recertification and reverification requirements "for the full length of the emergency," they said. Give low-income households $50 monthly (see 2003230042) "to fill in the gaps once the initial corporate commitments for 60 days of free service end," they asked.
The FCC is expected to issue an order soon delaying one or more filing deadlines during COVID-19. Commissioner Brendan Carr said last week relief may be on the way (see 2003190049). The FCC has delayed deadlines in the past when the government closed. Here, the delay would help commenters caught up in the pandemic. An extension is expected soon on the FCC’s net neutrality refresh, with filings now due April 29, after various groups complained (see 2003120070) because one topic is how the reclassification of broadband service affects public safety, a key issue to state and local governments dealing with the coronavirus, industry officials said. Unclear is whether the FCC will extend other deadlines.
The FCC is rechartering its World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee for another two-year term, the agency said Friday, effective April 2. The committee oversees industry work in preparation for the conference, next scheduled for 2023.
The FCC is closing the open window at its headquarters and won't accept filings delivered by hand, it said in public notice and Friday's Daily Digest. Effective immediately, the change comes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said. "We encourage outside parties to take full advantage of the Commission’s various electronic filing systems," it said. It will continue to accept materials by mail and overnight services. Earlier this month, FCC headquarters was closed to most visitors (see 2003120063).
Olivia Wein is the correct spelling of the name of a National Consumer Law Center attorney (see 2003180035) ... Comcast backs calls to have no retransmission consent blackouts during the novel coronavirus epidemic (see 2003180072). We incorrectly reported the company didn't comment by our deadline Wednesday (see 2003180036).
President Donald Trump’s renomination of FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly Wednesday drew widespread praise. O’Rielly would serve a term ending June 30, 2024 (see 2003180070). His current term ended in June, but he can remain until this Congress ends at the beginning of 2021 (see 1910250039). “I am deeply appreciative of the President’s decision and his aggressive leadership on communications policy, including extensive efforts to bring broadband access to all Americans,” O’Rielly said. As a commissioner “I have advocated for preserving and advancing American free market principles to develop common sense regulation and eliminate unnecessary rules that hurt consumers.” It’s “gratifying to watch the private and public sectors pulling together to rise to the occasion” amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other “monumental challenges currently confronting our nation,” he said. Trump “made a wise choice,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. O’Rielly has “made many contributions to the work of the Commission, from his leadership on 3.5 GHz spectrum policy to his unwavering advocacy against state misuse of 911 funding. And when we were in the minority, he consistently stood on principle while being pragmatic.” O’Rielly’s “tireless work ethic has helped deliver many good wins for this country during his time on the Commission,” said Commissioner Brendan Carr. O’Rielly “is incredibly knowledgeable on communications policy matters and has contributed so much to the work of the agency,” said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks also congratulated O’Rielly. CTIA President Meredith Baker highlighted O’Rielly for being “a champion for smart spectrum policies, ending 9-1-1 fee diversion.” NAB “supports the renomination,” said CEO Gordon Smith. Charter Communications, Comcast, the Competitive Carriers Association, Incompas, Wireless Infrastructure Association and Wireless ISP Association also applauded the renomination.
The FCC Wireline Bureau waived gift rules through Sept. 30 for the E-rate and Rural Health Care programs to help schools, libraries and healthcare providers better respond to COVID-19 outbreaks, in an order Wednesday on docket 02-60 (see 2003180048). Waivers in the healthcare program are limited to providers involved in screening and treatment of COVID-19 or mitigating its spread, the order said. The E-rate waiver is limited to eligible entities adjusting to school or library closures due to COVID-19, regardless of the USF program's funding year. The FCC will monitor whether extensions are needed. “By waiving certain FCC rules today, we are giving service providers the chance to step up and give health care providers more tools to fight the ongoing pandemic and serve patients more effectively," Chairman Ajit Pai said. He encouraged "service providers and equipment makers to partner with schools and libraries to provide mobile hotspots and other broadband-enabled devices to students to help bridge the digital divide during the coronavirus pandemic." Such efforts could complement the agency's work with Congress to appropriate funds for a remote learning initiative and a COVID connected care pilot, Pai said, adding such programs would allow the agency to use federal funds to support in-home equipment for patients and students affected by the pandemic. The agency's Connected Care pilot remains in the rulemaking stage, and it sought comment on whether the program should subsidize patient monitoring equipment and broadband to the home (see 1906190013). Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel called the gift waivers a smart step. "But let’s not confuse generosity for justice," she said. "We need a national plan to ensure that everyone is connected during these unprecedented days." She wants the FCC to use its "universal service powers" to provide hotspot loans to students caught in the homework gap, and connectivity for telehealth services to support treating coronavirus patients and those quarantined. Stakeholders for USF programs supporting anchor institutions expect a spike in telehealth (see 2003060036) and online learning (see 2003170014) this year. The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition asked the FCC to waive the gift rules, in a letter Tuesday (see 2003170014). The gift ban was in place to prevent undue influence in the competitive bidding process, SHLB Executive Director John Windhausen told us. SHLB views this as "a timely step,” he emailed Wednesday. “The coronavirus is putting online learning and telemedicine in high demand ... We hope the FCC will continue to be proactive.”