Open radio access networks got a push from the FCC Monday, with a nearly daylong virtual forum headlined by Chairman Ajit Pai and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. All the commissioners, who have discussed the importance of ORAN and the growing dominance of China’s Huawei in equipment markets, also spoke.
A draft order on the Lifeline minimum service standard is based partly on two petitions for reconsideration filed by entities that uniformly oppose the current draft (see 2008240024), said FCC and industry officials in recent interviews. The text of the draft order and the MSS formula it uses haven’t been released. Officials confirmed it partially grants petitions filed in docket 11-42 by CTIA and many wireless eligible telecom carriers that sought changes to the way the MSS is calculated.
A draft order on the Lifeline minimum service standard is based partly on two petitions for reconsideration filed by entities that uniformly oppose the current draft (see 2008240024), said FCC and industry officials in recent interviews. The text of the draft order and the MSS formula it uses haven’t been released. Officials confirmed it partially grants petitions filed in docket 11-42 by CTIA and many wireless eligible telecom carriers that sought changes to the way the MSS is calculated.
The draft order on circulation revising who pays to move toll-free traffic and who gets paid (see here) hews fairly closely in many areas to the USTelecom consensus proposal (see 2006080002), FCC and industry officials and representatives said in interviews last week. Agency and company representatives said it's unlikely to be voted out soon because it's not a high-priority item. The regulator didn't comment Friday.
COVID-19 required local governments step up to expand internet access and broadcast critical information, NATOA President Brian Roberts and General Counsel Nancy Werner told us. NATOA hopes “to spend less time responding to FCC preemptive orders” next year, and more time supporting local effort to fill gaps shown by the pandemic, Werner said during the group's virtual meeting this week.
The FCC approved 5-0 an order on remand and Further NPRM on rates for interstate inmate calling services, with ICS changes sought by overhaul proponents (see 2008040056). Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks said the agency should have acted much earlier. As on other items, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly voted yes but didn’t have a statement (see 2008060062).
The draft order on relaxing radio non-duplication rules will be expanded to apply to FM and AM stations, and draft items on broadcast antenna siting and telephone relay service rules are expected to be approved before Thursday’s commissioners' meeting, FCC and industry officials said in interviews this week. FCC Democrats are seen likely to oppose the expanded radio item, agency officials said.
Legislators so far are reacting along party lines to NTIA’s petition (see 2007270070) that the FCC help crack down on social media. Even GOP lawmakers who were somewhat supportive cautioned regulators not to run afoul of the First Amendment.
Legislators so far are reacting along party lines to NTIA’s petition (see 2007270070) that the FCC help crack down on social media. Even GOP lawmakers who were somewhat supportive cautioned regulators not to run afoul of the First Amendment.
State eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designation is useful to the FCC, though it might be time to update that and other USF rules from the 1996 Telecom Act, said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel at NARUC’s virtual summer meeting. Later Wednesday, the state regulator association's board unanimously adopted a telecom resolution opposing Capitol Hill efforts to scrap the ETC requirement (see 2007200054). Preserving the ETC designation is a top issue for state regulators, said NARUC President Brandon Presley in a Tuesday interview. He pledged to move “swiftly” on the association’s social justice pledge.