Rosenworcel Releases First "Broadband Conversations" Podcast of 2020 

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel announced the release of the first episode of her podcast, Broadband Conversations, for 2020.  The podcast works to amplify the voices of women working on the front lines of technology, innovation, and media.   

To talk in detail about the challenges of making sure broadband reaches rural communities, the Commissioner spoke to Peggy Schaffer, Executive Director of Connect Maine Broadband Authority. Peggy is working with communities across Maine to make sure that no town or community is left offline. She has a long history of service to the state, ranging from her time working with the Girl Scouts to her time serving as Chief of Staff to Libby Mitchell, the former president of the state senate.  

Rosenworcel said: “Peggy and I had a true broadband conversation. We talked about how she’s working to connect people and businesses in Maine’s cities, towns, and remote islands. We talked about how in the past broadband has been about consumption but going forward it will be about creation and what we do with our connections. It’s one of the reasons we need to set audacious goals when it comes to coverage and speeds. As Peggy put it, download speed is how the world talks to us and upload speed is how we talk to the world. I couldn’t agree more. “  

CRTC Announces New Internet Safeguards are Now in Force 

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that the Internet Code came into force, providing Canadians with additional safeguards when subscribing to home Internet services. The Code will also help them resolve disputes with their Internet service provider (ISP).   

Canadians will benefit from: 

• easier-to-understand contracts, documentation and policies surrounding service calls, outages, security deposits and disconnections  
• clearer information about prices, including for bundles, promotions, and time-limited discounts 
• bill shock protection, through notifications when customers approach and reach their data-usage limits, and  
• new rules permitting customers to cancel a contract within 45 days, without paying early cancellation fees, if the contract differs from the offer. 

The Internet Code applies to large ISPs and is administered by the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS).  The CRTC expects all other ISPs to behave in a manner consistent with the principles set out in the Internet Code. 

“In today’s marketplace, Canadian consumers deserve to be provided with clear information and easy-to-understand terms and conditions.  The Internet Code will allow Canadians to make better decisions when subscribing to or modifying their existing Internet service, and will make it easier for them to take advantage of competitive offers. The Internet Code will also provide Canadian consumers with additional safeguards against unexpectedly high bills and help them resolve disputes with their Internet service provider.” 

-Ian Scott, Chairperson and CEO, CRTC 

FCC Wireless Location Investigation 

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai responded to Congressional inquiries concerning the FCC’s investigation into the disclosure of consumer’s real-time location data by certain wireless providers.  See the Regulatory Mix dated 11/12/19 and 5/3/19.  The letter states that the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has completed its extensive investigation and that it has concluded that one or more wireless carriers apparently violated federal law.  The Chairman stated he is “committed to ensuring that all entities subject to our jurisdiction comply with the Communications Act and the FCC’s rules, including those that protect consumers’ sensitive information, such as real-time location data. Accordingly, in the coming days, I intend to circulate to my fellow Commissioners for their consideration one or more Notice(s) of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in connection with the apparent violation(s).” 

In response to the Chairman’s letter, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued a statement saying: “Following our longstanding calls to take action, the FCC finally informed the Committee today that one or more wireless carriers apparently violated federal privacy protections by turning a blind eye to the widespread disclosure of consumers’ real-time location data. This is certainly a step in the right direction, but I’ll be watching to make sure the FCC doesn’t just let these lawbreakers off the hook with a slap on the wrist.” 

Also in response to the Chairman’s letter, FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel issued a statement saying:  “For more than a year, the FCC was silent after news reports alerted us that for just a few hundred dollars, shady middlemen could sell your location within a few hundred meters based on your wireless phone data. It’s chilling to consider what a black market could do with this data. It puts the safety and privacy of every American with a wireless phone at risk.  Today this agency finally announced that this was a violation of the law. Millions and millions of Americans use a wireless device every day and didn’t sign up for or consent to this surveillance. It’s a shame that it took so long for the FCC to reach a conclusion that was so obvious.”  

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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.