FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler anticipates the Enforcement Bureau tiger teams “should be up and running” by early 2017, he told House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore. That was one of the many written answers Wheeler supplied in a 40-page document sent to the House Commerce Committee this month. He and the other four commissioners were responding to questions for the record that lawmakers submitted after a July 12 FCC oversight hearing.
Democratic Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn likely both have some leverage on the ISP privacy rules since neither FCC Republican is expected to vote for any of the rules at next week’s commissioner meeting (see 1610120063), industry observers on both sides said Tuesday. Rosenworcel didn’t support the set-top box order at the September meeting, which kept the FCC from approving it after months of build-up (see 1609290014). FCC officials say negotiations on the item are ongoing (see 1610180052).
Democratic Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn likely both have some leverage on the ISP privacy rules since neither FCC Republican is expected to vote for any of the rules at next week’s commissioner meeting (see 1610120063), industry observers on both sides said Tuesday. Rosenworcel didn’t support the set-top box order at the September meeting, which kept the FCC from approving it after months of build-up (see 1609290014). FCC officials say negotiations on the item are ongoing (see 1610180052).
Early signs are that the industry attack on draft ISP privacy rules will center on the FCC’s determination of what kind of data is considered “sensitive” information requiring opt-in consent before it can be used or shared. USTelecom and NCTA already raised concerns the draft rules include eight categories of sensitive data, a broader definition than under the FTC’s privacy framework (see 1610060031).
Early signs are that the industry attack on draft ISP privacy rules will center on the FCC’s determination of what kind of data is considered “sensitive” information requiring opt-in consent before it can be used or shared. USTelecom and NCTA already raised concerns the draft rules include eight categories of sensitive data, a broader definition than under the FTC’s privacy framework (see 1610060031).
Three video relay service providers urged the FCC to stabilize a VRS market they say is under pressure from a 2013-17 agency schedule of compensation rate cuts. With rates at their lowest level ever and consumer demand flat, Sorenson Communications said, VRS compensation was $44.2 million in August, down from $54.5 million in May 2010, forcing providers to cut costs while trying to maintain service quality. Innovation and support technology will come from VRS providers, not government, and industry needs "greater financial stability over the next five years," said a Sorenson filing Tuesday in docket 03-123. Convo Communications and Purple Communications executives met with FCC officials about VRS market conditions, including the impact of implementing "dramatic VRS rate cuts on competitive providers' viability and ability to compete for market share." Sorenson is the top provider. "Although the 2013 VRS Reform Order set forth reforms intended to enable competitive providers to grow market share and reduce costs concurrently with the declining rates, those structural reforms have yet to be realized in the market even as rates have dropped," said a Convo/Purple filing on discussions with aides to Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioners Ajit Pai, Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel. "The need for VRS rate structure reform that will help stabilize the marketplace and the potential components of such reform were discussed." Sorenson and affiliate CaptionCall, which joined its filing, also suggested various steps the FCC could take to ensure IP captioned telephone services are provided to consumers "who actually need them," including by having users screened by independent hearing health professionals to certify their needs.
Three video relay service providers urged the FCC to stabilize a VRS market they say is under pressure from a 2013-17 agency schedule of compensation rate cuts. With rates at their lowest level ever and consumer demand flat, Sorenson Communications said, VRS compensation was $44.2 million in August, down from $54.5 million in May 2010, forcing providers to cut costs while trying to maintain service quality. Innovation and support technology will come from VRS providers, not government, and industry needs "greater financial stability over the next five years," said a Sorenson filing Tuesday in docket 03-123. Convo Communications and Purple Communications executives met with FCC officials about VRS market conditions, including the impact of implementing "dramatic VRS rate cuts on competitive providers' viability and ability to compete for market share." Sorenson is the top provider. "Although the 2013 VRS Reform Order set forth reforms intended to enable competitive providers to grow market share and reduce costs concurrently with the declining rates, those structural reforms have yet to be realized in the market even as rates have dropped," said a Convo/Purple filing on discussions with aides to Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioners Ajit Pai, Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel. "The need for VRS rate structure reform that will help stabilize the marketplace and the potential components of such reform were discussed." Sorenson and affiliate CaptionCall, which joined its filing, also suggested various steps the FCC could take to ensure IP captioned telephone services are provided to consumers "who actually need them," including by having users screened by independent hearing health professionals to certify their needs.
The FCC approved revised rules for wireless emergency alerts (WEA) and sought comment on future changes. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly partly dissented, objecting to some policy calls. The order, as expected (see 1609220008), increases the maximum length of WEA messages from 90 to 360 characters for 4G LTE and future networks and requires participating wireless providers to support inclusion of embedded phone numbers and URLs in all WEA alerts, said a Thursday news release.
The FCC unanimously approved rules to make it easier for broadcasters and common carriers to receive capital from foreign investors, as expected (see 1609190061). The rule changes codify the process of seeking a foreign ownership declaratory ruling for broadcasters, give them more latitude once such a ruling is issued, and take steps to prevent publicly traded companies that can't identify all their investors from running afoul of the foreign ownership rules, said a Thursday FCC fact sheet. The order is "a praiseworthy example" of the FCC creating opportunity, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said.
The FCC approved revised rules for wireless emergency alerts (WEA) and sought comment on future changes. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly partly dissented, objecting to some policy calls. The order, as expected (see 1609220008), increases the maximum length of WEA messages from 90 to 360 characters for 4G LTE and future networks and requires participating wireless providers to support inclusion of embedded phone numbers and URLs in all WEA alerts, said a Thursday news release.