The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency could serve as a one-stop “clearinghouse” for industry stakeholders to report cyber incidents, Paul Eisler, USTelecom's vice president-cybersecurity and innovation, said Thursday. Eisler discussed CISA’s proposed cyber incident reporting rules during a USTelecom webinar. He noted the telecom sector reports cyber incidents to a long list of agencies, including the FCC, FTC, DOJ, SEC and state government entities. Having cyber officials fill out “five different” reports for one incident distracts them from fending off future attacks, he said. There needs to be “concrete, tangible” steps to address solutions after an incident, he said. USTelecom, NCTA and Microsoft filed comments in CISA’s latest round of public comments on the proposed regulations (see 2407030059).
The Wireless ISP Association said the FCC should stick with revised rules for the 4.9 GHz band, allowing nonpublic safety use of the spectrum on a secondary basis (see 2301180062). The commission “correctly held” that a band manager model “would ensure that public safety operations are fully protected, while promoting spectrum efficiency, fostering innovation, and reducing equipment costs,” a filing posted Thursday in docket 07-100 said. WISPA noted that the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance has urged the FCC to change the rules: “PSSA is incorrect that secondary, non-public safety access on a preemptible basis would complicate the Band Manager’s ability to fulfill its frequency coordination and band management responsibilities,” WISPA said.
CTIA wants the FCC to make several tweaks to the draft order and Further NPRM that let schools and libraries use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet services (see 2406270068). The item is set for a commissioner vote July 18. The FCC should consider increasing the $15 funding cap for services and $90 for hot spots, a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-31 said: “The Draft Order indicates that these values represent median costs, meaning that fully half of the costs in the sample were above these levels. Using median costs as funding caps could unduly restrict the range of offerings available to schools and libraries.” The requirement to monitor usage should rest with applicants, not providers, CTIA said. In addition, the FCC should consider removing the limitation on devices with ethernet ports, the group said. “This limitation is not necessary to ensure appropriate use of the funding and the Draft Order offers no explanation for its inclusion.”
CTIA asked the FCC to add questions to the draft handset unlocking NPRM set for a vote July 18 (see 2406270068). CTIA said the FCC should ask whether “lost or stolen phones also fall under an exception to the 60-day unlocking requirement,” a filing posted Thursday in docket 24-186 said. In addition, CTIA requested that the draft be changed to ask about “other consumer impacts,” including “any digital equity implications” and the potential effect on the push to close the digital divide.
AT&T responded to NCTA after the group Wednesday joined the fray on the 4.9 GHz band, saying FirstNet and by extension AT&T shouldn't gain control of it (see 2407100020). “This is a public safety issue, not an industry issue,” a spokesperson emailed. “Contrary the filing, we support public safety and join major public safety groups … in supporting FCC action to preserve this spectrum for public safety and meet the critical and evolving future communication needs of first responders.” AT&T noted the support of the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Association of Chiefs of Police for its position, “among many others.”
Republican FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington appears likely to win renomination regardless of which party takes the White House in November, lawmakers and lobbyists said in interviews. Some observers believe it's unlikely Democrats will use Simington's 2025 confirmation process to strike back against any FCC structural changes Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr may propose if former President Donald Trump wins and nominates him as chairman, as expected (see 2407120002). Carr’s reconfirmation last year (see 2310020043) means his term doesn’t expire until 2028, so he wouldn't face a new round of Senate scrutiny.
ClearCaptions urged the FCC to provide "at least two years of rate stability" in a new rate plan adopted for IP-captioned telephone services using automatic speech recognition (ASR). There are "no additional efficiency gains expected" in ASR costs in the medium term, it said during a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr (see 2309250056). An ex parte filing was posted Thursday in docket 22-408. Raising concerns about further rate cuts, ClearCaptions said continuous rate cuts would "signal to banks and other investors that there could be no end in sight for rate reductions."
States hope they can increase federal engagement on telecom no matter who is president in 2025, current and former state utility commissioners said in interviews. In a possible second Donald Trump presidency, “the states and localities are really going to be where broadband policy is made,” predicted Gigi Sohn, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society senior fellow. Some said there is a lot of uncertainty about how a Trump administration might change rules for state grants under NTIA’s $42.5 billion broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program.
The FCC World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) Advisory Committee scheduled a second meeting for Aug. 5 where the group will consider status reports and recommendations from its informal working groups preparing for WRC-27 (see 2403210049). The FCC announced the meeting in a public notice Thursday. The in-person meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the FCC.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., the FCC's study of fixed wireless use of the lower 12 GHz band continues with the agency drawing no conclusions so far. Proponents hope for a decision soon (see 2407030061). “Since the record in the proceeding closed, Commission staff has been carefully reviewing stakeholder submissions -- including technical feasibility studies and suggested coordination mechanisms -- with an eye to opening up this band for new services while protecting vital satellite services,” Rosenworcel said in a letter posted Thursday. “A wide range of FCC legal, technical, and policy experts are engaged in evaluating the complex questions raised in this record, which now includes competing technical analyses,” she said: The staff review “requires carefully examining the characteristics of this spectrum band -- including its propagation and capacity characteristics, the nature of in-band and adjacent band incumbent use, and the potential for international harmonization -- prior to determining technical feasibility and if harmful interference can be avoided.” Eshoo raised the issue in a letter to the FCC last year.