FCC Reschedules Open Meeting; Announces Tentative Agenda

The FCC announced the agenda for a rescheduled February Open Meeting that will take place on February 14, 2019.  The items below were originally circulated for the January meeting but were withdrawn due to the lapse in appropriations.

• Anti-Spoofing Provisions of the RAY BAUM’S Act – A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to amend its Truth in Caller ID rules to implement the anti-spoofing provisions of the RAY BAUM’S Act.
• Transitioning to CAF Phase II Auction Support in Price Cap Areas –  A  Report and Order establishing a schedule to end Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase I support in price cap areas where winning bidders in the CAF Phase II auction will begin receiving Phase II support and in areas that were not eligible for the auction, while providing interim support in areas that did not receive any bids.
• Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) –A Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Order to adopt measures, and seek comment on others, to enhance program management, prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, and improve emergency call handling in the IP CTS program.
• Licensing Noncommercial Educational Broadcast and Low Power FM Stations –A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes revisions to the Commission’s NCE and LPFM comparative processing and licensing rules.
• Elimination of Form 397 –A Report and Order eliminating the requirement in Section 73.2080(f)(2) of the Commission's rules that certain broadcast television and radio stations file the Broadcast Mid-Term Report (Form 397).

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The Regulatory Mix Today:  FCC Reschedules Open Meeting:  Announces Tentative Agenda, FCC Reopens:  Announces Filing Deadlines, Commissioner Rosenworcel Announces New Podcast

FCC Reopens; Announces Filing Deadlines

The FCC announced that the new deadline for making all filings that would have been due from January 3, 2019, through January 29, 2019, is January 30, 2019.  This extension of filing deadlines does not apply to filings in the Network Outage Reporting System and Disaster Information Reporting System or to filings related to spectrum auction activities authorized by section 309(j), including the broadcast incentive auction.  Any STAs that would have expired from January 3, 2019, through January 29, 2019, are extended until January 30, 2019, except to the extent that such STAs relate to the post-incentive auction transition or other activities authorized under section 309(j).

The FCC said it would “soon” issue further guidance on revised filing deadlines. It asks parties to refrain from submitting filings seeking additional relief from filing deadlines until they have reviewed the further guidance.

Many of the FCC’s regular services were unavailable or unsupported during the past few weeks due to the government shutdown.  Among other things, the FCC’s filing window, mail operations, and electronic filing systems have been unavailable or unsupported except for filings necessary for the protection of life and property and filings related to the broadcast incentive auction.

See the Regulatory Mix dated 1/3/19.

Rosenworcel Announces New Podcast

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel announced the release of the latest episode of her podcast, Broadband Conversations.  On this episode Commissioner Rosenworcel welcomes Congresswoman Yvette Clarke from the 9th District of New York.  They discuss a range of topics, including the importance of public service, the legacy of Shirley Chisholm, equitable broadband access, and the need to promote diversity in media. Rosenworcel said: “Congresswoman Clarke is a champion of forward-thinking broadband, media, and technology policies. On this episode, listeners will get to hear about what motivated Congresswoman Clarke to pursue a life of public service and how she is working to make an impact every day, including for girls and women of color. I am so excited that listeners will get to hear about Congresswoman Clarke’s leadership and ideas for the future.”

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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.

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