The New Jersey Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs unanimously approved a bill Thursday requiring cable and broadband providers to let consumers admitted to a long-term care facility to pause or cancel service contracts. Moreover, under the bill, customers who pause or cancel contracts would not incur additional fees.
Gabriella Novello
Gabriella Novello, Assistant Editor, is a journalist for Communications Daily covering telecommunications and the Federal Communications Commission. She joined the Warren Communications News staff in 2020, after covering election integrity and the 2020 presidential election at WhoWhatWhy. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in health promotion at American University. You can follow Novello on Instagram and Twitter: @NOVELLOGAB.
Incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS) providers and public interest groups urged the FCC to revise its proposed rules on rate caps for video IPCS (see 2409200019). Commissioners adopted the Further NPRM in July along with an order lowering rates for audio IPCS and establishing interim rate caps for video IPCS. Providers opposed establishing service quality standards and expanding the definition of a correctional facility in comments posted Tuesday in docket 23-62. Public interest groups sought additional data, allowing more refinement of interim rate caps.
The FCC's mapping broadband health in America platform will soon include additional details on telehealth access and maternal health, the Connect2Health Task Force told commissioners during their open meeting Thursday (see 2409250041). While the FCC has adopted rules requiring georouting wireless calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, it's uncertain whether it will require georouting to other emergency helplines, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said during a news conference following the meeting. The 5-0 988 georouting approval was expected (see 2410040005). Commissioners also unanimously voted for adoption of an order on hearing aid compatibility requirements (see 2410170030) and tentatively selected applicants for new low-power FM station construction permits.
Industry welcomed an FCC proposal aimed at improving the robocall mitigation database's (RMD) accuracy and potential enforcement measures. Commissioners adopted the NPRM in August (see 2408070047). In comments posted in docket 24-213 through Wednesday, some groups disagreed about whether the FCC should impose a filing fee for new and current RMD registrants.
The FCC in a 3-2 vote adopted a notice of inquiry seeking comment on the impact of data caps on consumers and competition in the broadband marketplace. The NOI "launches a formal proceeding through which the agency can hear from those impacted by data caps," said a news release Tuesday. Comments are due by Nov. 14, replies Dec. 2, in docket 23-199. Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington dissented.
Industry groups and ISPs sought several adjustments in FCC requirements on broadband data collection (BDC). Some asked the FCC to permanently remove the rule requiring that a professional engineer (PE) certify availability data. Others sought clarification on the process for providers seeking to restore locations on their availability maps after a challenge process removed such locations. Comments were posted through Tuesday in docket 19-195 (see 2408300036)
Broadband deployment continues in a timely manner and adoption rates are rising, ISPs said in comments about the FCC's annual Section 706 report on the state of competition in the broadband marketplace (see 2409060058). In addition, some urged that the commission refrain from including metrics on pricing and adoption rates in its final analysis. Others said the FCC should refine the broadband data collection (BDC) process and national broadband map.
Universal service "has been an essential component" of federal telecom policy since the FCC's creation, the agency argued in a petition for writ of certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court. Filed Monday (docket 24-354), the FCC's petition said the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling in favor of Consumers' Research's challenge of the Universal Service Fund contribution methodology was "incorrect." Moreover, the agency said it "did not delegate governmental power" when it designated the Universal Service Administrative Co. as USF administrator (see 2407240043).
FCC commissioners on Thursday approved an order expanding the range of accessibility features that must be included in videoconferencing platforms (see 2409040053). In addition, multiple commissioners at the open meeting said allowing non-geostationary orbit fixed satellite service downlinks in the 17.2-17.8 GHz bandwidth should be a sizable boon to U.S. competitiveness in commercial space.
The FCC's digital discrimination rules "pile overreach on overreach," said attorney Morgan Ratner on behalf of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance (MTA) and other industry groups challenging the commission's rules Wednesday during oral argument in the 8th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court (see 2407300048). The rules are based on an "unprecedented disparate impact scheme that is in many ways the broadest the federal government has ever seen," the lawyer added. None of the FCC's decisions in its order is based on a "plausible understanding" of Congress' intention.