Industry welcomed an FCC proposal aimed at improving the robocall mitigation database's (RMD) accuracy and potential enforcement measures. Commissioners adopted the NPRM in August (see 2408070047). In comments posted in docket 24-213 through Wednesday, some groups disagreed about whether the FCC should impose a filing fee for new and current RMD registrants.
Don't expect major changes soon in the cable franchise fees regime, former cable lawyer Burt Cohen said during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday. During the event, localities lawyer Cheryl Leanza of Best Best argued localities still must maintain public infrastructure while revenue from cable franchise fees dries up and thus need to target broadband service. Conversely, Jenner & Block's Jessica Ring Amunson, who has represented NCTA, said the law is clear that those franchise fees can be levied on cable service only. Cohen, now Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel broadband policy coordinator, said that while a collaborative understanding of cable local franchise authority regarding fees is needed, "I'm not sure we are there yet."
Maine should harmonize its Chapter 880 pole-attachment rules with recent FCC rules changes, Comcast and Charter Communications commented last week at the Maine Public Utilities Commission. However, the cable companies disagreed with various Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) recommendations contained in a recent report. Versant Power, an electric utility that owns poles, said Maine needn’t make more regulatory or legislative changes.
Carriers can't rely on technology vendors or other companies to find a path forward on AI, Danielle Rios, acting CEO of software company Totogi, said Tuesday during a TelecomTV forum on the AI-native telco. Vendors themselves are still figuring out AI, Rios said. Other speakers agreed that companies must collaborate to make AI in telecom a success.
Broadcasters, MVPDs and network programmers want the FCC to shelve plans that require disclosures about the use of AI in political ads because they’re unworkably burdensome, exceed agency authority and won’t affect digital platforms, said reply filings in docket 24-211.
Having received FCC approval for 7,500 of its second-generation satellites in 2022 (see 2212010052), SpaceX is now asking the FCC to green-light 22,488 satellites the agency deferred on. Those additional satellites, plus "several small-but-meaningful updates" to the orbital configuration of the already-approved second-gen low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, would "improve space sustainability, better respond to evolving demand, and more efficiently share spectrum with other spectrum users," it told the FCC Space Bureau in an application posted Tuesday.
The FCC in a 3-2 vote adopted a notice of inquiry seeking comment on the impact of data caps on consumers and competition in the broadband marketplace. The NOI "launches a formal proceeding through which the agency can hear from those impacted by data caps," said a news release Tuesday. Comments are due by Nov. 14, replies Dec. 2, in docket 23-199. Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington dissented.
With the California Public Utilities Commission planning a vote within days about regulating VoIP, AT&T and the cable industry urged that commissioners at least delay -- if not outright reject -- the controversial item. Industry groups representing voice technologies stressed in comments last week in docket R.22-08-008 that the CPUC lacks legal authority to regulate VoIP.
States trying to beef up their broadband network-related workforce see a potentially worrisome gap between people graduating from broadband trades training programs and the future delivery of broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) money. Also Friday, during the Broadband Nation Expo, Jonathan Adelstein, TWN Communications chief strategy and external affairs officer and former Wireless Infrastructure Association head, said the investor community is cautiously warming to BEAD-related investments. The Telecommunications Industry Association and Fierce Network staged the event at National Harbor, Maryland.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the FCC should avoid taking the steps proposed in an AI NPRM. Commissioners approved the NPRM 5-0 in August. Conversely, consumer groups supported the proposed rules. Comments were due last week and posted Thursday and Friday in docket 23-362.