The FCC announced an in-person workshop March 6 that will provide information about identifying and evaluating opportunities "to develop more robust broadband infrastructure and services in tribal communities." The commission said in a public notice Wednesday that the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will host the workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. On March 5 at 2 p.m. there will be an "optional tribal library tour."
The FCC's affordable connectivity program is a "true unicorn among public policies," USTelecom President-CEO Jonathan Spalter wrote in a Tuesday blog (see 2402120068). Spalter urged that policymakers consider "rolling the ACP into the Universal Service Fund." This would "bring greater accountability to Big Tech" and "create a stable, permanent source of funding." ACP's future "offers a telling gut check on whether our nation remains committed to our shared goal of connectivity," Spalter said: "Congress abandoning ACP funding a mere two years into its existence would be profoundly disruptive to the country’s digital affordability and equity goals."
The FCC released an updated user guide for carriers seeking funding through the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. The program is intended to partially support removal of Chinese gear from U.S. networks. The guide was posted in Monday’s Daily Digest. The document “provides informal guidance intended to assist Recipients as they proceed with this Reimbursement Program process and does not constitute legal advice,” it notes.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau Friday reminded carriers and interconnected VoIP providers of their obligation to file an annual certification documenting compliance with the customer proprietary network information rules by March 1. “Failure to file a timely and complete certification calls into question whether a company has complied with the rules requiring it to protect the privacy and security of its customers’ sensitive Information,” the bureau said:
The FCC’s data breach notification rules, approved by commissioners 3-2 in December (see 2312130019), are effective March 13, said a notice for Monday’s Federal Register. Commissioners made several changes to the proposed rules before adoption (see 2312220054). “The Commission’s breach notification rule provides an important protection against improper use or disclosure of customer data, helping to ensure that carriers are held accountable and providing customers with the tools to protect themselves in the event that their data is compromised,” the notice said.
Former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was among those hailing Thursday's FCC declaratory ruling prohibiting voice-cloning technology in robocall scams (see 2402080052). “Excellent move by the @FCC to clarify that calls made with #AI-generated voices are ‘artificial’ under the law, making voice-cloning robocalls illegal,” Pai said on X Friday. Also praising the ruling was North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D). “This ruling gives attorneys general more tools to go after robocallers who break the law, and I plan to use them," said Stein: “I’ll keep holding scam callers accountable and doing everything I can to reduce the number of robocalls we all have to deal with.” Stein was one of the state AGs who urged the FCC to address the issue (see 2401170023).
ViaPath raised concerns with the FCC about calls for the FTC to apply its proposed ban on unfair or deceptive fees to incarcerated people's communications services. In a letter posted Friday in docket 23-62 (see 2310110076), ViaPath said the FTC should clarify that its rule "does not apply to IPCS or IPCS-related fees because IPCS is regulated by and under the exclusive jurisdiction" of the FCC.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida ordered Simple Health Plans and its CEO Steven Dorfman to pay $195 million for violating the FTC's telemarketing sales rule, the agency announced in a Friday news release. The scheme included selling "sham health care plans that did not deliver the coverage or benefits they promised and effectively left consumers uninsured and exposed to limitless medical expenses," the agency said. Also fined and banned from engaging in future telemarketing schemes were Health Benefits One, Health Center Management, Innovative Customer Care, Simple Insurance Leads and Senior Benefits One.
Despite the growing use of generative AI (GenAI) and machine learning (ML) in managing networks, there's plenty of “hype" and "uncertainty” about their roles, Senza Fili’s Monica Paolini said in a Wednesday blog post. While GenAI, AI and ML could “change the way we build, run, and optimize networks, a solid data strategy, good visibility in the network, and in-house expertise are traditional capabilities that are still essential and provide the necessary foundation even for disruptive network transformation,” Paolini wrote. The technologies will positively drive automation and optimizing networks, she said: “They will also introduce profound changes in the culture, work environment, and workforce training -- which may require time and effort to adapt to.”
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended service delivery and invoicing deadlines for certain schools and libraries receiving Emergency Connectivity Fund support. Six schools and libraries that sought ECF support for equipment and nonrecurring and recurring services during the first and second application filing windows petitioned the FCC for an extension due to "problems with their service providers, challenges posed by personnel changes and departures, new applicant confusion, and other procedural and administrative issues," said the bureau order in docket 21-93 Tuesday.