Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC's Rosenworcel Releases Notes on February Open Meeting, FCC Announces Roundtable on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

FCC's Rosenworcel Releases Notes on February Open Meeting

Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel released notes regarding the February Open Meeting scheduled for 2/17/21. She discussed the significant tasks for the agency in the new appropriations law that include helping Americans afford broadband, expanding access to telehealth technologies, building better maps that reflect where high-speed service is and is not, and improving the safety and security of our nation’s communications. In the final item of her notes, she commented that the agenda will include two rulemakings regarding security initiatives from Congress:

"Our February agenda will feature two rulemakings seeking comment on security initiatives from Congress. The first involves 911 fee diversion and what we can do to stop it—because it’s not right when 911 fees on our phone bill do not wind up actually supporting 911. The second is an effort to square our rules with changes to the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act that were made in last month’s appropriations law, so we can remove insecure foreign equipment from our nation’s communications networks, making them more secure and more safe."

FCC Announces Roundtable on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced that she will convene a virtual roundtable discussion on February 12, 2021 to gather public input on how to structure the new Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Congress appropriated $3.2 billion for a new a program that would enable eligible households to receive a discount on the cost of broadband service and certain connected devices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The hard truth is that the cost of broadband service can be difficult for many families, especially those struggling financially in the ongoing pandemic,” said Rosenworcel. “We need to fix this, and this program promises to help ease the burden so families can access the telehealth, online learning and job opportunities that are essential to daily life. I thank Congress for providing the funding for this program and look forward to this roundtable discussion on how to get it up and running to reach those in need.”

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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.