Industry groups and consumer advocates had multiple meetings with FCC aides on a draft NPRM that would officially kick off the commission's efforts to restore net neutrality rules, per several ex parte filings posted Thursday in docket 23-320 (see 2309280084). NTCA said in separate meetings with aides to Commissioners Anna Gomez and Nathan Simington that the FCC should "recognize and seek input on the multi-sided nature of the internet ecosystem" if it examines internet traffic exchange. It also urged the commission to ask "open-ended questions" in its proceeding to "develop a meaningful and balanced record regarding the potential benefits and costs of proposed forbearance from contribution obligations." Lumen raised similar concerns with the Wireline Bureau and aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. It asked the FCC to seek comment on whether it should apply rules to internet traffic exchange and on "which rules it should apply." Title II regulation "would have a disproportionately adverse impact" on Wireless ISP Association members, the group said in a meeting with a Rosenworcel aide. "The draft NPRM must be more explicit in contemplating substantial steps to eliminate the negative impact of common carrier regulation on small providers," WISPA said. Public Knowledge had separate meetings with aides to Gomez, Starks and Rosenworcel on state preemption. It asked the FCC to seek comment on circumstances where "total preemption may be contrary to the public interest," such as in instances of digital discrimination, public safety and network reliability. The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society urged the Office of General Counsel to clarify the status of pending petitions for reconsideration of the FCC's restoring internet freedom order either separately or as part of the draft proceeding.
The FCC reopened the possibility of making changes to its spectrum screen, focused on mid-band frequencies, seeking comment on a 2021 petition by AT&T asking for a rulemaking (see 2309220064). Industry experts said that doesn’t mean action is necessarily forthcoming, though some believe it could be. Comments are due on the public notice Oct. 23, replies Nov. 8, in docket 23-319.
New FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez’s acting chief of staff Deena Shetler spoke at a National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters panel with other 10th-floor aides Thursday, one of the first public appearances for Gomez’s new team. The panel, which included Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s Media Adviser David Strickland, also discussed media ownership, virtual MVPDs and advertising diversity. “We’re drinking from a firehose right now,” said Shetler, who has had the job just over a week.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit show cause order Thursday giving the FCC 90 days to complete its 2018 quadrennial review was characterized Friday by NAB as a “big win” in an email to members. But broadcast and public interest attorneys said the agency was likely already on a path to approve the QR in that timeline.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit show cause order Thursday giving the FCC 90 days to complete its 2018 quadrennial review was characterized Friday by NAB as a “big win” in an email to members. But broadcast and public interest attorneys said the agency was likely already on a path to approve the QR in that timeline.
The FCC and Department of Health and Human Services are pushing the wireless industry for a means of 988 georouting that could be deployed nationally. "We strongly encourage your members to take the necessary steps to identify and develop a 988 georouting solution that could be deployed in their wireless networks within a reasonable time," said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, HHS assistant secretary-mental health and substance abuse, Thursday in letters to CTIA CEO Meredith Atwell, Competitive Carriers Association CEO Tim Donovan and Rural Wireless Association President Jack Baldwin. In similar letters to T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg and AT&T CEO John Stankey, the agencies say FCC Wireline Bureau staff will contact the companies in coming days "to discuss your plans to move toward a georouting solution for 988."
Of the items teed up for a vote at the FCC’s Oct. 19 meeting, changes to rules for the 6 GHz band have gotten the most attention since Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the meeting agenda Wednesday. The FCC released drafts Thursday for all the items at what will be the first meeting with new Commissioner Anna Gomez and the first 3-2 Democratic majority during the Biden administration. Among other items also on tap are Wi-Fi on school buses, improving maternal care, changes to wireless emergency alerts, video programming for the blind and visually impaired, and universal service in Alaska.
State net neutrality laws will remain a critical fail-safe even if the current FCC can restore national rules, Democratic authors of California and Washington state measures told us this week. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel announced this week the agency will pursue rules, saying a national policy is better than a state patchwork (see 2309270056 and 2309260047). Title II reclassification may give the FCC legal basis to preempt state laws, said some telecom law experts.
The FCC's draft NPRM that would kick off the agency's efforts to reestablish net neutrality rules largely mirrored the commission's 2015 order, according to our analysis of the draft. Commissioners will consider the item during an October open meeting that will include a full commission for the first time under Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel despite a potential government shutdown (see 2309270056). Meanwhile, FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington said the FCC’s net neutrality push is not about protecting free speech but about protecting some tech companies.
The FCC’s Oct. 19 meeting is packed, with items on 6 GHz rules, Wi-Fi on school buses, wireless emergency alerts, video programming for the blind and visually impaired, maternal healthcare and other items. That's aside from the NPRM on net neutrality, which is expected to grab most of the attention (see 2309270056). The meeting will be the first with new Commissioner Anna Gomez and the first with a 3-2 Democratic majority during the Biden administration.