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
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
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
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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.