Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces September Agenda, US House Telecom Legislation, FTC Data Security Workshop for Small Businesses
FCC Announces September Agenda
The FCC announced the final agenda for its for its September Open Meeting scheduled for September 30, 2020.
It includes the following items:
Facilitating Shared Use in the 3.1-3.55 GHz Band: A Report and Order that would remove the existing non-federal allocations from the 3.3-3.55 GHz band as an important step toward making 100 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.45-3.55 GHz band available for commercial use, including 5G, throughout the contiguous United States. The Commission will also consider a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would propose to add a co-primary, non-federal fixed and mobile (except aeronautical mobile) allocation to the 3.45-3.55 GHz band as well as service, technical, and competitive bidding rules for flexible-use licenses in the band.
Expanding Access to and Investment in the 4.9 GHz Band: A Sixth Report and Order that would expand access to and investment in the 4.9 GHz (4940-4990 MHz) band by providing states the opportunity to lease this spectrum to commercial entities, electric utilities, and others for both public safety and nonpublic safety purposes. The Commission also will consider a Seventh Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would propose a new set of licensing rules and seek comment on ways to further facilitate access to and investment in the band.
Improving Transparency and Timeliness of Foreign Ownership Review Process: A Report and Order that would improve the timeliness and transparency of the process by which it seeks the views of Executive Branch agencies on any national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade policy concerns related to certain applications filed with the Commission.
Promoting Caller ID Authentication to Combat Spoofed Robocalls: A Report and Order that would continue its work to implement the TRACED Act and promote the deployment of caller ID authentication technology to combat spoofed robocalls.
Combating 911 Fee Diversion: A Notice of Inquiry that would seek comment on ways to dissuade states and territories from diverting fees collected for 911 to other purposes.
Modernizing Cable Service Change Notifications: A Report and Order that would modernize requirements for notices cable operators must provide subscribers and local franchising authorities.
Eliminating Records Requirements for Cable Operator Interests in Video Programming: A Report and Order that would eliminate the requirement that cable operators maintain records in their online public inspection files regarding the nature and extent of their attributable interests in video programming services.
Reforming IP Captioned Telephone Service Rates and Service Standards – A Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would set compensation rates for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS), deny reconsideration of previously set IP CTS compensation rates, and propose service quality and performance measurement standards for captioned telephone services.
The FCC will also consider an enforcement item (no details provided).
US House Telecom Legislation
The House of Representatives passed this week passed four bipartisan communications and technology bills that originated from the House Energy and Commerce Committee. They are:
- R. 5918, a bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting. It directs the FCC to issue reports following the activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) and to make improvements to network outage reporting.
- R. 5567, the “Measuring the Economics Driving Investments and Access for (MEDIA) Diversity Act of 2020,” requires the FCC to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace.
- R. 451, the “Don't Break Up the T-Band Act of 2019,” repeals the requirement on the FCC to reallocate and auction the T-Band. It also requires the FCC to adopt rules limiting the use of 9-1-1 fees by States or other taxing jurisdictions to the support and implementation of 9- 1-1 services and operational expenses of public safety answering points.
- 2661, the “National Suicide Hotline Designation Act,” amends the Communications Act to designate 9-8-8 as the universal dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, allows states to impose a fee to support implementation, and requires a report on ways to help LGBTQ populations, among other things.
In response to the bill’s passage, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) released the following joint statement:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has proven just how crucial a reliable, fast and resilient communications network is to Americans’ well-being,” said Pallone and Doyle. “Together, the bills passed this week by the House will improve our disaster response protocols, keep tools in the hands of public safety officials to keep Americans safe in crisis, ensure better opportunities for socially disadvantaged Americans to enter the communications marketplace and support the implementation and funding of a three-digit universal dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. These are important improvements to our nation’s telecommunications system and we’re proud that they passed with such bipartisan support.”
Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta (R-OH) also released a statement after the was passed saying:
“From creating a national suicide and mental health hotline to ensuring the resiliency of our 9-1-1 system, these bipartisan bills make important strides to improve the communications resources for all Americans. 21st century problems require 21st century solutions, and today’s bills take steps toward preparing communities for issues that may come their way. We thank our House colleagues for coming together to pass these bills, and we urge the Senate to take swift action.”
FTC Data Security Workshop for Small Businesses
The Federal Trade Commission and its regional partners in Cleveland, Ohio, announced they will host a virtual 
workshop on October 29, 2020 to discuss advertising and data security basics for small businesses. The Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Business workshop will bring together Ohio business owners and marketing executives with national and state legal experts to provide practical insights to business and legal professionals about how established consumer protection principles apply in today’s fast-paced marketplace. The workshop will kick off with a discussion on how small businesses can protect themselves from scams. The workshop also will include discussions on truth-in-advertising law, social media marketing, consumer reviews, children’s online privacy, email marketing, data security basics, and practical tips on responding to a cyberattack. Featured speakers include Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, as well as Ohio Senior Assistant Attorney General for Consumer Protection Rebecca Schlag, Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs Director Sheryl Harris, and Sue McConnell, President and CEO of Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland.
Recent Briefing Headlines from Inteserra:
FCC Announces Effective Date Of Call Blocking Safe Harbor And Single Point of Contact Rules
FCC RDOF Information Collections Become Effective
FCC Requests Comment on Rural Call Completion Report
Nevada Seeks Comment On Late Fees Rule
____________________________
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.
