FCC NewsBytes is a feed of selected press releases related to the telecommunications industry as published in the Federal Communications Commission Daily Digest. In addition to policy decisions, NPRM’s and Monthly open meeting agendas are presented.
The Federal Communications Commission this week paved the way for hundreds of rural phone and broadband providers to waive fees that would otherwise be incurred by customers experiencing economic challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include late payment fees as well as installation and cancellation fees for consumers signing up for, or looking to switch providers of, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) broadband services in order to work from home or access remote learning.
The Federal Communications Commission this week paved the way for hundreds of rural phone and broadband providers to waive fees that would otherwise be incurred by customers experiencing economic challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include late payment fees as well as installation and cancellation fees for consumers signing up for, or looking to switch providers of, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) broadband services in order to work from home or access remote learning.
The FCC is launching a new telehealth program aimed at using $200 million in new federal funding to improve connected health services. @AjitPaiFCC unveiled the new program today, and an update on the Connected Care Pilot Program, which aims to improve telehealth access in remote and rural parts of the country.
The FCC is launching a new telehealth program aimed at using $200 million in new federal funding to improve connected health services. @AjitPaiFCC unveiled the new program today, and an update on the Connected Care Pilot Program, which aims to improve telehealth access in remote and rural parts of the country.
On Friday, FCC Chairman @AjitPaiFCC announced the commission has issued a waiver that will allow ZOOM and WebEx to operate without fear of being penalized by additional fees intended for carriers, due to their massive increase in service minutes being provided. #SmartGov
On Friday, FCC Chairman @AjitPaiFCC announced the commission has issued a waiver that will allow ZOOM and WebEx to operate without fear of being penalized by additional fees intended for carriers, due to their massive increase in service minutes being provided. #SmartGov
The Federal Communications Commission has solicited nominations for the Hospital Robocall Protection Group, a new federal advisory committee dedicated to combatting robocalls to hospitals. The group will focus on issuing best practices on how phone companies can better combat unlawful robocalls made to hospitals, as well as how hospitals can better protect themselves from such calls. The creation of this group is a result of the TRACED Act, which gave the FCC additional tools and flexibility to combat malicious spoofing and scam robocalls.
The Federal Communications Commission has solicited nominations for the Hospital Robocall Protection Group, a new federal advisory committee dedicated to combatting robocalls to hospitals. The group will focus on issuing best practices on how phone companies can better combat unlawful robocalls made to hospitals, as well as how hospitals can better protect themselves from such calls. The creation of this group is a result of the TRACED Act, which gave the FCC additional tools and flexibility to combat malicious spoofing and scam robocalls.
The FCC has announced that the March 31 open meeting will continue as planned, however, the meeting will take place over video conference in light of the current CORVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. The public is welcome to watch at http://www.fcc.gov/live
The FCC has announced that the March 31 open meeting will continue as planned, however, the meeting will take place over video conference in light of the current CORVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. The public is welcome to watch at http://www.fcc.gov/live
The FCC re-confirms that during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, 'the mission to serve the public is ongoing'. To that end, libraries and schools are permitted to allow the public to access E-Rate funded WiFi hotspot services, as long as they do so free of charge, and NOT jeopardize their E-Rate funding eligibility.
The FCC re-confirms that during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, 'the mission to serve the public is ongoing'. To that end, libraries and schools are permitted to allow the public to access E-Rate funded WiFi hotspot services, as long as they do so free of charge, and NOT jeopardize their E-Rate funding eligibility.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai held a conference call yesterday with television and radio broadcasters and broadcaster trade associations to thank broadcasters for their efforts to educate the American people about the coronavirus pandemic and discuss additional ways that broadcasters can help Americans stay safe and informed during the coronavirus outbreak.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai held a conference call yesterday with television and radio broadcasters and broadcaster trade associations to thank broadcasters for their efforts to educate the American people about the coronavirus pandemic and discuss additional ways that broadcasters can help Americans stay safe and informed during the coronavirus outbreak.
During this novel Coronavirus pandemic, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai obtained commitments From several broadband service providers to keep Americans connected and increase speed where possible for the next 60 days.
During this novel Coronavirus pandemic, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai obtained commitments From several broadband service providers to keep Americans connected and increase speed where possible for the next 60 days.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Issues a statement on the effect of the coronavirus and the digital divide that exists in the US. She calls for Data Cap reviews, as well as broadband carriers input on dealing with the issue for Tele-Working, Tele-Health, and Tele-medicine.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Issues a statement on the effect of the coronavirus and the digital divide that exists in the US. She calls for Data Cap reviews, as well as broadband carriers input on dealing with the issue for Tele-Working, Tele-Health, and Tele-medicine.
This month the @FCC will be discussing several important issues like #RoboiCalling. Thes meetings are YOUR opportunity to guide the Commission through the ECFS Electronic Comment Filing System where anyone can comment.
This month the @FCC will be discussing several important issues like #RoboiCalling. Thes meetings are YOUR opportunity to guide the Commission through the ECFS Electronic Comment Filing System where anyone can comment.
Robocall eradication efforts continue to be a priority at the FCC with Chairman Ajit Pai leading the charge appearing on Fox and Friends and introducing important measures later this month at the FCC Open Meeting. Listen to the latest update HERE.
Robocall eradication efforts continue to be a priority at the FCC with Chairman Ajit Pai leading the charge appearing on Fox and Friends and introducing important measures later this month at the FCC Open Meeting. Listen to the latest update HERE.
.@FCC Chairman @AjitPaiFCC again makes history as he appoints Dr. Ghosh as the agency's 1st woman CTO. Dr. Ghosh is well known for her contributions to 5G and spectrum efficiencies and will guide the agency through the immediate needs in broadband NG-911 deployment.
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal CommunicationsCommission (Commission) has announced the activation of the Disaster Information ReportingSystem (DIRS) in response to TROPICAL STORM DORIAN. DIRS is a voluntary, web-basedsystem that communications providers, including wireless, wireline, broadcast, cable and Voiceover Internet Protocol providers, can use to report communications infrastructure status andsituational awareness information during times of crisis.
Radio transmitters over . certain power level requires licensing by the FCC. In cities all over the US, individuals are operating 'Pirate Radio' stations on regular FM radio frequencies illegally. Many times, these transmitters cause local interference with legitimate stations and even Public Safety, but the FCC Enforcement Bureau is on the case.
The Enforcement Bureau recently took several actions against companies for operating devicesthat caused interference to the terminal doppler weather radar station operated by the FederalAviation Administration (FAA) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, collectively proposing almost$100,000 in fines. The FAA uses terminal doppler weather radar, operating in the 5.60 – 5.65 GHz band, to warn pilots of hazardous weather conditions that could affect—or even threaten—aircraft arriving at, or departing from, airports in the continental United States and in Puerto Rico.
Taking further steps to close the digital divide, the FCC authorized over $4.9 billion in support over the next decade for maintaining, improving, and expanding affordable rural broadband for 455,334 homes and businesses served by 171 carriers in 39 states including 44,243 locations on Tribal lands.
.@FCC Chairman @AjitPaiFCC issued the following statement the announcement by state attorneys general and several voice service providers of key principles for stopping the robocalls scourge.
The FCC announced the release of a report detailing the cause and impact of a nationwide CenturyLink network outage that occurred last December, along with recommendations to help prevent similar outages from occurring in the future
The Federal Communications Commission’s WirelineCompetition Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics today announced that they havesent a report to Congress which recommends that the Commission consider designating 988 asthe 3-digit dialing code to be used for a nationwide suicide prevention and mental health crisishotline. The report, mandated by the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2018, findsthat such a 3-digit number “would likely make it easier for Americans in crisis to accesspotentially life-saving resources.”
The Federal Communications Commission today issued a $39,278 fine against Mr. Ocean Hinson of Surry County, North Carolina, for the intentional missus on a local public safety radio communications network in violation of section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Mr. Hinson impersonated first responders inunauthorized radio communications on Surry County’s licensed public safety frequency.
Last Friday Chairman @AjitPaiFCC issued a statement of support for the T-Mobile / Sprint merger, while Commissioner @JRosenworcel expressed concerns that the public needed to weigh in on the situation. Pai plans in issuing a draft order in the near future for review by the Commission.
FEMA, in coordination with the Federal CommunicationsCommission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) onWednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. The nationwide test will be sent to radio and television stations beginning at 2:20 p.m. EDT.
The Federal Communications Commission announced this week, that it will begin accepting applications from graduating law students and current judicial clerks for its Fall 2020 Attorney Honors Program. The application window opens on August 1, and closes on September 17.
The FCC authorized over $524 million in funding over the next decade to expand broadband to 205,520 unserved rural homes and businesses in 23 states, representing the third wave of support from last year’s successful Connect America Fund Phase II auction.
The FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau adopted an Order setting compensation rates for telecommunications relay services that are supported by the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services Fund for the Fund Year 2019-2020. Anticipated savings is $409M, despite increased minutes.
Contributions to the federal universal service support mechanisms are determined using aquarterly contribution factor calculated by the Federal Communications Commission.The Commission calculates the quarterly contribution factor based on the ratio of total projected quarterly costs of the universal service support mechanisms to contributors
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) seeks entities authorized by theFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to send alerts using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) to participate in an upcoming targeted test of the Wireless Emergency Alert(WEA) system.
Yesterday, the FCC authorized $166.8 million in funding over the next decade to expand broadband to 60,850 unserved rural homes and businesses in 22 states, representing the second wave of support from last year’s successful Connect America Fund Phase II auction. Providers will begin receiving funding this month.
Robocallers will soon find it more difficult as the FCC RoboBlocks their attempts to target cell phones with SPAM calls. White Lists, Contacts and other tools will be deployed to ensure consumers only get the calls they want, and carriers now have the ability to enable these by default. Called a 'scourage' by FCC officials, robocalls make up the bulk of the cell phone calls to users and create a consumer fraud concern.
FEMA, who administers the IPAWS WEA alerts has announced that compliance with State and Local Testing categories, WILL NOT be available on June 10th as originally planned. Updates will be made as soon as guidance is available.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement today on U.S. Senate passage of the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. Combatting illegal robocalls and malicious spoofing to protect consumers from scam calls is the Chairman’s top consumer protection priority. Unwanted calls account for over 60% of the consumer complaints the agency receives each year.
.@FCC Cmmr. Brendan Carr will visit Montana and Wyoming, Including Events with SenatorDaines and Congressman Gianforte. The focus will be on Rural Broadband, Smart Ag, Telehealth, Workforce, and Manufacturing Included will be events in Missoula, WY with Sen. Steve Daines and events in Billings, MT with Rep. Greg Gianforte.
Cmmr Jessica Rosenworcel released the most recent episode of her podcastBroadband Conversations—the podcast dedicated to amplifying the voices of women fromacross the technology, innovation, and media sectors. In this episode, Rosenworcel speaks with Shireen Santosham, CIO for San Jose,California. Santosham was recently named one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers.
The FCC takings steps needed to provide full funding for all eligible services requested from the Rural Health Care universal service support fund. THis affects the funding year 2018 and includes support for both Broadband and Telephony improvements.
On Monday, T-Mobile US, Inc. and Sprint Corporation committed to the FCC that they would take a series of significant steps if the companies’ merger application is approved. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai responded to these new commitments with the following statements.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the June Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 6, 2019: Clarification of the Commission’s Call-Blocking Rules, Leased Commercial Access, and Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Promote Aviation Safety
On Wednesday, @POTUS President Trump signed an Executive Order “Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain.” FCC Chairman Pai and Commissioner Carr released the following statements.
.@FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will propose a bold action helping consumers block unwanted robocalls. The declaratory ruling he circulated would allow phone companies to block unwanted calls to their customers by default. Additionally, consumers could block calls if not on their own contact list. The draft FNPR would propose a safe harbor for providers that implement network-wide blocking of calls that fail caller authentication under the SHAKEN/STIR framework once it is implemented.
The FCC has authorized nearly $111.6 million in funding over the next decade to expand broadband to 37,148 unserved rural homes and businesses in 12 states representing the first wave of support from last year’s successful Connect America Fund Phase II auction. Providers will begin receiving funding this month.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Paitoday announced another significant step in ensuring implementation of more reliable caller IDinformation to combat malicious spoofed robocalls. The Chairman expects major phonecompanies to implement SHAKEN/STIR caller ID authentication standards this year, and hewill host a summit on July 11, 2019, to examine industry’s progress toward meeting thisdeadline. The summit will also identify any challenges to the deployment of the SHAKEN/STIRframework and discuss how best to overcome them.
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