The Federal Emergency Management Agency endorsed NAB's proposal for a software-based replacement for emergency alert system equipment, NAB and several broadcasters said in an ex parte meeting last week with Public Safety Bureau staff, according to a filing in docket 15-94. The filing said the replacement would make it easier to improve EAS systems with increased accessibility or multiple languages. NAB proposed the software replacement for physical EAS boxes in December 2022 (see 2306020064). The proposal would be voluntary and able to operate if internet or cloud connectivity is interrupted, the filing said. NAB and the broadcasters -- including iHeartMedia, New York Public Radio and Cox media representatives -- also told the agency they agreed with FEMA objections to an agency proposal to facilitate multilingual EAS alerts with prerecorded templates (see 2404100083). “The costs of the FCC’s approach will outweigh any minor, speculative benefits,” the filing said.
The FCC again extended by one year its waiver pausing the phase-out of Lifeline support for voice-only services and increasing minimum service standards for mobile broadband data (see 2307070056). A Wireline Bureau order in docket 11-42 Wednesday noted the "marketplace for affordable broadband services is undergoing significant changes as a result of the end of the affordable connectivity program." The waiver now expires Dec. 1, 2025.
The FCC Wireline Bureau gave carriers part of the relief they sought on rules addressing SIM swapping and port-out fraud, delaying Monday's compliance deadline. The reprieve, though, isn't as long as CTIA, NCTA and the Competitive Carriers Association wanted (see 2406270028). The bureau found that delay of the rules until March 10, as the groups asked, “would not serve the public interest,” a Friday order said. But the bureau said the requirement won’t kick in until OMB completes its review of the information collection requirements in the rules and the FCC publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing the compliance date. “This will effectively result in a single synchronized timeframe,” the order said. The review is expected to be completed no earlier than November, the order said. The FCC “gave the industry a half a loaf, which is better than giving them the whole loaf,” Margot Saunders, senior counsel at the National Consumer Law Center, told us. Saunders said “it’s too bad” the requirements aren’t already in place. “SIM swap and port out frauds cause devastating losses to consumers, especially to low-income consumers who are using prepaid phones, which are more vulnerable,” she said: Consumers often don’t “have the means to launch expensive litigation to recoup their funds. The new regulations impose relatively modest requirements -- which do not seem to be overly complex, or need radical new systems to be developed.” The commission "is not unaware of the complexities of implementing the requirements,” but “we do not find the complexities outlined by Petitioners persuasive to overcome the Commission’s stated concerns regarding the urgency of addressing these types of pernicious fraudulent schemes,” the order said.
The FCC’s Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs (OIA) will hold 8 public previews of the new, cloud-based International Communications Filing System (ICFS) beginning July 17. The ICFS is scheduled for deployment in August, said a Wednesday public notice. Each preview session concerns a different type of filing in ICFS and “will provide a guided tour of the enhanced look and functionality,” the PN said. Participants must register for sessions. The Space Bureau and the Office of International Affairs will release another public notice “in the next few weeks” providing additional details about the transition to the cloud-based ICFS, the PN said.
The FCC sought comment Wednesday on Inland Cellular’s proposed acquisition of Commnet’s rural digital opportunity fund support obligations in parts of Washington and Montana. Comments are due July 17, replies July 24, in docket 24-134. “Applicants state that Inland and its affiliates have deployed wireless and broadband networks and served customers since 1989 in rural areas of Washington and Idaho,” said a Wireline Bureau notice: “They further assert that Inland is uniquely situated to efficiently deploy RDOF-supported voice and broadband service in the Assigned Census Blocks.”
An EchoStar representative urged that the FCC approve Dish Network’s proposed transfer of spectrum licenses and other assets, including customers, to Liberty Latin America (see 2402230063). Meeting with a Wireless Bureau staffer, EchoStar discussed “the competitive benefits of the transaction, consistent with the Public Interest Statement" the parties filed, according to a filing posted Wednesday in docket 24-55. As the pleading cycle concluded March 26 without other parties filing comments, EchoStar urged expeditious FCC approval.
The FCC on Wednesday authorized Federated Wireless, Google, Key Bridge, Red Technologies and Sony to change the aggregate interference model that protects federal operations in the citizens broadband radio service band. In June, the agency approved the changes (see 2406120027). "Each of these five [spectrum access system] administrators has demonstrated the ability to successfully implement the modified aggregate interference model, including system testing in a non-operational environment,” a Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology notice said. Meanwhile, Nokia filed a spectrum controller certification test report at the FCC as it seeks permission to make those changes. In addition, Nokia asked for confidential treatment of the report. The report “provides details of the self-certification testing Nokia conducted to demonstrate the capability of Nokia’s Spectrum Access System to support new methodologies for protecting federal operations in the 3.5 GHz band,” a filing this week in docket 15-319 said. Nokia asked for prompt FCC action.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau found that Assurance Wireless and its parent T-Mobile didn't ensure its Lifeline service “is accessible to and usable by individuals with vision disabilities.” The bureau investigated following an informal complaint, a Tuesday order said. The bureau proposed several remedies and gave Assurance 30 days to comment.
In an update to Congress on its rip-and-replace program, the FCC said as of June 1, it has received 23,830 reimbursement claims across 122 of the 126 applications approved for a funding allocation to replace Huawei and ZTE communications gear and services. It also approved more than $693 million in claims “for which funds have been fully disbursed to recipients or are in the process of being disbursed through the U.S. Treasury.” The FCC noted a May 2 letter from Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to Congress urging full funding, which would close the program's shortfall of more than $3 billion (see 240502007). The Wireline Bureau “has continued to review Reimbursement Claims submitted by recipients and disburse funds within the approved funding allocations for costs reasonably incurred to remove, replace, and dispose of covered communications equipment and services,” the report said in Tuesday’s Daily Digest: “We have also received and reviewed the sixth and seventh rounds of status updates submitted by Reimbursement Program recipients.” The FCC estimated that 12% of participants have completed the program. Complaints from participants include “(1) absence of full funding; (2) supply chain delays; (3) labor shortages; (4) weather-related challenges; and (5) extended review times in the processing of requests for reimbursement,” the report said. Providers continue seeking additional time to complete the program. This week, Hotwire Communications became the latest to seek an extension, citing delays in obtaining replacement equipment, labor shortages and funding “uncertainties.”
Eligible telecom carriers (ETC) may file their Form 481 submissions until July 10, an FCC Wireline Bureau order Friday in docket 14-58 said. In extending the deadline from July 1, the bureau cited technical difficulties in the Universal Service Administrative Co.'s filing portal in its waiver of the program year 2025 filing deadline.