Telecom-focused Democrats told us they hope to limit any cuts to proposed next-generation 911 and broadband money in a final version of a budget reconciliation package and believe much depends on what negotiators decide on as an overall top-line. Legislators and lobbyists see the $10 billion for NG-911 and $4 billion for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund in the House Commerce Committee’s section of the Build Back Better Act reconciliation measure (see 2109140063) as the ceiling for telecom money rather than the floor.

The deadline for applications to join a working group of the FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council is Nov. 1, said a Public Safety Bureau public notice Thursday. It said the six working groups and chairs are: WG 1: 5G Signaling Protocols Security, co-chaired by AT&T Assistant Vice President-Standards and Industry Alliances Brian Daly and Oracle Cybersecurity Director Travis Russell; WG 2: Promoting Security, Reliability and Interoperability of Open Radio Access Network Equipment, co-chaired by Mavenir Chief Product Security Officer Mike Barnes and Rural Wireless Association member George Woodward, CEO of Trilogy Networks; WG 3: Leveraging Virtualization Technology to Promote Secure, Reliable 5G Networks, co-chaired by Microsoft 5G Policy and External Engagements Director Micaela Giuhat and Dell EMC Global Chief Technology Officer John Roese; WG 4: 911 Service Over Wi-Fi, co-chaired by Intrado Vice President-Government and External Affairs Mary Boyd and APCO Government Relations Manager Mark Reddish; WG 5: Managing Software & Cloud Services Supply Chain Security for Communications Infrastructure, chaired by VMware Head-RAN Intelligence and Chief Architect Rittwik Jana; and WG 6: Leveraging Mobile Device Applications and Firmware to Enhance Wireless Emergency Alerts, co-chaired by Qualcomm Engineering Director Farrokh Khatibi and Harris County, Texas, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Francisco Sanchez.

The FCC could remain fully open “through Oct. 11” in the event of a now-unlikely government shutdown, acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters Thursday. See our news bulletin here. President Joe Biden was expected to have signed a continuing resolution later that day to fund the federal government through Dec. 3 (HR-5305), averting a shutdown of agencies that would otherwise begin at midnight. Prospects for a planned Thursday House vote on the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR-3684) were in doubt amid opposition from progressives in the Democratic caucus to affirming the Senate-passed measure without first voting on a budget reconciliation package that's still under negotiation.

FCC commissioners approved an NPRM on making networks more resilient during disasters 4-0 Thursday, as expected (see 2109280051). Commissioners said more mandates could come as a result of the investigation. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC plans a virtual field hearing as part of the Oct. 26 meeting on Hurricane Ida. Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr traveled to Louisiana this week to tour areas hit by the latest storm. Commissioners also unanimously adopted an order on foreign ownership and an NPRM about closing two methods for scammers taking control of victims' mobile phones, SIM swapping and port-out fraud. Such actions were as expected (see 2109280009).

The House Communications Subcommittee plans an Oct. 6 hearing on the newly filed Spectrum Innovation Act (HR-5378), Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act (HR-2489) and 10 other telecom-centric bills aimed at “strengthening” U.S. networks, the House Commerce Committee said Wednesday. Communications Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., filed HR-5378 Wednesday as a vehicle for enacting language to authorize an FCC auction of at least 200 MHz on the 3.1-3.45 GHz band separately from the Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation. Commerce advanced its portion of reconciliation earlier this month with the spectrum language, plus $10 billion for next-generation 911 and $4 billion for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund (see 2109140063). Doyle’s office touted support from the Competitive Carriers Association, NCTA, New America’s Open Technology Institute and Public Knowledge. The other bills on Communications’ hearing docket: the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Act (HR-1042), Federal Broadband Deployment in Unserved Area Act (HR-1046), Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act (HR-1049), Wireless Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act (HR-1058), Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act (HR-1218), Spectrum Coordination Act (HR-2501), Communications Act Section 331 Obligation Clarification Act (HR-4208), Information Sharing and Advanced Communication Alerting Act (HR-5028), Broadband Incentives for Communities Act (HR-5058) and Preventing Disruptions to Universal Service Funds Act (HR-5400). The partly virtual hearing begins at noon EDT in 2123 Rayburn.

Congress “may not” be able to pass before the end of the week the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR-3684), Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation package and a continuing resolution to fund the FCC and other federal agencies past Thursday (HR-5305), President Joe Biden told reporters Monday. The House began debate Monday on HR-3684, which includes $65 billion for broadband but won’t vote on it until Thursday. The House Budget Committee voted 20-17 Saturday to advance the Build Back Better Act, which includes $10 billion for next-generation 911, $4 billion for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund and language to authorize an FCC auction of at least 200 MHz of the 3.1-3.45 GHz band (see 2109140063). The Senate was to have voted Monday night on invoking cloture on the House-passed HR-5305; Republicans were expected to have voted against the CR because it includes language to suspend the debt ceiling until Dec. 16, 2022. HR-5305 would allocate $77.6 million for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration to implement tech upgrades to 988 suicide prevention hotline call centers (see 2109240070).

The House passed the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-4350) Thursday 316-113, after okaying telecom and tech-related amendments. The chamber approved 360-66 an en bloc amendment containing language from Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., to attach his Promoting U.S. Wireless Leadership Act (HR-3003). Lawmakers voted 362-59 for another amendments package that includes text from Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., to prohibit agencies requiring tech companies to add backdoors. It approved 367-59 a package including a proposal from Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., for a report on the feasibility of an interagency U.S.-Taiwan working group to cooperate on chips. An earlier House-cleared amendments package included the text of the 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act (HR-2351) and requires the State Department to report to Congress on the “national security implications” of open radio access networks (see 2109220069). Senate Armed Services Committee leaders last week filed their FY 2022 NDAA version (S-2792); the panel advanced the measure in July.

House Democratic leaders intend to seek a Monday night vote on the Senate-passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR-3684) despite uncertainty about whether enough of the 95 party members who belong to the Congressional Progressive Caucus will vote in its favor to ensure passage, Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland told reporters Friday. “I'm bringing the bill to the floor on Monday,” Hoyer said. House leaders’ ability to follow through on their promise to hold a vote on HR-3684, which includes $65 billion for broadband, by Monday was in doubt last week because CPC members threatened to vote against the measure if the chamber didn’t first vote on the separate Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation package. Congressional leaders were negotiating final contours of the Build Back Better Act. The House Budget Committee planned a Saturday markup of committees’ cleared sections. Those include the Commerce Committee’s proposal, which allocates $10 billion for next-generation 911, $4 billion for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund and language to authorize an FCC auction of at least 200 MHz of the 3.1-3.45 GHz band (see 2109140063).

An FCC draft Further NPRM on tightening rules for the public safety answering point Do Not Call registry may be unanimously OK'd during commissioners’ Sept. 30 meeting, said experts in recent interviews. The FCC established the PSAP registry in 2012 as mandated by 2012's Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act (see 1210180072). The new draft proposes to allow voice service providers access to the registry to block robocalls to registered numbers.

The House approved on a voice vote Wednesday an en bloc amendment to the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-4350) that includes the 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act (see 2109210083). HR-2351 would change classification of public safety call-takers and dispatchers to "protective service.” Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., sought to attach HR-2351’s text to HR-4350. The en bloc amendment also included a proposal from Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., to require the State Department to report to Congress on the “national security implications” of open radio access networks. An en bloc amendment up for House consideration includes language from Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., to attach his Promoting U.S. Wireless Leadership Act (HR-3003). Another amendments package includes text from Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., to prohibit federal agencies from requiring or supporting tech companies’ efforts to add back doors or other security vulnerabilities. Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., will get a vote on her proposal for a report on feasibility of an interagency U.S.-Taiwan working group to cooperate on chip supply issues.