Category: Blog

FCC Seeks to Strengthen Rural Health Care Program

In its never-ending mission to make its universal service programs more efficient, the FCC will use its February 18, 2022, meeting to initiate a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in Docket 17-310 to improve the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program.

Ninth Circuit Upholds California Net Neutrality Law

In one of the least surprising decisions ever, a three-judge panel of the ultra-liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco unanimously found in a January 28, 2022, opinion, that California’s Net Neutrality Law (SB-822) requiring ISPs to treat all web traffic equally was legally enacted.

FCC Releases Rules to Implement Affordable Connectivity Program

On January 24, 2022, in Docket 21-450, the FCC released a Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the new Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP, which builds upon the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program, provides eligible low-income households discounts off the cost of broadband service and connected devices.

FCC Will Update CPNI Rules to Stop Data Breaches

Section 222(a) of the Telecommunications Act requires every telecommunications carrier to protect the confidentiality of customer proprietary network information (CPNI) of, and relating to, other telecommunication carriers, equipment manufacturers, and customers, including telecommunication carriers reselling telecommunications services provided by a telecommunications carrier.

AT&T and Verizon Take on FAA over C-Band 5G Mobile Service 

It’s a story too big to ignore. The unprecedented dispute between AT&T and Verizon and the aviation industry led by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the airline carrier association – Airlines for America (AFA).

FCC Shortens STIR/SHAKEN Deadlines for Non-Facilities-Based Voice Providers

In a Fourth Report and Order (Order) released December 10, 2021 in Docket 17-97, the FCC has shortened the amount of time provided to small voice service providers that are not facilities-based. They will now be required to implement STIR/SHAKEN in the IP portions of their networks no later than June 30, 2022.

Competitive Industry Supports Open Access to Multi-Tennant Environments

Industry comments and reply comments were filed over the last few weeks regarding the FCC’s request to refresh the record for Docket 17-142. In this proceeding the Commission is attempting to bring additional broadband choices to multiple tenant environments (MTEs) such as apartments, condominiums and shopping malls.