President Barack Obama signed a cellphone unlocking bill into law Friday, at a signing ceremony for the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act (S-517) in the Oval Office, according to his schedule. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted that the bill was signed shortly after the scheduled event was to have begun and said it “proves the power of public petition.” The House and Senate approved the final version of the legislation in July. “The most important part of this joint effort is that it will have a real impact,” said a White House blog post Friday (http://1.usa.gov/1sazX6H), written by bill author Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and National Economic Council Director Jeff Zients. “As long as their phone is compatible and they have complied with their contracts, consumers will now be able to enjoy the freedom of taking their mobile service -- and a phone they already own -- to the carrier that best fits their needs.” They said this is the first law directly emanating from a We the People petition to the White House. CTIA applauded the signing. “Even though the vast majority of Americans enjoy upgrading to new devices once their contract terms are fulfilled, we recognize that some consumers may want to unlock their devices to move to another carrier,” CTIA Vice President-Government Affairs Jot Carpenter said in a statement. “Like the voluntary commitment CTIA’s carriers entered into last December, this bill enables that process. Users should keep in mind unlocked does not necessarily mean interoperable, as carrier platforms and spectrum holdings vary.” Public Knowledge staff attorney Laura Moy also praised the signing: “As a result, competition in the wireless market will improve,” she said in a statement. “In addition, there will be more free and low-cost secondhand phones available on the secondary market. This is also an important first step toward reforming the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the overreaching copyright law that made it difficult for consumers to unlock their phones in the first place.”

FCC commissioners agreed Tuesday the agency needs to continue pressure to eliminate abuse in the federal Lifeline program, in a panel discussion at the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council Access to Capital conference Tuesday. The next step could be expanding the program to also cover broadband, commissioners said.

FCC commissioners agreed Tuesday the agency needs to continue pressure to eliminate abuse in the federal Lifeline program, in a panel discussion at the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council Access to Capital conference Tuesday. The next step could be expanding the program to also cover broadband, commissioners said.

Despite expressing some misgivings, Democratic FCC commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines Friday to approve what Chairman Tom Wheeler called a “watershed” E-rate modernization order that will provide $1 billion annually for the next five years for Wi-Fi connections within schools and libraries. In moves observers saw as having been made to forge a commission majority, while giving a nod to concerns from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. (CD July 9 p5), and others that the Wi-Fi commitment could endanger funding for connecting schools and libraries to broadband, the order underwent a few changes from Wheeler’s original draft (CD July 2 p2).

Despite expressing some misgivings, Democratic FCC commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines Friday to approve what Chairman Tom Wheeler called a “watershed” E-rate modernization order that will provide $1 billion annually for the next five years for Wi-Fi connections within schools and libraries. In moves observers saw as having been made to forge a commission majority, while giving a nod to concerns from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. (WID July 9 p6), and others that the Wi-Fi commitment could endanger funding for connecting schools and libraries to broadband, the order underwent a few changes from Wheeler’s original draft (WID July 2 p7).

The term of Republican FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly expired June 30 (WID July 3 p8), which will slowly set in motion gears of the presidential nomination process, several observers said in interviews Thursday. O'Rielly was sworn in last November to finish the term of Robert McDowell, who stepped down and joined the Hudson Institute as a visiting fellow. O'Rielly is widely expected to have full FCC commissioner authority for the next year and a half, in accordance with statutes that allow commissioners to serve until the end of the subsequent session of Congress once their terms expire. Some observers suggest the possibility of pending re-nomination may instill caution in O'Rielly.

The term of Republican FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly expired June 30 (CD July 3 p8), which will slowly set in motion gears of the presidential nomination process, several observers said in interviews Thursday. O'Rielly was sworn in last November to finish the term of Robert McDowell, who stepped down and joined the Hudson Institute as a visiting fellow. O'Rielly is widely expected to have full FCC commissioner authority for the next year and a half, in accordance with statutes that allow commissioners to serve until the end of the subsequent session of Congress once their terms expire. Some observers suggest the possibility of pending re-nomination may instill caution in O'Rielly.

The FCC, working through its Technological Advisory Council, will identify solutions to attack the growing problem of cellphone theft, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler promised Thursday during an FCC workshop. Wheeler said he is giving TAC until the end of this year to identify “specific, actionable” measures. Wheeler said if industry working with TAC doesn’t come up with a voluntary solution, the FCC is not afraid to step in and impose regulation.

The FCC, working through its Technological Advisory Council, will identify solutions to attack the growing problem of cellphone theft, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler promised Thursday during an FCC workshop. Wheeler said he is giving TAC until the end of this year to identify “specific, actionable” measures. Wheeler said if industry working with TAC doesn’t come up with a voluntary solution, the FCC is not afraid to step in and impose regulation.

The Telecommunications Industry Association, the Information Technology Industry Council and CEA jointly went on the record in favor of expanding in-flight mobile connectivity (IMC), including voice calls on commercial flight, in reply comments filed at the FCC. With the FCC’s comment period wrapped up, FCC officials say it’s hard to predict next steps on what has been one of the most controversial proposals under Chairman Tom Wheeler.