THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

FCC To Review Robocall Blocking Options  

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the FCC will begin a study of unwanted-call blocking services available to consumers.  “As the FCC continues to pull out all the stops to protect consumers against scam robocalls and spoofing, we expect phone companies and others to make effective tools available to consumers so they can block unwanted and fraudulent calls,” said Chairman Pai. “This report will help us better understand where we stand on call blocking and how the actions we’ve taken to date have worked.”

US Congress Passes Robocalling Bill  

The Senate has passed the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act (S. 151) by a simple voice vote.  It now heads to the president, who is expected to sign it into law.   The Act passed the House earlier this month. See the Regulatory Mix dated 12/6/19 

Among other things, the Act: 

US Congress Supply Chain Legislation  

The House of Representatives passed, by voice vote, the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR 4998), a bipartisan bill to help secure America’s telecommunications supply chain. The bipartisan Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act: 

US Congress Broadband Mapping Bills 

The House of Representatives passed two bipartisan broadband mapping bills by voice vote. H.R. 4227, the “Mapping Accuracy Promotion Services Act” or the “MAPS Act,” specifies that it is unlawful for a person to willfully, knowingly, or recklessly submit inaccurate broadband service data.    H.R. 4229, the “Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act” or the “Broadband DATA Act,” requires the FCC to issue new rules to require the collection and dissemination of granular broadband availability data and to establish a process to verify the accuracy of such data, and more. 

FCC Announces Launch of API for Lifeline National Verifier 

The FCC announced it has launched an electronic interface that participating carriers can use when verifying a potential subscriber’s eligibility for the program.  The application programming interface (API) connects carriers’ systems to the Lifeline program’s National Eligibility Verifier.  The API will enable carriers to send applicant information directly to the National Verifier for an eligibility check, thereby reducing the paperwork required from potential subscribers. 

FCC Proposes 988 As National Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Hotline Number 

At its Open Meeting the FCC voted to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would designate 988  as a new, nationwide, 3-digit number for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. This Notice proposes that calls made to 988 would be directed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a national network of 163 crisis centers that is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

USDA Investing over $83 Million in Broadband Grants in Three States: Alabama, Illinois, South Carolina 

In Illinois, the USDA announced it has invested $12.8 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 1,650 homes in rural Illinois.   

“We know that rural communities need robust, modern infrastructure to thrive, and that includes having access to broadband e-Connectivity,” Secretary Bill Northey said.

California PUC Announces $12.1 Million Broadband Infrastructure Investment 

In a press release, the PUC announced it has approved $12.1 million in grant funding to build high-speed broadband Internet infrastructure and access to unserved Californians.  The awards, under the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) broadband infrastructure grant program administered by the CPUC, will serve households in Lassen, Plumas, and Santa Cruz counties, and include affordable subscription options.

FCC December Open Meeting 

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the final agenda for the FCC’s December 12, 2019, Open Meeting.  It includes the following items: 

• VoIP Symmetry – An Order on Remand and Declaratory Ruling that would promote continued investment in IP-based networks by clarifying that a local exchange carrier partnering with a VoIP provider may assess end office switched access charges only if the carrier or its VoIP partner provides a physical connection to the last-mile facilities used to serve the end user.

Idaho Broadband Grants 

A task force convened by Idaho Governor Brad Little earlier this year released a report recommending that broadband and high-speed Internet be a strategic and economic priority for the state and that solutions remain technology neutral.