FCC Saves Lifeline for Voice-Only Service for Another Year
In a widely expected Order in Docket 11-42 released on November 5th, the FCC paused the scheduled phaseout of Lifeline support for voice-only service until December 31, 2022.
Category: Blog
In 2022, New FCC Poised to Initiate Era of Regulations
Last week, President Biden finally made his picks for FCC Commissioners, and the two women nominated constitute a veritable “dream team” for net neutrality and regulatory advocates. As expected, Biden chose Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to become permanent FCC Chairman.
FTC Study May Lead to New Privacy Rules for ISPs
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a comprehensive study on October 21, 2021, analyzing how six major ISPs use their customer data. It is likely to have serious implications for our industry.
VOIP Providers Slam Proposed Rules for Direct Access to Numbers
Industry comments in Docket 13-97 were filed on October 14, 2021, regarding the FCC’s proposal to add new regulations for VoIP providers to follow when they seek direct access to numbers.
FCC Finds Core Tariff Violated its 8YY Rules
In 2020, the FCC decided that 8YY abuse was out of control. After a contentious proceeding, it adopted rules transitioning certain originating 8YY access charges to bill-and-keep and capping 8YY database query charges at $0.0002.
FCC Targets SIM Swapping and Number Port-Out Scams
On September 30, 2021, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) in Docket 21-341 in order to stop the growing cellphone problems of SIM card swapping and port-out scams.
Industry Coalesces Around Adding Broadband Revenues to Universal Service Fund
There is wide industry agreement that the current funding mechanism for supporting the Universal Service Fund (USF) is unworkable. The revenues used to calculate USF contributions have declined 63 percent in the last two decades,
FCC Acts Again Against Illegal Robocalls
The FCC will use its September 30, 2021, meeting to propose new actions to stop illegal robocalls. In a Fifth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Fifth Notice) in Docket 17-59, the Commission will propose steps to eliminate the vexing problem of stopping illegal robocalls that originate abroad.
FCC Jumpstarts Broadband Access to Multiple Tenant Environments
In 2019 the FCC initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in Docket 17-142 in which it attempted to bring additional broadband choices to multiple tenant environments (MTEs) such as apartments, condominiums and shopping malls.
Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Foul-up May Cost FCC Broadband Control
2021 has been a tough year for the FCC. The agency has been stuck in neutral with four commissioners because President Biden has never nominated a third Democrat or, for that matter, a new chairman.