Amid questions whether the FCC will look more closely at AI issues, the FCC Tuesday announced a July 13 workshop with the National Science Foundation. The session “will convene a diverse array of stakeholders -- network operators and vendors, leading academics, federal agencies, and public-interest representatives -- to discuss the promise and challenge” of “in the telecommunications and technology sectors,” the notice said: It’s to cover a wide variety of issues “including AI’s transformative potential to optimize network traffic; improve spectrum policy and facilitate sharing; and enhance resiliency through self-healing networks.” The workshop will also explore how AI could help in the fight against illegal robocalls and robotexts, among other items, the FCC said. The workshop starts at 9 a.m. EDT at FCC headquarters. The FCC is looking at AI for “everything from robocalls to network reliability and self-healing” networks, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said last month (see 2305180052). The FCC last had an AI forum in 2018 (see 1811300051).

Recent problems with the FCC’s filing systems such as the universal licensing system (see 2306140077) are the latest in a struggle with computer problems that have plagued the agency since the start of 2023, multiple broadcast attorneys told us. Monday, the agency’s On Circulation page wouldn’t load for part of the day, and the online public inspection files used by broadcasters have been experiencing intermittent problems since January. Although the frequency of issues has decreased, the system remains unreliable, users said. The FCC didn’t comment on the ongoing outages and computer issues, possible fixes or causes. Broadcasters and attorneys uploading public file documents often find their entries don’t show up, or the system doesn’t list them as having been uploaded even though the documents are there, said Fletcher Heald broadcast attorney Anne Crump. “You can see the documents listed, but you can’t look at them,” she said. “It could be as simple as not being able to upload,” said broadcast attorney Dawn Sciarrino. Though attorneys told us the public file system has improved since it caused the agency to issue deadline extensions at the start of the year, it's still a problem, they said. It was one of the subjects of a Media Bureau panel at the NAB Show in April, with Audio Division Chief Albert Shuldiner then calling it the problem the bureau gets more calls about than anything else. Crump and Sciarrino said they tell their clients to screenshot the error messages that turn up and keep them. That way when “it’s seven years later and there’s a license renewal and they ask why you were late uploading something, you have an answer,” Sciarrino said. Quarterly issues/programs lists are due in all broadcaster online public files July 10, and could be affected by the computer issues, broadcast attorneys said. “It’s a widespread problem, but it hasn’t really stopped me from being able to do something that’s important,” said Lerman Senter broadcast attorney David Burns, though he qualified that by noting the current ULS outage is likely preventing action on important applications for his clients.

Dish Network's 5G network is reaching 70% of the U.S. population, it said Thursday. Meeting that June 14 FCC milestone was expected (see 2306130013). Dish said it satisfied the other June 14 conditions, including the launch of more than 15,000 5G sites. It said its 5G voice service that went live in 2022 in Las Vegas now covers more than 70 million Americans through Boost Mobile and Boost Infinite, and it will continue rolling out the service elsewhere. “Unfortunately, we do not expect the FCC to comment on the matter for the foreseeable future, if ever,” LightShed’s Walter Piecyk told investors. “We believe the FCC should accelerate and publicize its evaluation process,” he said: “We recognize that there is real work associated with the Wireless Bureau’s evaluation. However, the absence or delay of a public certification provides an incremental hurdle for Dish to raise needed capital. Conversely, if Dish did not build the network that was promised, the FCC should not hesitate to begin any process to reclaim and reauction the spectrum to those who would use it. While this would inevitably trigger litigation, why not start that process sooner rather than later?” New Street’s Jonathan Chaplin noted Dish is offering 5G voice service, or voice over new radio (VoNR), in markets covering 20% of U.S. POPs. “This is a positive step for Dish’s network economics, as Dish customers have to date typically had to rely on the MVNOs [mobile virtual network operators] for all usage in markets lacking VoNR, because of the difficulty of hand offs between Dish’s 5G standalone network and the other carrier networks,” Chaplin said.

The FCC deactivated its disaster information reporting system for Typhoon Mawar Thursday, at the request of the Guam governor’s office and in coordination with other federal agencies (see 2306050046). “Communications providers do not need to provide any additional reporting in DIRS in connection with this event,” the FCC said: The FCC "will … continue to monitor the status of communications services and work with providers and government partners as needed to support remaining restoration efforts.”

The Education Department and hundreds of local and national organizations unveiled Online For All, a campaign to drive Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment. Nonprofit campaign coordinator Civic Nation said ED, working with such groups as the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, will focus efforts on school students and their parents, letting them know about ACP. Comcast Executive Vice President-Digital Equity Broderick Johnson blogged that the company as part of the campaign held ACP awareness events Wednesday and has a variety of others scheduled. "While it’s impressive that more than 18.5 million households have signed up for the ACP benefit so far ... with more than 31 million households eligible for the ACP, but not yet enrolled, our attention must now turn toward broadband adoption," he said Wednesday.

NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson warned the "broad goal of closing the digital divide is at risk" because the FCC's affordable connectivity program is "at risk of running out of money," during a New America event Wednesday (see 2306130057). Davidson emphasized the need for affordable broadband options as the agency administers its broadband, equity, access and deployment program. The internet is "the essential communications tool in our modern world" and millions of people across the country "still lack access to an affordable high speed internet," he said: "If we want to reach our goal of helping Americans thrive online, a connection alone is not enough."

The European Parliament voted 499-28 this week to approve a proposed law on artificial intelligence, bringing the EU closer to implementing first-of-its-kind AI regulations. “We want AI’s positive potential for creativity and productivity to be harnessed, but we will also fight to protect our position and counter dangers to our democracies and freedoms during the negotiations with Council,” said Parliament member Brando Benifei of Italy in a Tuesday news release.

Cost of residential phone service in the U.S. in May was up 5.8% over last year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index unadjusted data released Tuesday. Cable, satellite and livestreaming TV service costs were up 4.5%, and internet service costs were up 2.9%. Wireless service costs were up 0.6%. May prices overall were up 4% year over year, before seasonal adjustment. BLS said.

The House Commerce Committee-approved Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act (HR-3565) “misses the mark,” but “I remain committed to enacting legislation that expands commercial access to spectrum and maximizes value for American taxpayers,” Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told us in a statement Monday. Panel Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and others are citing Cruz as the main impediment right now to congressional leaders reaching a consensus on a spectrum legislative package (see 2306120058). HR-3565 mirrors major parts of the spectrum legislative package House and Senate Commerce leaders proposed in December (see 2212190069), including language to allocate some future auction proceeds to the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, next-generation 911 technology upgrades and middle-mile projects. Cruz said he's “especially” opposed to “the $20 billion earmarked for a variety of pet projects like unneeded and duplicative broadband subsidies.”

The antitrust bar being especially lacking in diversity is problematic, said Elizabeth Wilkins, chief of staff to FTC Chair Lina Khan, Thursday at an FCBA Diversity Pipeline event. She said the agency has been thinking about diverse recruitment issues for its staff, with pipeline programs like the FCBA's being an important tool. Keynoting at the event, American Association of Public Broadband Executive Director Gigi Sohn discussed her career and alluded to but didn't directly discuss her failed nomination for FCC commissioner.