The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the FCC should avoid taking the steps proposed in an AI NPRM. Commissioners approved the NPRM 5-0 in August. Conversely, consumer groups supported the proposed rules. Comments were due last week and posted Thursday and Friday in docket 23-362.

With the California Public Utilities Commission planning a vote within days about regulating VoIP, AT&T and the cable industry urged that commissioners at least delay -- if not outright reject -- the controversial item. Industry groups representing voice technologies stressed in comments last week in docket R.22-08-008 that the CPUC lacks legal authority to regulate VoIP.

With Hurricane Milton recovery efforts continuing, the FCC extended the Lifeline program to storm victims, telecom companies expanded efforts to restore service, and NAB pointed to AM radio as an antidote to online misinformation about relief efforts.

Former President Donald Trump called Thursday for the FCC to pull licenses for all U.S. broadcast networks, an apparent escalation from his recent threats against ABC and CBS over what he claims has been biased coverage of his campaign as the Republicans’ 2024 nominee (see 2409110058). Trump has repeatedly sought FCC revocation of broadcasters’ licenses since early in his 2017-2021 administration (see 1710110075). FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel quickly shot down Trump’s threat, going beyond her similar responses to past incidents (see 2409120056) and directly criticizing the former president.

FCC Commissioners Nathan Simington and Geoffrey Starks warned the Mobile World Congress in Las Vegas that the FCC’s loss of general spectrum auction authority last year is hampering U.S. competitive efforts against major rivals in the 6G race. CTIA President Meredith Baker sounded a similar theme at the beginning of the conference, which CTIA sponsors with GSMA (see 2410080044).

State broadband officials said Thursday they expect big differences in the level and type of provider participation in the broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program. Also during the Broadband Nation Expo, numerous speakers bemoaned workforce challenges that could bedevil BEAD-funded broadband network expansions. The Telecommunications Industry Association and Fierce Network staged the event at National Harbor, Maryland.

Communications companies said they’re responding to power outages and network damage in the wake of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday night. Emergency 911 systems appeared largely to withstand the onslaught, as they did with Hurricane Helene two weeks earlier (see 2409270058). AccuWeather said the total damage and economic loss from Milton will likely be between $160 billion and $180 billion, making it "one of the most damaging and impactful storms in Florida history."

Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions. Lawsuits added since the last update are marked with an *.

ISPs in 24 states could face business challenges in the next decade from the broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program’s low-cost offering requirement if the FCC further moves the needle on what it defines as broadband, NCTA state affairs lead Rick Cimerman said Wednesday. In addition, Jennifer Fritzsche, Greenhill analyst, said she expects consolidation among rural wireline companies akin to what happened with numerous regional wireless operators. They spoke at the Broadband Nation Expo that the Telecommunications Industry Association and Fierce Network organized.

AT&T on Wednesday called for major changes in how 3 GHz, including the citizens broadband radio service band, is configured, going beyond what the FCC proposed in an August NPRM (see 2408160031). Meanwhile, during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday, experts said the CBRS band has demonstrated the value and importance of spectrum sharing.