House Communications Subcommittee Democrats and Republicans cited conflicting priorities for addressing broadband in COVID-19 and infrastructure bills during Wednesday's hearing, as expected (see 2102160067). Democrats focused on their proposed $7.6 billion for remote E-rate as part of a pandemic-focused budget reconciliation package and on plans to seek broadband funding in a coming infrastructure bill. Republicans criticized aspects of those plans, citing alternatives they issued this week focused partly on streamlining regulations to speed up broadband deployment.
The FCC approved 4-0 an NPRM proposing revised rules for a program to pay for the replacement of equipment from Huawei and ZTE in U.S. networks, as expected (see 2102110053), at the commissioners' meeting Wednesday. Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel stressed that even more than the previous administration, she's emphasizing coordination with other parts of the federal government in her approach to supply chain risks. Commissioner Brendan Carr said the U.S. must stay tough on China.
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the launch of a Broadband Data Task Force to push out the maps that will be needed for the 5G Fund, approved in October over partial dissents by Rosenworcel and fellow Democrat Geoffrey Starks (see 2010270034). Jean Kiddoo, who will chair the task force, warned the maps likely won’t be ready before next year. Rosenworcel declined to comment on the timeline in a news conference. The maps are also critical to other USF programs, officials said Wednesday.
In his first speech since joining the FCC, Commissioner Nathan Simington told the Free State Foundation via teleconference that he opposes Communications Act Title II net neutrality regulation, indicated he still supports government action to curb non-ISP “gatekeepers,” and seemed optimistic about his ability to influence agency policy while in the minority. "Even commission decisions that don’t command a consensus are formed organically by conversations within the FCC,” Simington said. “The vast majority of decisions are bipartisan.”
A House Communications Subcommittee hearing Wednesday appears likely to focus on promoting $7.6 billion in E-rate funding included in Commerce Committee-advanced language to be added to a coming COVID-19 budget reconciliation package (see 2102120066), plus other measures to improve broadband access during the pandemic. House Commerce Republicans unveiled an alternative broadband policy agenda Tuesday, which largely draws on bills they first filed last summer (see 2102120066).
An NPRM on curbing 911 fee diversion (see 2101270060) is likely to receive unanimous support during Wednesday's meeting, FCC officials told us. Congress in December passed the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act, which required the commission to issue rules defining what constitutes a 911 fee or diversion.
Acting FTC Chair Rebecca Kelly Slaughter’s recent direction on privacy and algorithmic bias (see 2102100062) shows she’s going to pursue a vigorous progressive agenda while auditioning for the permanent role, observers told us. She has shown bipartisan agreement on some technical issues, they noted. Since the acting designation, her office has met with consumer advocates about privacy, educational technology, advertising technology and other topics, one advocate said.
If congressional inaction continues, Republican FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson said she's open to a Magnuson-Moss privacy rulemaking, an idea her Democratic colleagues proposed. Wilson said Friday she opposes rulemakings or “any attempt to engage in industrial engineering” unless there's a market failure. “Here I believe there is a market failure,” she told a Silicon Flatirons event. “There is such a significant asymmetry between what companies know about how data is collected and used and what consumers know.”
Comments support a CTA proposal to allow the limited marketing and sales of wireless devices to consumers before equipment authorization, as long as those devices aren't provided to consumers until authorized by the FCC. Many sought changes to further liberalize the rules, including raising the number of devices that would qualify for a waiver. Comments were posted Friday in docket 20-382. Commissioners approved an NPRM 5-0 in December (see 2012100069).
Act quickly to set up the $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program, panelists told FCC commissioners during a roundtable Friday (see 2101070052). Several said it’s also important to prioritize transparency so providers and consumers are kept in the loop as the funds wind down.