Broadband Milestone Report Released by NTIA

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a report that outlines a vision for how the Federal Government can increase broadband access and actions that various Federal Agencies are taking to increase private-sector investment in broadband.  The report’s recommendations are grouped into three categories: streamlining Federal permitting processes to speed broadband deployment, leveraging Federal assets to lower the cost of broadband buildouts, and maximizing the impact of Federal funding. 

Highlights of Federal Agencies’ actions include:

1. Launch and Effectively Execute $600 million in New Federal Investment in Rural Broadband, Using Strategies to Spur Private-Sector Capital and Maximize the Value of Taxpayer Dollars.
2. Leverage the Department of the Interior (DOI) Towers for Communications Use.
3. Provide Tools for Expedited Access to Federal Assets in Priority Markets.
4. Create One-Stop for Broadband Permitting Information.
5. Revise Common Application Form and Quarterly Metrics for Permit Requests.

Additionally, the report highlighted some future milestones that will be expected on the below dates, including:

• March 2019 - NTIA will publish flow-charts reflecting current permitting workflows for most common asset types on BroadbandUSA website as an initial release of one-stop shop for permitting information. This will include land managed by DOI’s BLM, buildings managed by GSA, and towers owned or managed by DOI.
• March 2019 – NTIA     will update the BroadbandUSA website to represent the latest information on broadband funding, as provided by Agencies through the Federal Funding Workstream survey.
• Spring 2019 – the USDA will launch its Grant and Loan Pilot Program to expand rural broadband in underserved rural and Tribal areas with a population of 20,000 or less.
• September 2019 – NTIA will introduce a broadband mapping tool that uses additional data sets, beyond the FCC 477 data.
• October 2019 – The NTIA will lead in developing a workplan and milestones for Agency implementation of broadband permitting reforms (per MOBILE NOW statute)
• November 2019 – the Department of Defense (DoD) will streamline its permitting processes to identify potential real property assets and standardize best DoD business processes across all military departments to ensure a targeted 270 day standard for industry-installation engagements. The process will result in revised permitting standards and issuance of guidance.
• January 2020 – NTIA is expected to complete Create One-Stop for Broadband Permitting Information to minimize Government hurdles in permitting. Agencies will convey process and fee information to NTIA for display on the BroadbandUSA website.

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The Regulatory Mix Today: Broadband Milestone Report Released by NTIA, Department of Interior Releases Rural Tower Map, GAO Report on Internet Privacy

Department of Interior Releases Rural Tower Map

As mentioned in the Broadband Milestone Report, the Department of the Interior (DOI) released a Geographical Information System (GIS) map of its inventory of over 7,000 tower locations and the information is now publicly available.  These towers, primarily located in rural areas, will be available to service providers looking to locate equipment on Federal property as they expand wireless and wireline broadband networks. The application allows users to see locations of existing Federal broadband infrastructure, filter data, and add layers for analysis.  Each layer includes information, such as serial number, which is available with a mouse click.  This streamlines the broadband permitting process by enabling customers to identify land management agencies and designations early, make informed choices, and ultimately improve the permitting process.  This map was issued to comply with the Presidential Memorandum: “Supporting Broadband Tower Facilities in Rural America on Federal Properties Managed by the Department of the Interior.”

GAO Report on Internet Privacy

At the request of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Government Accountability Office (GA0) evaluated FTC and FCC Internet privacy enforcement actions and authorities and interviewed representatives from industry, consumer advocacy groups, and academia; FTC and FCC staff; former FTC and FCC commissioners; and officials from other federal oversight agencies. 

The Report notes that the US currently does not have a comprehensive Internet privacy law governing the collection, use, and sale or other disclosure of consumers’ personal information.  At the federal level, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) currently has the lead in overseeing Internet privacy, using its statutory authority under the FTC Act to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive trade practices.  However, to date FTC has not issued regulations for Internet privacy other than those protecting financial privacy and the Internet privacy of children, which were required by law.  In the last decade, FTC has filed 101 enforcement actions regarding Internet privacy; nearly all actions resulted in settlement agreements requiring action by the companies. In most of these cases, FTC did not levy civil penalties because it lacked such authority for those particular violations. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has had a limited role in overseeing Internet privacy.

Most Internet industry stakeholders interviewed said they favored FTC’s current approach—direct enforcement of its unfair and deceptive practices statutory authority, rather than promulgating and enforcing regulations implementing that authority.  Stakeholders identified three main areas in which Internet privacy oversight could be enhanced: adoption of an Internet privacy statute that clearly articulated to consumers, industry, and agencies what behaviors are prohibited; additional regulations; and giving the FTC civil penalty authority.

GAO recommends that Congress consider developing comprehensive legislation on Internet privacy that would enhance consumer protections and provide flexibility to address a rapidly evolving Internet environment.  Issues that should be considered include what authorities agencies should have in order to oversee Internet privacy, including appropriate rulemaking authority, civil penalties for first time violations of a statute, and other enforcement tools.

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.

Telecom Regulatory Training from Inteserra: 

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