Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Issues Staff Report on Robocalling Tools, USDA Announces Funding for Georgia Broadband, US Congress Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, US Congress Bills To Close the Digital Divide
FCC Issues Staff Report on Robocalling Tools
The FCC issued its 2020 staff report on the availability and effectiveness of call blocking tools offered to consumers. The report finds that call blocking tools are now substantially available to consumers at no or low cost. The report finds that that billions of unwanted calls are now being blocked each year, often at no cost to the consumer.
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Topics:
US Congress,
robocalling,
Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act,
Wireless Leadership Act,
CABLE Leadership Act,
USDA Georgia Broadband Funding,
BROADBAND Leadership Act,
CONNECT Act
FCC Advisory on Lifeline Usage Rule
The FCC’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued an Advisory alerting Lifeline carriers, beneficiaries, and the public about carrier failures to comply with the Lifeline program usage rule. The rule applies when an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) offers Lifeline service that does not require it to assess and collect a monthly fee from its subscribers.
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Topics:
broadband,
ETCs,
robocalling,
Eligible Telecommunications Carriers,
Lifeline Usage Rule,
Office of Inspector General,
Energy and Commerce Committee,
9-1-1 System,
OIG,
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
Ways and Means Committee
USDA Broadband Grants in Arkansas and West Virginia
In West Virginia the USDA’s West Virginia State Director Kris Warner announced USDA has invested $18.7 million in a high-speed broadband infrastructure project that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for more than 6,300 rural households and an estimated 383 farms in Harrison, Doddridge, Lewis, Barbour and Upshur counties in West Virginia.
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Topics:
robocalling,
FCC Consumer Advisory Committee,
USDA Broadband Grant,
Cellular Vehicle to Everything,
CV2X
FCC December Open Meeting
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has announced the tentative agenda for the FCC’s December 12, 2019, Open Meeting. It includes the following items:
- VoIP Symmetry – An Order on Remand and Declaratory Ruling that would promote continued investment in IP-based networks by clarifying that a local exchange carrier partnering with a VoIP provider may assess end office switched access charges only if the carrier or its VoIP partner provides a physical connection to the last-mile facilities used to serve the end user.
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Topics:
robocalling,
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai,
FCC December Open Meeting,
SHAKEN/STIR,
988: Suicide Prevention Hotline Number,
cable service change notification,
VoIP Symmetry,
FM Station Licensing
Colorado Releases Annual 911 Report
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has released its 2018-2019 Report on the State of 911 Services in Colorado. The is the second report the PUC has released thus far.
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Topics:
NG911,
robocalling,
FCC Consumer Advisory Committee,
911 services
Arkansas Robocalling Workshop Agenda
The Arkansas Public Service Commission announced the Agenda for its Educational Workshop to be held on August 22-23, 2019, beginning at 10:00 a.m. each day, in the Hearing Room of the Arkansas Public Service Commission, 1000 Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Topics:
robocalling,
Arkansas Workshop,
Maine Net Neutrality
US Congress Hearing on Sprint/T-Mobile Merger
The House Energy and Commerce and Judiciary Committees announced their subcommittees on Communications and Technology and Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law will hold a joint hearing on the T-Mobile and Sprint merger on Wednesday, February 13. The joint hearing will examine the merger’s potential impacts on consumers, workers and the wireless industry. While the complete list of hearing participants is still being confirmed, T-Mobile CEO John Legere and Sprint Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure have both agreed to testify.
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Topics:
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology,
robocalling,
U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee,
Sprint T-Mobile Merger,
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel,
FCC Deadlines,
STAs,
U.s. House Judiciary Committee,
USL Applications and Notification
New Report Addresses 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Communities of Color
A new paper published by the Brookings Institution addresses the potential impact of 5G deployment on communities of color. It says that, for communities of color that often lack reliable broadband access, 5G represents increased economic opportunity through improved access to social services, such as health care, education, transportation, energy, and employment.
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Topics:
broadband,
ATIS,
IoT,
Small Cell Wireless,
robocalling,
5G,
Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions,
STI-PA,
SHAKEN protocol,
caller ID,
Secure Telephone Identity Policy Administrator,
Brookings Institution
Today: Louisiana Enacts Amended Caller ID Spoofing Bill, FCC 8YY Access Changes, FCC Slamming and Cramming Rules, FCC Toll-free Texting
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Topics:
caller ID spoofing,
FCC Slamming and Cramming Rules,
robocalling,
Toll-free Texting,
toll-free Service Management System,
fraudulent use of toll-free numbers,
8YY Access Charges,
bill-and-keep,
Louisiana Caller ID Spoofing Bill
Today: US House Hearing on Robocalling, Spoofing, and Scams, FCC Agenda for April Open Meeting
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Topics:
spoofing,
Business Data Services,
FCC April Open Meeting,
caller ID spoofing,
rate-of-return carriers,
robocalling,
Spectrum Frontiers Auctions,
Protecting National Security,
Subcommittee on Digital Commerce,
Licensing Procedures for Small Satellites,
cable channel lineup requirements,
Inteserra Spring 2018 Telecom Regulatory Seminar
