NARUC's Telecom Committee unanimously cleared an amended Lifeline resolution urging the FCC and Universal Service Administrative Co. ensure the national verifier accesses state databases required to automatically check users are eligible. USAC is responding to concerns and committed to making the NV work, South Dakota Commissioner Chris Nelson told us after the vote.
Ditching the requirement to notify VoIP users it won't work without power and eliminating supposedly outdated reporting requirements were among suggestions by telecoms, the cable industry and others for the FCC's 2018 biennial review of telecom regulations. Comments in seven dockets, which had been due Jan. 17 (see 1812180002), were posted Monday due to an extension from the partial federal shutdown.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday directing federal agencies to “prioritize investments” in artificial intelligence R&D. The American Artificial Intelligence Initiative promotes long-term research, access to federal data, novel AI applications and AI skills training for the federal workforce.
Telecom interests advised the FCC to encourage wireless network resiliency improvements through coordination with electric utilities, going easy on mandates. Utilities urged more telecom sector engagement with state and local authorities, and greater network protections, including through backup power. Comments were posted in docket 11-60 through Monday on a Jan. 3 Public Safety Bureau public notice seeking ways to increase such coordination amid emergencies (see 1901030037). Some telco and cable parties cited their backhaul efforts, responding to a Dec. 10 PN (see 1812100027).
The 1996 Telecom Act was a success but needs an update to connect those still unserved, former FCC officials and industry representatives agreed Sunday on a Telecom Staff Subcommittee panel. It’s unlikely to happen this Congress due to political divisions, they said. Former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Gigi Sohn, former aide to ex-Chairman Tom Wheeler, urged states to stand up. Some state officials responded that pre-emption makes that difficult.
Clearing C-band through a mix of sale of spectrum by satellite operators and an overlay auction of terrestrial mobile licenses is meeting some skepticism. Spectrum and satellite consultant Tim Farrar blogged Saturday that no side in the band-clearing debate is seemingly interested in compromise, though the sale-overlay auction mix is obvious. Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America, said even if the idea were practical, it would "be just another fig leaf [justifying] an unnecessary and unjustifiable windfall" for satellite operators.
Critics of T-Mobile's proposed buy of Sprint framed their case Monday against key aspects of the carriers' argument for federal regulators to sign off on the deal, citing aftereffects of the completed T-Mobile/Iowa Wireless (iWireless) transaction to illustrate what they say will be negative effects on rural wireless customers (see 1709270066). T-Mobile/Sprint drew attention elsewhere in Washington Monday, including at a NARUC conference. Two House subcommittees are gearing up for hearings later this week (see 1902060062).
One question for the FCC on the 5.9 GHz band's future is whether to act on a 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) waiver to deploy cellular vehicle-to-everything technology (C-V2X) in the upper 20 MHz of the band or wait for a broader NPRM. Industry officials said that with Chairman Ajit Pai quiet so far, it's tough to predict what the FCC will do. The band is allocated to dedicated short-range communications (DSRC).
The FCC is on track to issue a reimbursement plan for low-power TV, translators and FM stations in March, said industry lawyers. A public notice and progress report Monday announced allocation of additional repacking funds and reported the repacking is “ahead of schedule.” Broadcast officials told the Incentive Auction Task Force last week that repacking delays are worsening and could degrade further due to a lack of tower crews (see 1902080059).
Universal Service Administrative Co. hasn't de-enrolled any Lifeline users who failed the national verifier's automatic reverification, and no decision has been made on when that will happen, USAC Vice President-Lifeline Michelle Garber told the Telecom Staff Subcommittee at NARUC Sunday. A state commissioner and subcommittee members grilled Garber on high rates of users failing the automated check due to the NV not accessing all databases relevant to determining eligibility, with USAC not even trying to access them in higher cost states.