Broadband experts debated the effectiveness of the FCC's digital discrimination order during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday. Panelists disagreed on whether the rules will lead to rate regulation or overreaching enforcement actions. Adopted by a 3-2 vote during a November agency meeting, the rules were mandated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (see 2311150040).
FCC commissioners voted 3-2 Wednesday to adopt rules aimed at curbing digital discrimination (see 2310250070). The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-mandated order takes steps to facilitate equal access to broadband and investigate instances of discrimination. The commission also adopted a Further NPRM seeking comment on additional measures the FCC can take to advance equal access.
More work is still needed to ensure providers of all sizes can participate in NTIA's broadband, equity, access and deployment program, broadband experts and industry officials said during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Thursday. Panelists welcomed the agency's recent programmatic waiver regarding the BEAD program's letter of credit (LOC) requirements and sought additional action regarding performance bonds among other policies (see 2311010040).
NTIA released a conditional waiver of the broadband, equity, access and deployment program's letter of credit requirement Wednesday. More than 300 groups in September urged the agency to remove the requirement, citing potential limitations on small providers' participation (see 2309060022).
Broadband officials and experts raised concerns Wednesday about the role of railroad crossings in broadband deployment. Panelists during a Broadband Breakfast webinar cited delays in right-of-way application decisions from railroad owners as one of the main obstacles and backed establishing a national framework to address the issue as states prepare to dole out funding through NTIA's broadband, equity, access and deployment program and other federal funding.
Industry welcomed the FCC's efforts to establish a sustainability framework as part of its review of the future of its USF high-cost programs. Comments posted Tuesday in docket 10-90 showed widespread support for a contribution revamp and ensuring ongoing support for operational expenses remains available.
The FCC will take additional steps during its Nov. 15 open meeting to provide survivors of domestic violence with safe and affordable access to communications services, wrote Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a Tuesday note. Other items on the agenda include the adoption of digital discrimination rules (see 2310240008), the use of AI in fighting robocalls, SIM swap and port-out fraud, and amateur radio.
The FCC will consider an order next month that would implement requirements set by the Safe Connections Act, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Sunday at the National Conference on Domestic Violence. The item for the agency's Nov. 15 open meeting would also build on previous efforts to expand access to communications services for survivors of domestic violence (see 2207140055).
FCC commissioners divided Thursday on a vote to reestablish net neutrality rules, during the agency's first open meeting with a full commission since Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel took the helm (see 2310130051). Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington voted against an NPRM seeking comment on a proposal to return to 2015 rules that classified broadband as a Title II telecom service.
Broadband experts raised concerns about the future of the FCC's affordable connectivity program Wednesday during a Broadband Breakfast webinar (see 2310040072). With more than 20 million households enrolled in the program to date, panelists urged policymakers to replenish the generally popular program. Some also urged the FCC and Congress to consider longer term solutions to address broadband affordability and adoption.