FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will seek a vote on a proposal to provide additional support for communications networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to make them more resilient, at the commission’s Oct. 27 meeting, Rosenworcel blogged Wednesday. The FCC will also consider a 13 GHz notice of inquiry and an NPRM aimed at making emergency alerting more secure. An item on Stir/Shaken rounds out the agenda.
The FCC approved a requirement that satellites in low earth orbit deorbit within five years of end of life, and the International Bureau anticipates further orbital debris rule-making action but can't say when, Deputy Chief Patrick Webre said Thursday. The 4-0 approval at the commissioners' September meeting was expected (see 2209230003). It also adopted unanimously orders updating emergency alert system rules, an NPRM removing FCC rules references to analog TV now that no analog TV services remain, and an order expanding access to telecom relay services for deaf or hard of hearing individuals. The agency said it's acting in Florida in response to Hurricane Ian (see 2209290055).
Telecom-focused lawmakers are hopeful they will be able to reach a final deal in the coming days to include a short-term extension of the FCC’s expiring spectrum auction authority in a potential continuing resolution to extend federal appropriations past Sept. 30 (see 2209090053). Talks Wednesday appeared to be strongly coalescing around a stopgap reauthorization through Dec. 16 -- in line with the likely expiration of the overall CR -- but there’s been no final deal, lawmakers and lobbyists told us. Lawmakers believe the temporary renewal will give them more breathing room to reach a deal on a broader spectrum legislative package during the lame-duck session (see 2208090001).
The Enterprise Wireless Alliance welcomed a May proposal from FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel that would allow E-rate program funding to be used to supply Wi-Fi on school buses. “EWA’s membership includes a significant number of wireless sales and service organizations around the nation that already provide equipment and services to schools and school buses, some of which is supported through E-Rate funding,” said a Monday filing in docket 13-184. Outfitting school buses with Wi-Fi access “would be a significant step toward bridging” the homework gap, EWA said.
The FCC appears increasingly likely to take a deeper dive into the data retention and privacy policies of wireless carriers. In recent days, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent follow-up letters of inquiry to major wireless carriers and mobile virtual network operators, asking for documents and including further, highly detailed questions about their policies (see 2209070077).
The FCC appears increasingly likely to take a deeper dive into the data retention and privacy policies of wireless carriers. In recent days, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent follow-up letters of inquiry to major wireless carriers and mobile virtual network operators, asking for documents and including further, highly detailed questions about their policies (see 2209070077).
The FCC will revisit wireless emergency alerts and the emergency alert system in an NPRM teed up for a vote by commissioners, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday. “It is critical that these public safety systems are secure against cyber threats, which means that we must be proactive,” Rosenworcel said of EAS: “The draft proposals shared today will help ensure that our national alerting systems work as intended during emergencies and the public can trust the warnings they receive.” Among the issues teed up are the amount of time EAS participants “may operate before repairing defective EAS equipment,” the need for participants to report compromises of their equipment and the need for security requirements and annual certification of cybersecurity risk management plans. The NPRM also asks about requirements that carriers “take steps to ensure that only valid alerts are displayed on consumer devices.” The FCC said last week 42 state and local government agencies will conduct local WEA tests Monday and Tuesday (see 2208300046).
The FCC published wireless carrier responses to July letters asking about their data retention and data privacy policies. Privacy advocates said this week they hope the letters lead to a renewed focus by the FCC on data privacy issues (see 2208220054).
The FCC published wireless carrier responses to July letters asking about their data retention and data privacy policies. Privacy advocates said this week they hope the letters lead to a renewed focus by the FCC on data privacy issues (see 2208220054).
The Joe Biden administration could be poised to take an action the Donald Trump White House tried but wasn’t able to complete and release a national spectrum strategy, industry officials familiar with the administration’s work on the issue told us. That follows what could be key meeting in May at the Aspen Institute. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson participated in the two-day session, which focused specifically on a national strategy.