Today's Regulatory Mix:  Joint Agency Report on Broadband Deployment, FCC to Consider STIR/SHAKEN Implementation Rules

Joint Agency Report on Broadband Deployment 

The US. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has submitted the JOINT REPORT in response to SECTION 6212 of the 2018 FARM BILL to Congress.  This report summarizes how USDA, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) are working together to deploy broadband to rural areas. The Report covers how the USDA, FCC, and NTIA are working to deploy broadband to rural areas. It notes that the USDA loan and grant programs, the FCC universal service programs, and NTIA’s BroadbandUSA program and National Broadband Availability Map not only bring broadband resources to rural areas, but also provide information about where service is needed to allow agencies to avoid waste and duplicative federal funding.  Moreover, through regular and routine exchange of program and technical information, the Agencies are partnering to close the rural digital divide and multiplying the effect of their respective efforts. Common data standards, such as those proposed by the FCC’s new Digital Opportunity Data Collection program and those in use by the USDA in the ReConnect program, routine digital information exchanges, and a complete, accurate and verifiable mapping tool will ensure that federal funding is targeted and does not overlap.   

The Report concludes that “[m]aintaining the current level of cooperation between the USDA, FCC, and NTIA, and evaluating opportunities to further share data and coordinate efforts, will ensure that federal support for broadband deployment and access will provide rural America with the tools it needs to improve the quality of rural life for decades to come.  The strong working relationships developed through past cooperative efforts has built a comfortable platform for mutual information exchange and “as needed” contact and collaboration. These relationships are expected to continue to grow as the three agencies partner in eliminating the digital divide for rural Americans.”  

FCC To Consider STIR/SHAKEN Implementation Rules 

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued a News Release indicating that he was proposing that, at its March Open Meeting, the FCC adopt new rules requiring implementation of caller ID authentication using so-called STIR/SHAKEN technological standards. (STIR/SHAKEN enables phone companies to verify the accuracy of caller ID information that is transmitted with a call.)  If adopted, Chairman Pai’s proposal would require originating and terminating voice service providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN in the Internet Protocol (IP) portions of their networks by June 30, 2021. An accompanying Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, if adopted, would propose giving one-year extensions of this deadline for small and rural providers pursuant to the TRACED Act.  The Further Notice would also seek public input on implementing other aspects of the TRACED Act, including requirements that voice service providers work toward deploying caller ID authentication in the non-IP parts of their networks. 

In June 2019, the FCC proposed and sought public comment on whether to mandate implementation of STIR/SHAKEN if major voice service providers did not voluntarily do so by the end of the year. In December 2019, Congress passed and the President signed into law the TRACED Act, which directs the Commission to require voice service providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN in their networks within 18 months of the law’s enactment.  

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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.