Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., jointly urged the FCC Wednesday to reconsider a plan to “end the distinction between mobile and fixed broadband” in its annual Telecom Act Section 706 report as part of its notice of inquiry into whether advanced telecom capability (ATC) is being deployed adequately to all Americans. Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel are participating in a “#MobileOnly challenge" this month to highlight concerns about the proposal (see 1712180057). The FCC “should continue” to recognize the distinction between fixed and mobile broadband, since removing that barrier “would be an active step backwards in expanding broadband service to rural communities,” Harris and Van Hollen said in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “Without adequate service deployment and accurate data collection for both fixed and mobile, our rural and national economy will suffer.” There are “challenges in expanding broadband deployment to rural communities but the solution for Congress and the Commission is not to redefine itself out of the problem but to work with industry to propose and promote viable solutions to address obstacles,” the lawmakers said. “It would be a disservice to rural Americans to be told by the Commission that their broadband needs are being met when their reality is much different.”
A draft FCC order would give $500 million in new funding to cooperatives and other small rural carriers, and set "strong new rules to prevent abuse of the high-cost program," the agency said Tuesday. The item circulated by Chairman Ajit Pai to colleagues proposes changes intended to improve the high-cost USF program's "effectiveness and efficiency in promoting rural broadband deployment, including the use of a Tribal Broadband Factor to enable better access on Tribal lands," said a release. It contains a report and order, an order on reconsideration and an NPRM, an FCC official told us. An agency spokesman confirmed the tribal broadband factor proposal is in the NPRM.
A draft FCC order would give $500 million in new funding to cooperatives and other small rural carriers, and set "strong new rules to prevent abuse of the high-cost program," the agency said Tuesday. The item circulated by Chairman Ajit Pai to colleagues proposes changes intended to improve the high-cost USF program's "effectiveness and efficiency in promoting rural broadband deployment, including the use of a Tribal Broadband Factor to enable better access on Tribal lands," said a release. It contains a report and order, an order on reconsideration and an NPRM, an FCC official told us. An agency spokesman confirmed the tribal broadband factor proposal is in the NPRM.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn is expected to leave before the end of February, with an announcement possible after Clyburn goes to Las Vegas for CES this week, informed people said. If Clyburn leaves, Republicans would have a 3-1 majority on the commission, with Jessica Rosenworcel the remaining Democrat.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn is expected to leave before the end of February, with an announcement possible after Clyburn goes to Las Vegas for CES this week, informed people said. If Clyburn leaves, Republicans would have a 3-1 majority on the commission, with Jessica Rosenworcel the remaining Democrat.
The full FCC voted 3-2 -- as expected -- to propose a $13.4 million forfeiture for Sinclair Broadcast for more than 1,700 instances of improperly identified paid content (see 1712180064), but the FCC’s Democrats say that’s too little for a $2.7 billion company. “The proposed forfeiture of over $13 million is more than three times any penalty that has ever been imposed for violating our sponsorship identification rules,” Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement released with the notice of apparent liability. “Does this mark yet another example of special treatment by the FCC majority? You decide,” Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said in her statement.
The full FCC voted 3-2 -- as expected -- to propose a $13.4 million forfeiture for Sinclair Broadcast for more than 1,700 instances of improperly identified paid content (see 1712180064), but the FCC’s Democrats say that’s too little for a $2.7 billion company. “The proposed forfeiture of over $13 million is more than three times any penalty that has ever been imposed for violating our sponsorship identification rules,” Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement released with the notice of apparent liability. “Does this mark yet another example of special treatment by the FCC majority? You decide,” Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said in her statement.
The FCC approved 5-0 Thursday a public notice on twilight towers, as expected (see 1712110043), examining ways such towers could be made available for collocation of wireless facilities without additional historic review. The PN is an early part of the FCC’s focus under Chairman Ajit Pai on speeding up the buildout of wireless facilities. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel concurred, citing concerns about the treatment of Indian tribes.
Federal lawmakers and state governments promised action Thursday to counteract the FCC 3-2 vote to roll back its 2015 net neutrality rules. State Democratic attorneys general announced plans to sue as expected (see 1712130051), and other officials said they will protect consumers within their states if the FCC won’t. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., gained support for respective plans to file Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval to undo the FCC's repeal (see 1712110050 and 1712120037). The FCC's action drew impassioned statements from lawmakers in both parties, with Republicans largely in support and Democrats uniformly in opposition.
Federal lawmakers and state governments promised action Thursday to counteract the FCC 3-2 vote to roll back its 2015 net neutrality rules. State Democratic attorneys general announced plans to sue as expected (see 1712130051), and other officials said they will protect consumers within their states if the FCC won’t. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., gained support for respective plans to file Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval to undo the FCC's repeal (see 1712110050 and 1712120037). The FCC's action drew impassioned statements from lawmakers in both parties, with Republicans largely in support and Democrats uniformly in opposition.