Rosenworcel Plans Nov. 18 Vote on Requiring Texting to 988 by July 16

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is proposing a Nov. 18 vote on an order that would require some providers to support by July 16 people texting 988 to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The order "would adopt a uniform implementation deadline requiring covered text providers to support [such] text messaging" by "the same date the FCC has established 988 as the 3-digit dialing code" for phone calls, the agency announced Wednesday afternoon.

This is one of her first new actions undertaken since Rosenworcel was picked by President Joe Biden Tuesday to be permanent chairwoman, and nominated for another term as an FCC member. See our bulletin here.

Carriers and their associations didn't comment right away.

At the meeting that Rosenworcel blogged "will be headlined" by the 988 action, commissioners would vote on rules for "an enhanced competition incentive program" related to small carriers, wireless spectrum and tribes. Also on tap is what she called "regulatory relief for FM radio broadcasters" via a proposal to let such stations verify some antenna patterns by computer modeling, not "real-world testing." And FCC members would vote on a Kineis' petition to sell satellite services in the U.S.