Some states are responding to a possible federal phaseout in Lifeline support for voice-only services, but many have no plans to replace lost support, state commission officials said. The FCC plans to phase out $5.25 in voice support Dec. 1 except in census blocks with only one Lifeline voice provider. Some industry and community groups applauded states stepping in but said it’s up to the FCC to ensure no one is disconnected from voice service. “In the absence of federal support, state Lifeline subsidy programs fill a critical gap for those in need,” said Next Century Cities (NCC) Policy Counsel-State and Local Initiatives Corian Zacher.
Inmate calling service providers could shift costs to video calling if the California Public Utilities Commission caps only voice rates, said public advocates Wednesday at a CPUC prehearing conference. After last month capping voice intrastate ICS rates at 7 cents a minute on an interim basis (see 2108190046), the commission is preparing for a phase two that might include rates for text and video services, despite some ICS providers disagreeing they're under the agency’s jurisdiction. Some providers sought a several-month delay so the effectiveness of new interim rates can be analyzed.
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday she’s deferring to Congress in deciding how to parcel out the proposed $65 billion in broadband money included in the Senate-passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR-3684). She sidestepped questions during a virtual Politico event about whether senators’ decision to parcel out the bulk of connectivity funding in HR-3684 to NTIA indicates a lack of faith in the commission. Capitol Hill leaders said during the event they continue to push for lawmakers to pass a national privacy standard and revamp Communications Decency Act Section 230 during this Congress.
The FTC voted 3-2 along party lines Wednesday to withdraw from its 2020 joint vertical transaction guidelines with DOJ, despite “anxiety” from Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and protests from Republican commissioners (see 2109100043). The guidelines remain at DOJ, the department said.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, the biggest question mark as the agency considers a draft order and Further NPRM on the 4.9 GHz band, indicated Wednesday he may support a proposal to take another look at the band, teed up for a Sept. 30 commissioner vote. Carr was the lone dissenter (see 2105270071) when the FCC stayed rules OK’d last year giving states control.
The 2021 NAB Show is shifting to a virtual event, and won't convene in-person at the Las Vegas Convention Center Oct. 9-13, the association announced Wednesday. The 2022 NAB Show, set for April 23-27, is still planned to be in-person, NAB said. See our earlier news bulletin here.
The FTC voted along party lines in passing eight omnibus resolutions designed to increase investigative powers for agency staff, focused tech and several other areas over the next decade, the agency announced Tuesday. The points of focus include “Acts or Practices Affecting Children,” “Bias in Algorithms and Biometrics,” “Deceptive and Manipulative Conduct on the Internet,” “Repair Restrictions” and “Abuse of Intellectual Property.” See also our news bulletin here.
The FCC could accede to a request to pause new foreign-sponsored content identification rules, and it's likely broadcasters otherwise will renew the request in court, said broadcast and appellate attorneys in interviews. A stay petition was filed last week by NAB, the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council. They argue the new rules will affect all stations when relatively few air the content targeted by the regulations. The FCC “could easily have achieved its purported objectives and then some with a less burdensome approach,” said the stay request.
Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judges Danielle Forrest and Mary Schroeder asked about FCC preemptive authority after reclassifying broadband as a Communications Act Title I service, at oral argument Tuesday on ISP associations challenging a lower court denying preliminary injunction against California’s 2018 net neutrality law (case 21-15430). Judge Clifford Wallace asked why the 9th Circuit should bother with a preliminary appeal.
Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell of Washington and other chamber Democratic leaders told us they haven’t signed off on the House Commerce Committee’s portion of the Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation package because of what they consider an underwhelming amount of money for broadband. Senate Republicans we spoke with appeared unified with their House colleagues in opposition to the language.