A Wednesday House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee hearing on the FCC's fiscal year 2020 budget request is likely to provide a first glimpse at whether House Democrats live up to expectations they'll do more critical oversight hearings on the agency under their regained majority of the chamber (see 1811140055), lobbyists told us. The Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee paid only limited attention to NTIA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Patent and Trademark Office during Tuesday's hearing on the Commerce Department's FY 2020 budget request.
The FCC voted 5-0 to approve a rural call completion order with few changes, as expected (see 1903140051). Democratic commissioners partially concurred, saying stronger actions are needed. The item sets "flexible" service-quality standards that require intermediate providers to take reasonable steps to ensure calls they handle are completed, a release said. "Intermediate providers will now have an obligation to take action and ensure that calls are completed," said Commissioner Brendan Carr at Friday's meeting. The order also eventually sunsets "covered" originating provider recordkeeping duties.
A big part of the administration’s spectrum plan requires all federal agencies to submit planning documents, which include estimates of their needs 15 years in the future. Government and industry officials said the plan could be helpful in assessing future spectrum bands for licensed and unlicensed use, but acknowledge agencies have a big challenge.
Even with FCC progress in easing the infrastructure path to 5G deployment and extending broadband connectivity, industry officials at a Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council event Wednesday sought lower barriers to infrastructure deployment. Some commissioners also said the draft Telecom Act Section 706 broadband deployment report points to big progress in closing the digital divide.
Even with FCC progress in easing the infrastructure path to 5G deployment and extending broadband connectivity, industry officials at a Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council event Wednesday sought lower barriers to infrastructure deployment. Some commissioners also said the draft Telecom Act Section 706 broadband deployment report points to big progress in closing the digital divide.
Even with FCC progress in easing the infrastructure path to 5G deployment and extending broadband connectivity, industry officials at a Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council event Wednesday sought lower barriers to infrastructure deployment. Some commissioners also said the draft Telecom Act Section 706 broadband deployment report points to big progress in closing the digital divide.
Grace Koh, who started working at the State Department Monday, was designated Tuesday to lead the U.S. delegation to the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference. The move was expected. Some feared it might not be automatic given White House personnel issues (see 1903040058).
NTCA objected to an FCC draft order on intermediate carrier standards the association said could increase rural call completion problems. The RLEC group urged the FCC to add to the draft's "flexible" service-quality standards and condition elimination of existing "covered" originating provider record-keeping duties. WTA backed NTCA, but some others supported the draft, tentatively scheduled for a vote at a March 15 commissioners meeting (see 1902220062).
Despite concerns on lack of U.S. preparedness for the recent prep meeting for the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (see 1903010042), FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said Monday the U.S. will be ready and should win on the most important points. “Stay tuned” and concerns will be addressed soon, he said during a lunch speech at Wiley Rein: “Government being as it can be, it does take a little bit longer than you would like.” O’Rielly said emphatically the Trump administration will never launch a government 5G network.
Despite concerns on lack of U.S. preparedness for the recent prep meeting for the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (see 1903010042), FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said Monday the U.S. will be ready and should win on the most important points. “Stay tuned” and concerns will be addressed soon, he said during a lunch speech at Wiley Rein: “Government being as it can be, it does take a little bit longer than you would like.” O’Rielly said emphatically the Trump administration will never launch a government 5G network.