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.
The FCC approved by 5-0 Thursday most of Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal for opening high-frequency spectrum for 5G. The order and Further NPRM got a few tweaks -- the agency will now ask about spectrum bands above 95 GHz -- but it largely tracks the proposal laid out in a June fact sheet (see 1606240026). All commissioners said the order puts the U.S. ahead of the rest of the world in the race to 5G.
The FCC approved by 5-0 Thursday most of Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal for opening high-frequency spectrum for 5G. The order and Further NPRM got a few tweaks -- the agency will now ask about spectrum bands above 95 GHz -- but it largely tracks the proposal laid out in a June fact sheet (see 1606240026). All commissioners said the order puts the U.S. ahead of the rest of the world in the race to 5G.
The FCC approved by 5-0 Thursday most of Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal for opening high-frequency spectrum for 5G. The order and Further NPRM got a few tweaks -- the agency will now ask about spectrum bands above 95 GHz -- but it largely tracks the proposal laid out in a June fact sheet (see 1606240026). All commissioners said the order puts the U.S. ahead of the rest of the world in the race to 5G.
The Copyright Office has concerns about the FCC set-top box rulemaking, said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and House Commerce Committee Vice Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Tuesday during a House Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight hearing. Both have met with the CO and said they believe FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal can't go forward as is. Momentum is with an alternative pay-TV proposal (see 1607120079), which Wheeler welcomed in prepared testimony (see 1607110063).
The Copyright Office has concerns about the FCC set-top box rulemaking, said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and House Commerce Committee Vice Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Tuesday during a House Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight hearing. Both have met with the CO and said they believe FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal can't go forward as is. Momentum is with an alternative pay-TV proposal (see 1607120079), which Wheeler welcomed in prepared testimony (see 1607110063).
Telecom legislation may be reaching a fatal stall in the Senate, said Capitol Hill lobbyists and observers in interviews, as Congress enters its home stretch before a long summer recess. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us he expects Democratic holds will stop any expedited passage of his FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) on the same grounds as the Democratic holds currently obstructing the unanimous consent hotline of his Mobile Now spectrum bill (S-2555): the partisan battle between Senate leaders over the reconfirmation of FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel.
Telecom legislation may be reaching a fatal stall in the Senate, said Capitol Hill lobbyists and observers in interviews, as Congress enters its home stretch before a long summer recess. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us he expects Democratic holds will stop any expedited passage of his FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) on the same grounds as the Democratic holds currently obstructing the unanimous consent hotline of his Mobile Now spectrum bill (S-2555): the partisan battle between Senate leaders over the reconfirmation of FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel.
The satellite industry still hopes for changes in the FCC spectrum frontiers draft order to give it co-primary status in the 28 GHz band with wireless 5G operators and to tackle aggregate interference issues, industry officials told us. Co-primary status has been a major issue for satellite operators (see 1606020035). Satellite Industry Association President Tom Stroup said failure to get that could have "severe consequences" for future earth station deployments.