President Donald Trump and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai met Monday, the first known dialogue since they assumed their positions -- a contact between a president and a head of an independent agency that is seen as infrequent. They met in January during the transition period, ahead of Pai’s appointment as head of the agency (see 1701170025). Monday's meeting was at 3 p.m. in the Oval Office, according to Trump’s schedule. Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler came under fire during the last Congress amid accusations that he took direction from the White House on the open internet order, a charge he denied.

President Donald Trump and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai met Monday, the first known dialogue since they assumed their positions -- a contact between a president and a head of an independent agency that is seen as infrequent. They met in January during the transition period, ahead of Pai’s appointment as head of the agency (see 1701170025). Monday's meeting was at 3 p.m. in the Oval Office, according to Trump’s schedule. Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler came under fire during the last Congress amid accusations that he took direction from the White House on the open internet order, a charge he denied.

Chairman Ajit Pai employed what some say was a surprisingly aggressive strategy on transparency Thursday when he released the text of all six items up for a vote at the March 23 commissioners' meeting (see 1703020063). Pai is getting generally high marks for making the process more transparent. For the first time, industry officials will be able to see how an order changes from initial draft to the final version, though not the interim drafts. But some industry officials also note that for dedicated FCC watchers, like communications lawyers, having orders available won’t be that much of change. The process reform puts more pressure on key staffers who prepare items to have them ready for public release, rather than merely as documents circulated on the eighth floor at FCC headquarters.

Chairman Ajit Pai employed what some say was a surprisingly aggressive strategy on transparency Thursday when he released the text of all six items up for a vote at the March 23 commissioners' meeting (see 1703020063). Pai is getting generally high marks for making the process more transparent. For the first time, industry officials will be able to see how an order changes from initial draft to the final version, though not the interim drafts. But some industry officials also note that for dedicated FCC watchers, like communications lawyers, having orders available won’t be that much of change. The process reform puts more pressure on key staffers who prepare items to have them ready for public release, rather than merely as documents circulated on the eighth floor at FCC headquarters.

Boomerang Wireless asked the FCC to delay revoking its Lifeline broadband status until the agency or state regulators act on its long-pending petitions to become a USF-eligible telecom carrier (ETC) in numerous states. Boomerang said de-enrolling 17,538 affected Lifeline subscribers under the Wireline Bureau's Feb. 3 Lifeline broadband provider revocation order would be disruptive despite a 60-day transition given the company to migrate the customers to rivals. Some other providers criticized the FCC decision to revoke the LBP designations of nine companies, including Boomerang, pending further review (see 1702030070).

Boomerang Wireless asked the FCC to delay revoking its Lifeline broadband status until the agency or state regulators act on its long-pending petitions to become a USF-eligible telecom carrier (ETC) in numerous states. Boomerang said de-enrolling 17,538 affected Lifeline subscribers under the Wireline Bureau's Feb. 3 Lifeline broadband provider revocation order would be disruptive despite a 60-day transition given the company to migrate the customers to rivals. Some other providers criticized the FCC decision to revoke the LBP designations of nine companies, including Boomerang, pending further review (see 1702030070).

When FCC Chairman Ajit Pai axed numerous bureau inquiries and actions earlier this month without prior notice or explanation (see 1702030058 and 1702030070), he was well within his rights under the Administrative Procedures Act, APA and communications law experts tell us. Ending inquiries into issues like zero rating effectively signals taking a different enforcement direction without having to go through a process of eliminating those rules -- an approach numerous agencies under the Trump administration likely will take, some said.

When FCC Chairman Ajit Pai axed numerous bureau inquiries and actions earlier this month without prior notice or explanation (see 1702030058 and 1702030070), he was well within his rights under the Administrative Procedures Act, APA and communications law experts tell us. Ending inquiries into issues like zero rating effectively signals taking a different enforcement direction without having to go through a process of eliminating those rules -- an approach numerous agencies under the Trump administration likely will take, some said.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau is no longer allowed to settle enforcement actions begun by the full commission without a vote of all members, Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement Wednesday on his latest change to processes. Pai has announced a process modification each day this week (see 1702070072 and 1702060062). Meanwhile, the other Republican commissioner asked the agency to be more consistent with deadlines, holding all to them after a general amnesty period except for when waivers are granted. And AT&T slammed past FCC enforcement measures.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau is no longer allowed to settle enforcement actions begun by the full commission without a vote of all members, Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement Wednesday on his latest change to processes. Pai has announced a process modification each day this week (see 1702070072 and 1702060062). Meanwhile, the other Republican commissioner asked the agency to be more consistent with deadlines, holding all to them after a general amnesty period except for when waivers are granted. And AT&T slammed past FCC enforcement measures.