Missouri’s telecom relay service is having higher call volumes and longer calls due to COVID-19, resulting in longer wait times, the Missouri Public Service Commission said Thursday. Average call time is five to eight minutes, up from two to three minutes normally, the PSC said. Missouri relay service provider Sprint reported higher wait times amid the pandemic Wednesday (see 2003250055).
Broadcasters airing free commercials during the COVID-19 pandemic don’t have to factor them into their lowest unit rate for political advertisements, said guidance from the FCC Media Bureau in Thursday's Daily Digest. MB also issued a public notice about COVID-19-related waivers for the percentage of content allowed under sharing agreements. It responds to questions from NAB and broadcasters about the effects of airing free spots for advertisers affected by the pandemic, the bureau said. “Because of current financial difficulties arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many commercial customers are canceling their advertising contracts,” the lowest unit rate PN said. “To fill excess inventory and build goodwill, broadcasters are seeking to air free advertisements for merchants.” Those free ads don’t need to be factored into lowest unit rate calculations “provided the free time is not associated with an existing commercial contract for paid time or otherwise considered bonus spots,” the bureau said. “We anticipate that this guidance is applicable only to the current period and not necessarily applicable when more ordinary conditions are restored.” Local ownership rules limit to 15% the amount of programming one station can provide for another though local marketing agreements or shared service agreements, but that limit can be waived during the pandemic, MB said. During the COVID-19 national emergency “individual licensees may request temporary waivers of the Local Television Ownership Rule to provide more news coverage.”
The FCC acted to shore up its Rural Health Care program, in an order Thursday on docket 02-60. It extends the RHC program application filing window to June 30, eases competitive bidding requirements for healthcare providers with expiring evergreen contracts, and extends procedural deadlines. It's meant to let healthcare providers "focus their attention on their immediate task at hand -- addressing the influx of patients associated with the COVID-19 outbreak and maintaining care for existing patients, thereby helping to control the spread of this serious pandemic, without the diversion of near-term RHC administrative requirements," the order said. "The disruption to health care providers throughout this country as a result of this pandemic is indisputable," Chairman Ajit Pai said, and the FCC is working to address the challenges. The Wireline Bureau is encouraging RHC participants to file forms 462 and 466 funding requests before the new June 30 deadline when possible "so that funding decisions can be issued in a timely manner." The contract exemption is limited to healthcare providers that screen for COVID-19, treat patients or otherwise mitigate its spread. A 14-day deadline for responding to information requests from Universal Service Administrative Co. is extended to 28 days. Among other extensions is the invoice filing deadline. The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition last week requested some of the changes. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted Wednesday on the topic.
COVID-19 forced cancellation of the June 10-11 CE Week show at New York's Javits Convention Center, said its IFA organizers Wednesday. An executive order Monday from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) enlisted the Army Corps of Engineers to build a temporary 1,000-bed hospital at Javits.
Walmart is letting in-plan employees get three free telehealth doctor visits, the company said as part of COVID-19 announcements this week. Separately, through June, associates nationwide, outside of New York, get "free access to Even, a third-party mobile app that offers financial wellness features," the retailer said. Target, meanwhile, saw "a surge in traffic and sales" in mid-March in some areas, with "strength" that included entertainment and essentials, the retailer said. Target withdrew its earnings outlook for Q1, citing costs related to COVID-19. States are relaxing some telehealth restrictions (see 2003250035).
Wait times for Sprint services like telecom relay services, captioned phone and IP relay calls may increase during periods of high call volume amid COVID-19, said Global Vice President-Sprint Accessibility Mike Ellis Wednesday. Sprint is complying with all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and Department of Homeland Security guidelines to ensure employee health and safety, he said. The company hasn't closed any call centers but expects staffing could be affected.
Smith Bagley sought Lifeline changes tied to COVID-19. “Additional relief is needed given the worsening situation and the special challenges faced by low‐income populations, especially on Tribal lands,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 11-42. The FCC should make more support available “on a temporary basis for purchase of broadband‐capable devices and for additional data needed to access distance learning and other critical services,” the company said. It sought temporary suspension of requiring notification and de‐enrollment for nonusage of no‐charge Lifeline service of the one‐per‐household requirement.
Amazon, Craigslist, eBay, Facebook and Walmart should take rigorous action to prevent COVID-19-related price-gouging (see 2003200066), 33 state attorneys general wrote the companies Wednesday. The AGs, from both parties and including from California, Nebraska, New York and Utah, recommended price trigger tools and complaint portals for consumers. Companies “have an ethical obligation” to do everything in their power to stop the practice in real time, they wrote. The Internet Association didn’t comment.
APCO’s Nexus event on the emergency communications center of the future has been delayed a year because the coronavirus, APCO said Tuesday. Scheduled for May 21-22, 2020, in Washington, it will now be May 18-19, 2021.
Zoom claims the right to collect personal data, including videos and transcripts, and share it with third parties, Consumer Reports Senior Editor-Privacy Allen St. John blogged Tuesday. St. John raised the concerns in light of increased use of the video-conferencing service due to COVID-19. People aren’t expecting the information to be shared when they conference for therapy appointments, business meetings and job interviews, he said. The company didn’t comment.