Industry groups urged the FCC not to revisit its current rules for the affordable connectivity program's annual data collection, in reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 21-450 (see 2301120056). The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act required the commission to collect data on prices and subscription rates offered by participating providers. Consumer advocacy organizations disagreed and continued to back subscriber-level data collection with additional data points.
Industry groups and consumer advocacy organizations disagree about how the FCC should define digital discrimination and ways to facilitate equal access to broadband, according to comments posted through Wednesday in docket 22-69. The commission adopted an NPRM in December seeking comment on rules to combat digital discrimination, as required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (see 2301190049).
FCC commissioners moved to assist survivors of domestic violence by approving an NPRM on access to affordable communications services, during the agency's open meeting Thursday (see 2301260050). lt also approved an item seeking comment on ways to further participation among tribal libraries in the E-rate program.
Commissioner Chris Nelson isn’t convinced eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation is no longer necessary, the South Dakota Republican said at NARUC’s winter conference Tuesday. Telecom association officials on Nelson’s panel said Congress sees that the ETC process has run its course. Nelson and a District of Columbia consumer advocate raised concerns about possible impacts to service quality as telcos abandon state-regulated copper networks.
The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and Next Century Cities asked the FCC to reconsider its decision to collect affordable connectivity program data on an aggregate basis rather than at the subscriber level (see 2301120056). The decision "falls short" of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's requirements and "undermines the overall integrity of the program," said a petition for reconsideration posted Monday in docket 21-450. The groups said subscriber-level data is "critical for informing efforts by federal and state agencies, public interest groups, and non-profit organizations to target public awareness and enrollment support strategies," adding the deferment of when the data collection will start is "arbitrary."
The House Commerce Committee voice voted Thursday to adopt its oversight plan for this Congress. Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to expand the scope of the committee’s oversight plan on communications policy, including on broadband affordability and public safety communications. Panel Republicans have been eyeing more rigorous oversight of the FCC and broadband now that they're in the majority (see 2210310073). The plan calls for FCC oversight that will include “efforts to reverse the reclassification” of broadband “as a telecommunications service subject to” Communications Act Title II “and efforts to bring transparency and accountability to the Commission’s processes.” House Commerce “will continue to conduct oversight of the FCC’s decisions and their impact on innovation and the U.S. economy,” including “the impact generally of FCC actions on voice, video, audio, and data services, public safety, broadband mapping, and security of our networks,” the plan said. The committee “will also focus its oversight efforts on the Commission’s administration of” the Affordable Connectivity Program and Emergency Connectivity Fund “and investigate … cases of waste, fraud, and abuse.” NTIA oversight will focus on the agency’s “administration of broadband grant programs created” in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act “and efforts to bring transparency and accountability to NTIA’s processes,” the plan said. House Commerce “will also look into NTIA’s authorities and determine whether NTIA needs additional authorities to keep pace with the advancement of modern technology and the advancement of the communications marketplace.” FTC oversight will include examining “the impact of its decisions and actions on the general public and the business community, with a particular focus on how the FTC conducts its business while not creating undue burdens for legitimate businesses, its determination of priorities, and the need, if any, for refinement of its authorities,” the plan said. House Commerce “will explore the FTC’s role relative to emerging technologies and sectors of the economy. Additionally, the Committee will examine how the agency is utilizing specific bureaus, or lack thereof, including the Bureau of Economics, while pursuing enforcement and regulatory action." There's "this overwhelming sense that government is making lives harder for people," said House Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. "Our oversight work will inform how we hold the Biden administration accountable." The committee "will do the hard work of reclaiming Congress’s Article I authority to reauthorize expired programs that are running on autopilot," she said. Although "there are some areas that are ripe for bipartisan collaboration, I’m disappointed to say that this Republican” oversight plan “outlines clear intentions to undermine the tremendous progress we made last Congress,” said House Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J.
T-Mobile expanded its participation in the FCC’s affordable connectivity program to seven more states, bringing the total number covered to 48, T-Mobile said Wednesday. T-Mobile expanded the program to Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. Participants get “data, texting, calling and mobile hotspot data on Assurance Wireless’ plans" via T-Mobile's network and a free Android smartphone for new customers, the carrier said.
The number of items the FCC is considering at its monthly meetings has slowly declined in the two years since Jessica Rosenworcel was designated to lead the agency. The January meeting was over in about half an hour and had two items for votes. Similarly, Rosenworcel has teed up just two items for this month's meeting. A review of the record found the FCC tackled 59 items, large and small, at meetings the first year under Rosenworcel. That was down to 42 in year two. In more than half the meetings in year two, commissioners tackled three or fewer items at the meetings.
Dish Wireless is seeking eligible telecom carrier status in the federal default states so it can get the support available to affordable connectivity program customers it already has, it said in an amended petition posted Thursday in docket 09-107. Dish said it has already been designated a wireless ETC in Colorado and New York and is authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission to provide California LifeLine service. Dish plans to offer service through its Gen Mobile prepaid service. “Gen Mobile customers can choose from several affordable prepaid calling plans and handsets and have access to high-quality, responsive customer service affordable connectivity program,” the company said. Dish also stressed the progress on its 5G open radio access network, saying it “entered into multi-year agreements with over 30 partners,” including Mavenir, Amazon, Dell, Cisco, IBM, Nokia, Intel, Samsung and Qualcomm.
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended through April 30 its COVID-19 pandemic waiver of Lifeline recertification and reverification requirements for subscribers residing on tribal lands, said an order Monday in docket 11-42 (see 2301170051). The bureau also extended the waiver to tribal households participating in the affordable connectivity program, noting such subscribers "may have been required to respond to ACP recertification outreach during the waiver period."