President Donald Trump sowed confusion Thursday on the administration’s stance on a ban on using equipment from Chinese suppliers Huawei and ZTE in U.S. networks. With a key industry meeting at the Mobile World Congress next week (see 1902060056), Trump posted two tweets stressing the importance of 5G and U.S. competitiveness.
Commissioners approved 5-0 a Connect America Fund order to transition from legacy, Phase I price-cap incumbent telco support to CAF II support won at auction last year. As some expected (see 1902130054), the FCC stuck to a draft decision to decline a USTelecom proposal for interim voice support in certain areas, though it did make tweaks in response to ILEC requests. At Thursday's meeting, members also unanimously approved an IP captioned telephone service order, Further NPRM and order aimed at enhancing program management, combating abuse and improving emergency call management.
Commissioners voted 5-0 Thursday to launch a rulemaking on curbing spoofed robocalls, implementing as expected (see 1902120050) part of Ray Baum's Act. Chairman Ajit Pai led with the item during a news conference. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly raised concerns the U.S. can’t take action against some international spoofers. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel questioned whether the FCC is doing enough to take enforcement actions against robocallers.
Commissioners voted 5-0 Thursday to launch a rulemaking on curbing spoofed robocalls, implementing as expected (see 1902120050) part of Ray Baum's Act. Chairman Ajit Pai led with the item during a news conference. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly raised concerns the U.S. can’t take action against some international spoofers. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel questioned whether the FCC is doing enough to take enforcement actions against robocallers.
The FCC’s media modernization effort should be scrutinized for ignoring “foundational statutory obligations” and bypassing policies “truly in need of modernization,” said new Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in an extended statement at Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting. Starks and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel voted “concur” on a unanimously approved order eliminating redundant midterm equal employment opportunity reports (see 1901180043). They urged the FCC to restore long-stalled collection of employment data on diversity. The agency will issue an Further NPRM on broad EEO enforcement within 90 days, Chairman Ajit Pai said.
The Mobile World Congress plans an emergency meeting later this month of executive members to discuss the threat from Chinese equipment suppliers Huawei and ZTE, said Travis Russell, Oracle director-cybersecurity, at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event Wednesday: “Be watching post-Barcelona and there probably will be an announcement coming out of the GSMA.” FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel sought to renew the term for the agency's cybersecurity advisory body.
The Mobile World Congress plans an emergency meeting later this month of executive members to discuss the threat from Chinese equipment suppliers Huawei and ZTE, said Travis Russell, Oracle director-cybersecurity, at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event Wednesday: “Be watching post-Barcelona and there probably will be an announcement coming out of the GSMA.” FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel sought to renew the term for the agency's cybersecurity advisory body.
The Mobile World Congress plans an emergency meeting later this month of executive members to discuss the threat from Chinese equipment suppliers Huawei and ZTE, said Travis Russell, Oracle director-cybersecurity, at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event Wednesday: “Be watching post-Barcelona and there probably will be an announcement coming out of the GSMA.” FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel sought to renew the term for the agency's cybersecurity advisory body.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected FCC tribal Lifeline support limits and procedures Friday. The 2017 order was vacated and remanded for a new rulemaking in a potential win for wireless resellers like TracFone (see 1902010017). It's a clean win for the order's opponents and the biggest loss for Chairman Ajit Pai so far in court, lawyers said Friday. Others said the FCC likely won’t try a do-over on the order or pursue removal non-facilities-based providers in general from the program.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected FCC tribal Lifeline support limits and procedures Friday. The 2017 order was vacated and remanded for a new rulemaking in a potential win for wireless resellers like TracFone (see 1902010017). It's a clean win for the order's opponents and the biggest loss for Chairman Ajit Pai so far in court, lawyers said Friday. Others said the FCC likely won’t try a do-over on the order or pursue removal non-facilities-based providers in general from the program.