A draft item on accessibility for user interfaces on the agenda for the FCC's Thursday meeting contains a compromise on using voice or gesture commands to activate captions that is expected to satisfy both consumer groups and pay-TV carriers, said industry officials and pay-TV attorneys in recent interviews. Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the National Association of the Deaf and other groups filed a petition for reconsideration (see 1401240080) of the FCC's first user interfaces order, approved in 2013 as part of efforts to comply with the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA). Along with a recon order containing a captions compromise, the draft item includes an order on training and notification requirements for pay-TV carriers informing their customers about accessibility.
Draft spectrum legislation from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., may have originated without Democratic involvement, but wireless observers told us the provisions likely warrant little pushback. They see a balanced bill that includes bipartisan ideas on freeing up more spectrum beyond what's in the recent budget deal and other deployment measures, such as timeliness of federal and local authorities in siting. Also in the draft is a provision that would allow federal agencies to recoup money from spectrum they give up to auction -- up to 25 percent -- and, as expected (see 1511040047), the dig once proposal.
Draft spectrum legislation from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., may have originated without Democratic involvement, but wireless observers told us the provisions likely warrant little pushback. They see a balanced bill that includes bipartisan ideas on freeing up more spectrum beyond what's in the recent budget deal and other deployment measures, such as timeliness of federal and local authorities in siting. Also in the draft is a provision that would allow federal agencies to recoup money from spectrum they give up to auction -- up to 25 percent -- and, as expected (see 1511040047), the dig once proposal.
The FCC should get going on reforming its USF contribution system, ITTA and the Montana Telecommunications Association (MTA) said Friday. There is “growing pressure on the Universal Service Fund as the Commission considers expanding the scope of services supported by USF programs,” said midsize-telco group ITTA in a filing posted in docket 10-90 summarizing an Oct. 28 meeting with Gigi Sohn, counselor to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. “We urged the Commission to undertake USF contribution reform and broaden the base of contributors before taking any further steps to modify the Lifeline program to include support for broadband services.” MTA also urged the FCC to address contribution reform, “particularly given the increasing pressure on the high cost reform efforts caused by budgetary restraints and the shrinking contributions base,” the association said in a filing on its meetings with aides to Wheeler and Commissioners Mike O'Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel. An FCC spokesman said the issue was before a federal-state joint board. Carriers currently contribute 16.7 percent of their interstate and international telecom revenue to USF, a rate that has trended up over the years as subsidies have increased and the industry revenue base has eroded. Carriers generally pass the fees along to consumers.
The FCC approved an NPRM on spectrum frontiers, spectrum at 24 GHz and above for 5G, Thursday. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O’Rielly were critical of the approach in the NPRM. As some predicted (see 1510190067), they partially dissented. Pai said the NPRM leaves out critical spectrum bands that deserve more discussion. The NPRM tees up for further investigation the 28, 37, 39 and 64-71 GHz bands, the FCC said in a news release. The NPRM wasn't released Thursday.
The FCC approved an NPRM on spectrum frontiers, spectrum at 24 GHz and above for 5G, Thursday. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O’Rielly were critical of the approach in the NPRM. As some predicted (see 1510190067), they partially dissented. Pai said the NPRM leaves out critical spectrum bands that deserve more discussion. The NPRM tees up for further investigation the 28, 37, 39 and 64-71 GHz bands, the FCC said in a news release. The NPRM wasn't released Thursday.
The FCC unanimously approved an NPRM on proposals to make it easier for broadcasters to have foreign owners and change the way the commission assesses foreign ownership, as was expected (see 1510190064). The foreign ownership rules for broadcasting act as funding constraints that other industries don’t face, said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel at Thursday’s commissioner meeting. The proposals in the NPRM would allow the FCC to allow broadcasters better access to foreign capital without “sacrificing” security, Rosenworcel said. “It’s time to fix these constraints,” she said. “If a common carrier can request commission approval for up to 100 percent foreign ownership, why shouldn’t a broadcaster be able to do the same?” Commissioner Ajit Pai asked.
The FCC adopted an inmate calling service (ICS) item Thursday to cap user rates, restrict ancillary fees and discourage ICS provider “site commission” payments indirectly, despite strong pushback from industry parties and sheriff groups. The actions were needed to ensure ICS charges are “just, reasonable and fair” and don’t impose an undue burden on inmates and their families, the agency said. The vote at the FCC meeting was 3-2, with Democrats approving and Republicans dissenting from an ICS order and Further NPRM on the topic.
The FCC approved an NPRM on spectrum frontiers, spectrum at 24 GHz and above for 5G, Thursday. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O’Rielly were critical of the approach in the NPRM. As some predicted (see 1510190067), they partially dissented. Pai said the NPRM leaves out critical spectrum bands that deserve more discussion. The NPRM tees up for further investigation the 28, 37, 39 and 64-71 GHz bands, the FCC said in a news release. The NPRM wasn't released Thursday.
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel backed FCC inmate calling service (ICS) action as the agency heads toward a planned vote Thursday on a draft item to limit ICS user rates and charges. “The high cost that prison inmates and their families pay for phone service is not just a marketplace issue, it is a broader issue of social justice. That’s why it is so important for us to act in this proceeding,” Rosenworcel said in an email from her office in response to our query. The offices of other commissioners provided no comment on the plan circulated by Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn to cap all ICS rates, restrict ancillary fees, "strongly discourage" site commissions indirectly and implement changes after 90 days (see 1509300067).