Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Chairman Extends Keep Americans Connected Pledge, Federal House Leaders Announce Affordable Broadband Internet Plan, FCC Drops Citation Requirement for Robocallers

FCC Chairman Extends Keep Americans Connected Pledge

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the extension of his Keep Americans Connected Pledge until June 30, 2020.

Since launching the pledge last month, more than 700 broadband and telephone service providers committed for 60 days to (1) not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic; (2) waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and (3) open their Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them.

Chairman Pai is now asking providers to extend these offerings to consumers and small businesses until the end of June.  Earlier this week, the Chairman held calls with providers representing the vast majority of broadband and telephone subscribers in the United States as well as trade associations to relay this request.

“Hundreds of providers have stepped up to the plate to keep Americans connected to communications services in this time of need,” said Chairman Pai.  “This includes the largest and some of the smallest providers across the country.  I salute them for making broadband available to Americans who increasingly rely on it for work, school, healthcare, and communicating with loved ones.  And given our nation’s current situation, I’m urging these companies to extend these important offerings—uninterrupted service, waiving of late fees, and continued availability of Wi-Fi hotspots—until June 30.  Companies representing the vast majority of broadband and telephone subscriptions have already agreed to this extension.  I thank them for stepping up to the plate once again during this national emergency, and I encourage others to do so as well.”

While the FCC encourages all providers that have signed the pledge previously to extend their commitments to June 30, it understands that some providers, particularly those in small markets and rural areas, may not be able to do so as a result of financial challenges.  Those providers should contact KACpledge@fcc.gov by May 12 if they wish to opt out of the extension.

Federal House Leaders Announce Affordable Broadband Internet Plan

In a press release, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee, and Congressman James E. Clyburn, House Majority Whip and Chairman of the House Democratic Rural Broadband Task Force, along with 10 members of the Rural Broadband Task Force and Energy & Commerce Committee, announced the House Democratic Plan to Connect All Americans to Affordable Broadband Internet.  This plan—an updated and expanded version of the broadband provisions of House Democrats’ Moving America Forward Framework—is the product of significant collaboration between the Rural Broadband Task Force, the Energy & Commerce Committee, and many Members of the House Democratic Caucus.

Democrats welcome recent reports that Republicans support the inclusion of broadband investment in the next coronavirus response packages.  This plan will accomplish the goal of delivering affordable access to high-quality internet to all Americans.

‪“In January, House Democrats proposed a bold framework to rebuild our country that included over $80 billion for broadband investments and built upon the Energy and Commerce Committee’s years-long work on the LIFT America Act.  With the COVID-19 pandemic now plaguing our nation, our urgency to ensure all Americans have access to affordable, high-speed broadband internet has only increased,” said Chairman Pallone.  “This proposal will create good paying jobs and guarantee that no community is left behind in the digital economy.  These investments are especially important for our children who rely on remote-learning, patients using telehealth, and many low-income and rural Americans who currently lack access to reliable internet service.”

FCC Drops Citation Requirement for Robocallers

The FCC announced that will end the practice of warning most robocallers before issuing penalties for violating the law and for harassing consumers with unwanted robocalls.  Such warnings were previously required by law until the TRACED Act was enacted in December 2019.

Under the prior statutory requirement, the FCC had to issue robocallers that did not otherwise fall within its jurisdiction warnings—formally called citations—related to their alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (by, for example, robocalling cell phones without prior consumer consent) before the agency was able to move forward with an enforcement action.  In addition, prior to the TRACED Act, any fine the FCC proposed for TCPA violations by robocallers could be based on violations that occurred only after the warning had been issued.  While caller ID spoofing violations—namely, the use of spoofing to scam consumers—did not require warnings, the act of illegal robocalling by these scammers did.

“Robocall scam operators don’t need a warning these days to know what they are doing is illegal, and this FCC has long disliked the statutory requirement to grant them mulligans,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “We have taken unprecedented action against spoofing violations in recent years and removing this outdated ‘warning’ requirement will help us speed up enforcement to protect consumers.  With strong enforcement and policy changes like mandating STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication and authorizing robocall blocking, we are making real progress in our fight against fraudsters.”

Inteserra Briefing Service subscribers stay tuned for the upcoming Briefing.

____________________________

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.