CTIA urged the FCC to refine the broadband data collection (BDC) process (see 2402200073). “For the mobile challenge process, the data indicate that the Commission has created a user-friendly process and that providers have submitted more accurate and granular maps,” CTIA said in comments posted Wednesday in docket 19-195: “At the same time, the Commission should adopt refinements to the mobile challenge process to help improve accuracy.” Among the changes CTIA sought were more flexibility and clarity in how “providers may use infrastructure data to rebut challenges” improving the stability and reliability of the FCC speed test app. Wireless ISP Association members are frustrated with how the process is working on required interactions between challengers and providers. “In some cases, the challenger simply does not want to engage with the provider or be shown that its methodology may be inferior,” WISPA said. “The challenger will not concede the disputed locations and would rather have the [Broadband Data Task Force] decide because there is no incentive for the challenger to voluntarily acquiesce to the provider’s data or methodologies,” the group said.
AT&T supports supplemental coverage from space, provided terrestrial wireless is protected, the carrier said in a meeting with FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology staffers. “AT&T emphasized its longstanding support for the concept of using space-based solutions to provide supplemental connectivity for wireless subscribers,” said a filing, posted Tuesday in docket 23-65: “AT&T agrees with the overarching concept in the NPRM that there needs to be a lease agreement in place between an SCS operator and its terrestrial partner in order to authorize SCS.”
The Utilities Technology Council and Edison Electric Institute requested additional time from the FCC to submit reply comments on EEI's petition for reconsideration of the commission's December declaratory ruling on pole attachment and replacement costs. The groups want the deadline extended until March 19, noting in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 17-84 that initial opposition comments were due on the same day as comments on a related NPRM (see 2402140048).
The Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM) Broadband Coalition asked the FCC for an extension until June 1 on the deadline for challenging broadband location data as part of the enhanced ACAM program. The group said in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 10-90 that the current March 8 deadline was concerning because it doesn't give participating carriers "enough time to fully review and analyze the current dataset and to prepare and file challenges that contain the evidentiary support required by the commission." Meeting with Wireline Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics staff, the coalition also expressed concern about the use of service availability data through Dec. 31, saying providers "could be incentivized to overstate their available broadband speeds" because the commission's guidance on the program "made them aware that by doing so they could potentially deny support to E-ACAM companies." Instead, it asked that the commission use data as of June 30, or "not penalize proactive E-ACAM companies" that deployed speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps between June 30 and Dec. 31.
Emerging commercial space applications that fall outside existing regulatory regimes are driving the need for clarity about what agency is responsible for what, House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin said Wednesday. Speaking at the annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference in Washington, the Texas Republican was critical of the White House's proposed novel space activities authorization framework. Instead, he talked up his Commercial Space Act. In addition, multiple space regulators from other nations spoke about needing a more-uniform launch regulatory regime that would clear the path to reciprocal launch licenses.
Florida senators unanimously supported joining other states that designate mobile phone providers as eligible telecom carriers (ETCs) for the federal Lifeline program. On the floor Wednesday, senators voted 37-0 to pass a bill (SB-478) that would transfer wireless ETC designation powers from the FCC to the Florida Public Service Commission. Later, senators debated a bill (HB-1) that would override parents and ban all kids younger than 16 from getting social media accounts.
Fixed wireless customers are the happiest broadband customers in the U.S., according to a recent survey, Recon Analytics' Roger Entner said Wednesday during a Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy webcast. Entner said U.S. carriers probably have the spectrum holdings they need to keep up with demand for fixed offerings. Entner’s comments were based on a recent proprietary Recon Analytics survey of more than 250,000 consumers in the U.S.
Proposed FCC supplemental coverage from space (SCS) rules include a requirement that terrestrial providers must route SCS 911 calls to a public safety answering point using location-based routing or an emergency call center, the agency said Wednesday. Commissioners are expected to vote on the rules during their open meeting on March 14. Announcing the agenda for next month's meeting, the FCC also said there would be draft rules for "all-in" video pricing and a voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for wireless IoT devices. In addition, the meeting will see commissioners voting on an NPRM about creating an emergency alert system code for missing and endangered people (see 2402210066).
The FCC will consider an NPRM seeking comment on adding a new alert code to the emergency alert system focused on missing and endangered people during a commissioners' March 14 open meeting, said a news release Wednesday. The Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP) code would alert the public about missing people who don’t meet the criteria for Amber Alerts, which are primarily for missing children. The March agenda also includes draft supplemental coverage from space rules and a cybersecurity labeling program for wireless IoT devices (see 2402210057).
House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said Wednesday he and other supporters of the FCC’s affordable connectivity program are seeking stopgap funding for an FY 2024 omnibus appropriations package in a bid to keep the endangered initiative running. Meanwhile, ex-FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and eight other former commission heads said congressional leaders should “act swiftly” and appropriate up to $15 billion for next-generation 911 tech upgrades. President Joe Biden last year sought $6 billion in stopgap ACP money and $3.08 billion to fully fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program as part of a supplemental appropriations request but didn’t mention NG-911 (see 2310250075).