House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden of Oregon and other Republicans introduced a legislative package Thursday containing the language from 26 existing and new bills aimed at streamlining broadband deployments. It follows House Democrats’ proposal (see 2006220054) for $100 billion in broadband funding, contained in both the Moving Forward Act infrastructure legislative package (HR-2) and the stand-alone Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act (HR-7302). Walden and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., released a COVID-19 broadband legislative framework last week (see 2006190062). President Donald Trump’s administration said in an NTIA-led American Broadband Initiative progress report it made progress in increasing rural broadband access.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told us he wants to debate encryption and Communications Decency Act Section 230 separately. But Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told us he may seek to clarify at the July 2 markup how their Earn It Act affects encryption (see 2006230006). “I’m going to wait till the markup to determine exactly what amendments are necessary, but I think the impact of the bill on encryption has been way exaggerated and distorted, so if we can clarify it, we may do it,” Blumenthal said.
Revised vertical location accuracy rules, circulated by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, give carriers the option of using a handset-based rather than network based solution for finding callers. The FCC sticks with the current accuracy requirements and deadlines. Other draft items for the July 16 meeting (see 2006240058) were also posted Thursday.
The FCC remains concerned about receiver standards, Wireless Bureau Chief Donald Stockdale said at the virtual European Spectrum Management Conference Wednesday. Stockdale suggested the FCC do more to address the issue. Speakers on a second panel said Europe may not follow the U.S. in allocating the entire 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use, which the FCC did in April (see 2004230059).
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act needs recalibration because Big Tech isn’t doing enough to combat disinformation, House Commerce Committee Democrats said Wednesday. Republicans suggested platforms provide more transparency about content moderation decisions, citing political bias. It was a hearing (see 2006110064) of the Communications and Consumer Protection subcommittees.
The Senate Commerce Committee’s divide over FCC approval of Ligado’s L-band plan was again on display Wednesday during a commission oversight hearing, as expected (see 2006230059). The issue also came up during a committee confirmation hearing for Commissioner Mike O'Rielly (see 2006160062). There was an even clearer partisan divide among committee members about President Donald Trump’s May executive order directing NTIA to petition the FCC for regulations defining the scope of Communications Decency Act Section 230 (see 2005280060). Senate Commerce also drilled into broadband funding proposals amid the ongoing push to include money in future COVID-19 aid legislation.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai laid out a busy agenda for commissioners’ July 16 meeting. It tentatively includes (see 2006240044) an order addressing supply chain security and equipment from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE, and an update of vertical location accuracy rules for wireless calls to 911. Commissioners will also consider broadband mapping, call blocking technology and emergency calling rules. Also on the agenda is the draft order establishing 988 for a nationwide three-digit suicide hotline and giving carriers a July 2022 deadline for implementation (see 2006230022). FCC members would vote on changing the cable leased access rate formula.
The FCC faces a challenge to its June wireless infrastructure declaratory ruling, with Oregon and California cities filing a challenge in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The order was approved 3-2 over dissents by Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks (see 2006090060). Others are expected to join the appeal. Local governments are also considering filing a petition for reconsideration at the FCC, lawyers said. The agency acted on requests by CTIA and the Wireless Infrastructure Association in approving the ruling, which took effect June 10.
Domain name system abuse and IoT challenges are key issues for the ICANN community, panelists said this week at the ICANN68 meeting held virtually. Despite progress against DNS abuse, much more needs to be done, stakeholders said. Since many IoT devices will use the DNS to locate the services they need, the community must address security risks and other issues, they said.
T-Mobile is playing fast and loose with job promises related to buying Sprint, Communications Workers of America President Chris Shelton responded Tuesday to the carrier's challenge of the California Public Utilities Commission’s mid-April conditional OK. Two consumer advocacy groups joined the union in slamming T-Mobile’s Monday petition in docket A.18-07-011 to modify conditions on jobs, speeds and deployment. The request follows reported layoffs at the carrier. Continued fighting between T-Mobile and the CPUC might portend litigation over state wireless authority (see 2005010048).