AT&T Says FCC Shouldn't Tinker With Wireless Priority Service Rules
With FirstNet still getting off the ground, now isn’t the time to tinker with rules for the wireless priority service (WPS), FirstNet partner AT&T commented in FCC docket 96-86. In July, NTIA petitioned the FCC to launch an NPRM to…
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update the rules for the WPS, designed to give priority to calls by public officials over other callers during times of network overload (see 1807100040). Initial comments were due at the FCC Tuesday. “If the Commission proceeds with a rulemaking," AT&T asked, "employ a light touch.” TechFreedom, the only other commenter so far, said the proceeding shouldn’t look at issues of net neutrality and complaints about Verizon slowing Santa Clara County, California, firefighters’ service (see 1808290044). Santa Clara County Fire Prevention District (FPD) has become the “poster child” for Communications Act Title II regulation of the internet, TechFreedom said. “The FPD chose a data plan (4G speeds only for the first 25 GB/month, but ‘unlimited’ data after that) that was manifestly unsuited for their needs (up to 300 GB/month of 4G data), and then apparently misunderstood that Verizon’s generous policy of suspending speed restrictions when government users claimed emergency circumstances did not mean the device would be permanently exempted from such caps.”