Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Changes Venue of Federal Advisory Council Meeting Due to COVID-19, South Dakota to Prohibit Misleading Caller ID for Phone Calls, US Congress Secure 5G and Beyond Act

FCC Changes Venue of Federal Advisory Council Meeting Due to COVID-19

The FCC announced that the March 17, 2020, meeting of its Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council VII (CSRIC) will be held by conference call instead of in-person.  The meeting was moved to a wholly electronic format in light of travel restrictions affecting members of the CSRIC related to the ongoing increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.  At the meeting, CSRIC members will consider and vote on two reports, a Report on the Current State of Interoperability in the Nation’s 911 Systems and a Report on Best Practices for  Broadcast Resiliency During Major Storms and Disasters.  CSRIC also will receive progress updates from its working groups. 

South Dakota to Prohibit Misleading Caller ID for Phone Calls 

South Dakota enacted a new bill amending its existing telemarking law in an attempt to curtail false or misleading caller ID use by telemarketers.  Among other things, the law: added text messages to the modes of contact whereby false or misleading caller ID use is prohibited; added that telemarketers must use and display their authentic name and telephone number on caller ID; now prevents telemarketers or debt collectors from causing misleading information to be transmitted on caller ID; and added to the list of deceptive acts or practices that it is an illegal practice to cause misleading information to be displayed on a caller ID.  No provider of telephone caller identification services, telecommunications, broadband, or VoIP service may be held liable for violations of the law committed by other individuals or entities.  The law should take effect July 1, 2020.   

US Congress Secure 5G and Beyond Act 

The US Senate approved by unanimous consent, the Secure 5G and Beyond Act (S893). Among other things, the Act: 

• Requires the President to create an inter-agency strategy to secure 5th generation and future generation technology and infrastructure in the United States and it strategic allies. 
• Designates NTIA to coordinate implementation of the plan in coordination with: the Chairman of the FCC, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, the Attorney General, Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense.  
• Ensures that the strategy and implementation plan do not include a recommendation to nationalize 5th generation deployment or future generations of mobile telecommunications infrastructure in the United States. 

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC), and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) issued the following statements after the Senate of the legislation.

“As our telecommunications technology advances, we must have plans in place to keep it secure from foreign interference,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m grateful to my colleagues for recognizing the risks that come along with the rewards of 5G technology, and I urge the House to pass this legislation as soon as possible.” 

“It’s imperative we not only understand the revolutionary value of next-gen communications, but also the security measures required to ensure the deployment of safe and secure 5G networks,” said Sen. Burr. “I’m proud to work with my colleagues on this important legislation, which will bring together a variety of industry experts, further protect Americans’ privacy rights, and better equip our nation with a comprehensive strategy as we continue to be a global leader in technology.” 

“5G promises to usher in a new wave of innovations, products, and services. At the same time, the greater complexity, density, and speed of 5G networks relative to traditional communications networks will make securing these networks harder and more complex. It’s why we need a coherent, national strategy to harness the advantages of 5G in a way that addresses those risks,”said Sen. Warner. 

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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.