Work of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee remains a top focus of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, senior Pai adviser Nick Degani told the group Thursday as it held its second public meeting. BDAC's work “is central to the mission of the commission” and is being closely watched on the eighth floor of the FCC, Degani said. But BDAC members complained repeatedly that the group has been given an unrealistically quick timeline.
SAN DIEGO -- As states seek broadband-for-USF and funding tweaks, an FCC member was said to visit the city where state regulators are meeting, NARUC attendees told us. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly was expected to have been in San Diego on Tuesday for closed-door meetings of the federal-state joint boards on Universal Service and Jurisdictional Separations. His office didn't comment. Also at the meeting, states and electric utilities joined local governments protesting balance on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC).
SAN DIEGO -- As states seek broadband-for-USF and funding tweaks, an FCC member was said to visit the city where state regulators are meeting, NARUC attendees told us. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly was expected to have been in San Diego on Tuesday for closed-door meetings of the federal-state joint boards on Universal Service and Jurisdictional Separations. His office didn't comment. Also at the meeting, states and electric utilities joined local governments protesting balance on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC).
NARUC would seek more state and local government members on the FCC's Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, under a proposed resolution released in draft form Wednesday. State commissioners plan to vote on that and another resolution seeking increased USF high-cost funding, at their July 16-19 Summer Policy Summit in San Diego. With the BDAC, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is sending the impression he isn't interested in working with states, said District of Columbia Public Service Commission Chairman Betty Ann Kane in an interview.
NARUC would seek more state and local government members on the FCC's Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, under a proposed resolution released in draft form Wednesday. State commissioners plan to vote on that and another resolution seeking increased USF high-cost funding, at their July 16-19 Summer Policy Summit in San Diego. With the BDAC, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is sending the impression he isn't interested in working with states, said District of Columbia Public Service Commission Chairman Betty Ann Kane in an interview.
The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously advanced legislation reauthorizing the FAA through 2021, adopting 56 amendments en bloc without discussion, including several on drones and one requiring that passengers be barred from talking on their cellphones during flights. “Our committee has acted to continue advancing unmanned aircraft systems and other aviation innovations while offering airline passengers new protections,” said a statement from Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., whose substitute amendment was approved during the Thursday markup.
The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously advanced legislation reauthorizing the FAA through 2021, adopting 56 amendments en bloc without discussion, including several on drones and one requiring that passengers be barred from talking on their cellphones during flights. “Our committee has acted to continue advancing unmanned aircraft systems and other aviation innovations while offering airline passengers new protections,” said a statement from Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., whose substitute amendment was approved during the Thursday markup.
The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously advanced legislation reauthorizing the FAA through 2021, adopting 56 amendments en bloc without discussion, including several on drones and one requiring that passengers be barred from talking on their cellphones during flights. “Our committee has acted to continue advancing unmanned aircraft systems and other aviation innovations while offering airline passengers new protections,” said a statement from Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., whose substitute amendment was approved during the Thursday markup.
Rural groups urged the FCC to nail down a Connect America Fund Phase II auction "with all due speed" after five years of preparatory work. "Further delay now to rewrite the rules in a manner that may tilt the playing field toward lesser quality networks will not serve the needs of our rural communities and the consumers we serve," said a filing Tuesday in docket 10-90 by 33 groups calling themselves Concerned Rural Stakeholders. Hughes Network Systems and Pennsylvania government entities asked the FCC to reconsider decisions in a February order that set bidding weights for the reverse auction of broadband subsidies (see 1704210016 and 1705190044). NTCA, one of the rural stakeholders, separately cited "the negative effects of insufficient" USF support "and the ensuing unpredictable nature of the budget control mechanism on investments" by rural telcos and the rates paid by their consumers. The group urged the FCC "to act upon its pending petition for reconsideration to address such concerns so that the purported goals of USF reform and the mandates of federal law may be achieved," said a filing Monday on the association's meeting with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai.
Rural groups urged the FCC to nail down a Connect America Fund Phase II auction "with all due speed" after five years of preparatory work. "Further delay now to rewrite the rules in a manner that may tilt the playing field toward lesser quality networks will not serve the needs of our rural communities and the consumers we serve," said a filing Tuesday in docket 10-90 by 33 groups calling themselves Concerned Rural Stakeholders. Hughes Network Systems and Pennsylvania government entities asked the FCC to reconsider decisions in a February order that set bidding weights for the reverse auction of broadband subsidies (see 1704210016 and 1705190044). NTCA, one of the rural stakeholders, separately cited "the negative effects of insufficient" USF support "and the ensuing unpredictable nature of the budget control mechanism on investments" by rural telcos and the rates paid by their consumers. The group urged the FCC "to act upon its pending petition for reconsideration to address such concerns so that the purported goals of USF reform and the mandates of federal law may be achieved," said a filing Monday on the association's meeting with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai.