Broadband mapping experts raised questions about crowdsourcing and availability data challenges to the FCC's new broadband maps during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday. Some expressed concerns about how the challenge process will affect the maps that NTIA will ultimately use for the broadband, equity, access and deployment program as the agency urged entities to file challenges by Jan. 13.
Gabriella Novello
Gabriella Novello, Assistant Editor, is a journalist for Communications Daily covering telecommunications and the Federal Communications Commission. She joined the Warren Communications News staff in 2020, after covering election integrity and the 2020 presidential election at WhoWhatWhy. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in health promotion at American University. You can follow Novello on Twitter: @NOVELLOGAB.
Video relay service providers and accessibility advocacy organizations welcomed the FCC's NPRM proposing to increase the number of minutes a communications assistant may handle remotely and reevaluating CAs' experience requirements, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 03-123 (see 2206300058). Some repeated their requests for the FCC to consider functional equivalence and sought to have the monthly cap on minutes eliminated.
In a busy end-of-year meeting, the FCC tackled digital discrimination, IP captioned telephone services rates and the space application review process, all with unanimous votes by commissioners. Commissioners also approved a record-setting fine for alleged robocalls, at Wednesday's meeting.
Consumer advocacy organizations and telecom relay services providers asked the FCC to make several changes to a draft NPRM on IP captioned telephone services (see 2211300072). Commissioners will consider the item Wednesday, which would seek comment on a proposal to establish a three-year compensation plan for IP CTS that would compensate providers based on the model used to provide the service. Some sought additional questions on how the proposed ratemaking would affect functional equivalence and the overall marketplace.
Consumer advocacy organizations and industry lobbied the FCC to make some changes to a draft NPRM aimed at combating digital discrimination, before the agency's Wednesday meeting. Commissioners will consider the item as required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The item stems from a notice of inquiry the FCC adopted earlier this year. It received mixed comments from advocates and industry on the extent of digital discrimination and possible solutions (see 2205170071).
Broadband experts and industry officials encouraged property owners and providers Wednesday to develop partnerships to meet the connectivity needs for residents in multidwelling units. Panelists during a Broadband Breakfast webinar cited challenges of deploying broadband in MDUs, including retrofitting older buildings, and encouraged stakeholders to consider various technological solutions.
Industry urged the FCC to facilitate the transition to IP networks for caller ID authentication. Many said there's no need to establish rules allowing for caller ID authentication on non-IP networks and cited TDM tandem switches as one of the main obstacles to fully implementing Stir/Shaken technology. Comments were posted Tuesday in docket 17-97 (see 2210270046).
NTIA encouraged industry stakeholders Wednesday to partner with state broadband officials to understand their states’ workforce landscape and current needs of employers, as they draft plans for the broadband, equity, access and deployment program. The agency is also “in the final stages” of awarding states and territories their initial BEAD planning grants, said NTIA Special Policy Adviser Lucy Moore, during a Fiber Broadband Association webinar Wednesday.
The FCC Precision Ag Task Force unanimously adopted its working groups’ reports and recommendations Friday at a virtual meeting that also heard updates from the Broadband Data Task Force on how agricultural lands are accounted for in the broadband serviceable location fabric.
The FCC will consider an NPRM that would define digital discrimination and adopt best practices for states and local governments to combat it, during the commissioners' Dec. 21 meeting. Also on the agenda are an Enforcement Bureau action and NPRMs seeking comment on ways the FCC can facilitate acceptance of satellite and earth station applications under its Part 25 rules, on a proposal to require wireless carriers and text providers to use location-based routing to avoid misrouting wireless 911 calls and texts, and on proposed modifications to the Telecom Relay Service Fund.