Little time remains for moving the bipartisan Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-827/HR-2566) across the finish line this year, but lawmakers in both chambers are gearing up to try to score a victory. Much may depend on whether Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants to block hotline consideration of S-827 due to frustration over the lack of reconfirmation of FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a senior Senate Republican said. Its Democratic sponsor, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, is committed to enacting the bill this year.
The FCC is expected to have a busy few months before the Nov. 8 election as it finalizes key parts of Chairman Tom Wheeler’s remaining agenda. The set-top box order appears headed for a vote at the Sept. 29 open meeting (see 1608240064). Orders overhauling the special access market and imposing privacy rules on ISPs are expected at commissioners' October meeting, agency and industry officials told us. The growing consensus is Wheeler may have several additional months as chairman if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency (see 1608240057). In reality, the time to move his agenda is limited, the officials said. The FCC didn't comment Friday.
The FCC is expected to have a busy few months before the Nov. 8 election as it finalizes key parts of Chairman Tom Wheeler’s remaining agenda. The set-top box order appears headed for a vote at the Sept. 29 open meeting (see 1608240064). Orders overhauling the special access market and imposing privacy rules on ISPs are expected at commissioners' October meeting, agency and industry officials told us. The growing consensus is Wheeler may have several additional months as chairman if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency (see 1608240057). In reality, the time to move his agenda is limited, the officials said. The FCC didn't comment Friday.
If Hillary Clinton wins the presidency, Tom Wheeler could remain FCC chairman into the summer of 2017, judging from the limited history of similar transitions, and on recent speculation about his plans. Former Chairman Reed Hundt is among those who said they see a prolonged Wheeler chairmanship as likely. Industry lawyers and former FCC officials, Democratic and Republican, said the outlook has evolved in recent weeks. Just a month ago, many said they expected Wheeler to leave in January, but they say it now looks likely he will keep his job well into 2017 should Clinton win to finish work left undone after she is sworn in Jan. 20. Clinton is ahead in most polls.
Commissioner Mike O'Rielly says the FCC has made strides in resolving his concerns that commissioners faced censorship on pending agency items while Chairman Tom Wheeler and his staff were free to selectively disclose matters. "Thankfully, we've had decent progress toward fixing this one process area," O'Rielly said, responding to our query. However, questions remain about a leak that FCC and congressional Republicans say helped scuttle a bipartisan Lifeline compromise among commissioners March 31, which is being investigated by the agency's inspector general. Responses to a Communications Daily Freedom of Information Act request detail much late congressional lobbying of the FCC on Lifeline.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., spoke to telecom officials in his state Monday, citing the precedent that FCC chairs step down at the end of a given administration, an aide told us. Thune’s exchange came at the South Dakota Telecom Association during its annual meeting in Brookings. Thune has pressed FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to step down at the end of the Obama administration and said Wheeler's reluctance to make that commitment contributed to the GOP holds on the reconfirmation of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Thune also spoke about net neutrality and how that issue is affecting the landscape and on USF and the status of stand-alone broadband support, the aide said. Thune called such stand-alone support an achieved matter following years of pressure but pledged to monitor the more comprehensive rate of return overhaul the FCC adopted this year.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., spoke to telecom officials in his state Monday, citing the precedent that FCC chairs step down at the end of a given administration, an aide told us. Thune’s exchange came at the South Dakota Telecom Association during its annual meeting in Brookings. Thune has pressed FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to step down at the end of the Obama administration and said Wheeler's reluctance to make that commitment contributed to the GOP holds on the reconfirmation of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Thune also spoke about net neutrality and how that issue is affecting the landscape and on USF and the status of stand-alone broadband support, the aide said. Thune called such stand-alone support an achieved matter following years of pressure but pledged to monitor the more comprehensive rate of return overhaul the FCC adopted this year.
The FCC gave utilities and schools some relief from Telephone Consumer Protection Act enforcement in a ruling approved by commissioners over a partial dissent by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. The FCC granted “substantial relief” to Blackboard, a communications program used by schools, and the Edison Electric Institute and American Gas Association, which jointly sought ability to notify utility customers without violating the TCPA.
The FCC gave utilities and schools some relief from Telephone Consumer Protection Act enforcement in a ruling approved by commissioners over a partial dissent by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. The FCC granted “substantial relief” to Blackboard, a communications program used by schools, and the Edison Electric Institute and American Gas Association, which jointly sought ability to notify utility customers without violating the TCPA.
The uncertain timing of a federal USF contribution overhaul stirred debate over whether states should proceed with changes to their own funds. In replies Friday at the Nebraska Public Service Commission, some telecom companies urged the PSC to wait to revamp its surcharge methodology until the FCC Federal State Joint Board on Universal Service and the FCC act on federal contribution reform. It’s unclear when the Joint Board will issue a recommendation; the FCC USF contribution reform proceeding has been open for more than a decade.