The Regulatory Commission of Alaska might have to push forward uncertainly in telecom matters until it meets resistance, Chairman Bob Pickett said at one in a series of summer meetings about the RCA's telecom jurisdiction after 2019 deregulation law SB-83 (see 2005130039). There should be no confusion about what authority the agency retains, said Alaska Telecom Association Executive Director Christine O'Connor in an interview.
The FCC is seemingly confident the C-band band transition plan cost estimates due Friday won't be inflated. Eutelsat warned about possible abuse of relocation funding (see 2005150028) and Director-Regulatory Affairs and Spectrum Wladimir Bocquet told us some cost estimate ranges in the FCC's draft cost catalog were considerably high, particularly for launches and replacement satellites. Cable interests are asking for more time to review the satellite transition plans.
The Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee plans to release draft legislation in December for updating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, according to a tentative schedule from the office of Chairman Thom Tillis, R-N.C. The schedule includes hearings July 28, Sept. 16 and Oct. 6 leading up to December release of draft text for “stakeholder consideration and comment.”
Commissioners 3-2 approved procedures for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction Tuesday, with partial dissents from Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks. The Democrats repeated concerns about spending most of RDOF's $20.4 billion 10-year support before the agency has access to reliable data on all areas unserved by 25/3 Mbps.
The Senate Homeland Security Investigations Subcommittee said Tuesday it believes further action from Congress is needed to define the role of the “Team Telecom” federal agencies to strengthen their ability to assist the FCC in reviewing foreign takeovers of U.S. communications assets. The committee believes more action is warranted because Team Telecom’s limited authority allowed the departments to do only “minimal oversight” of the potential national security risks a trio of Chinese telecom companies posed to U.S. networks. The team is DOD, the Department of Homeland Security and DOJ.
The FCC approved clarity on wireless siting rules to speed the collocation of wireless infrastructure on existing cell towers 3-2, over dissents by Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks. They objected, as some expected (see 2006030057), after the agency declined to delay a vote to give state and local governments more time to respond due to the demands because of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests. Republicans said change is needed as companies struggle to build out 5G networks. The ruling takes effect upon release.
News media freedom organizations asked local and state governments to curb attacks and arrests on journalists, which have reached an unprecedented height, those groups said. The challenges police face during the recent wave of protests “in no way justifies police violence toward the press and others who enact their protected rights to document and record these protests,” said a letter to the city of Philadelphia Friday from Free Press, public broadcaster WHYY, Common Cause and many press freedom and local news organizations. “This is not a question of a few isolated missteps,” said the Committee to Protect Journalists in a letter to U.S. mayors, governors and police chiefs Friday. “These reports have come from 53 different communities across 33 states.”
USTelecom and its members urged the FCC to launch an order soon on a February consensus proposal on toll-free access rates. Rural and competitive LECs want to make sure they don't lose revenue in the process or face added costs. Activity in docket 18-156 heated up in recent weeks as stakeholders lobby Wireline Bureau staff and commissioner offices. The commission issued a Further NPRM two years ago (see 1807020040). At issue is who pays to move toll-free traffic and who gets revenue for it.
All signs are the citizens broadband radio service auction will start July 23 as planned, especially with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai concerned about a December C-band auction, industry and FCC officials said in recent interviews. The auction of priority access licenses was delayed once from June 25, because of COVID-19 concerns (see 2003250052). The agency announced Monday that 348 companies or individuals filed short forms to participate; 106 were deemed complete while others require additional work.
At least two FTC employees working at the agency's Constitution Center reported potential COVID-19 symptoms in March, and another employee tested positive for the virus in Atlanta, according to emails we obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.