FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s draft net neutrality order would fully forbear from Sections 203, 204 and 205, “the core of Title II utility-style rate regulation,” an FCC official told us Thursday, speaking with more specificity about agency claims it won't impose traditional rate regulation on broadband providers under Title II. Gone with the forbearances would be requirements that carriers file rates with the agency and charge customers only those rates. Also to be forborne is authorization for the agency to hold hearings on the lawfulness of the rates, and for the FCC to set rates if carriers’ rates are unlawful, the official said.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s draft net neutrality order would fully forbear from Sections 203, 204 and 205, “the core of Title II utility-style rate regulation,” an FCC official told us Thursday, speaking with more specificity about agency claims it won't impose traditional rate regulation on broadband providers under Title II. Gone with the forbearances would be requirements that carriers file rates with the agency and charge customers only those rates. Also to be forborne is authorization for the agency to hold hearings on the lawfulness of the rates, and for the FCC to set rates if carriers’ rates are unlawful, the official said.
Public interest groups argued for stronger consumer protections when legacy services are discontinued during the IP transition. But AT&T and industry groups said approving more regulations wouldn't recognize that customers are choosing to move from copper, and more rules would hinder fiber deployment. The comments were among dozens filed at the deadline and posted Friday on the FCC NPRM (see 1411210037) on toughening rules for retirement and imposing stronger battery backup requirements.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler will circulate this week a draft order to pre-empt North Carolina and Tennessee laws (see 1407250075) posing obstacles to building municipal broadband in a city in each of those states. The draft will be based on the idea that while states may be able to dictate whether municipalities can get into the broadband business, the FCC has authority over laws that put up obstacles to broadband deployment, senior agency officials told reporters during a news-media call Monday.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler will circulate this week a draft order to pre-empt North Carolina and Tennessee laws (see 1407250075) posing obstacles to building municipal broadband in a city in each of those states. The draft will be based on the idea that while states may be able to dictate whether municipalities can get into the broadband business, the FCC has authority over laws that put up obstacles to broadband deployment, senior agency officials told reporters during a news-media call Monday.
The FCC voted 5-0 to approve rules requiring carriers to provide data to 911 call centers on wireless calls made indoors. The order changed significantly since first circulated by Chairman Tom Wheeler three weeks ago, putting more emphasis on the concept of dispatchable location as proposed in the industry-public safety road map, industry and FCC officials said. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn expressed concerns that the order was weaker than rules proposed by the FCC in a February NPRM and said she could only concur.
The FCC voted 5-0 to approve rules requiring carriers to provide data to 911 call centers on wireless calls made indoors. The order changed significantly since first circulated by Chairman Tom Wheeler three weeks ago, putting more emphasis on the concept of dispatchable location as proposed in the industry-public safety road map, industry and FCC officials said. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn expressed concerns that the order was weaker than rules proposed by the FCC in a February NPRM and said she could only concur.
The FCC raised to 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload the standard for determining whether broadband is being sufficiently deployed around the country Thursday, over objections of Republican commissioners and ISPs. The 3-2 vote had been expected (see 1501280056). The commission accepted the conclusion in the agency’s broadband progress report that, under the new standard, broadband is not being deployed in a reasonable or timely fashion. That finding requires the agency to take “immediate” steps to improve deployment under the Telecommunications Act's Section 706. A separate party-line 3-2 vote approved a notice of inquiry seeking ideas on how to improve broadband deployment.
The FCC raised to 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload the standard for determining whether broadband is being sufficiently deployed around the country Thursday, over objections of Republican commissioners and ISPs. The 3-2 vote had been expected (see 1501280056). The commission accepted the conclusion in the agency’s broadband progress report that, under the new standard, broadband is not being deployed in a reasonable or timely fashion. That finding requires the agency to take “immediate” steps to improve deployment under the Telecommunications Act's Section 706. A separate party-line 3-2 vote approved a notice of inquiry seeking ideas on how to improve broadband deployment.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn indicated some hesitation to approve the major mergers pending before the FCC, speaking during a panel discussion Thursday at the Multicultural, Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) broadband summit. She didn't mention any specific merger, including the most contested deal now before the agency -- Comcast/Time Warner Cable.