Gabriella Novello

Industry groups and consumer advocacy organizations disagree about how the FCC should define digital discrimination and ways to facilitate equal access to broadband, according to comments posted through Wednesday in docket 22-69. The commission adopted an NPRM in December seeking comment on rules to combat digital discrimination, as required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (see 2301190049).

Consumer advocacy groups and industry disagreed about whether the FCC should adopt additional requirements for its new broadband labels as the latest version is currently being implemented (see 2211180077). Some industry groups urged the commission to wait until the new labels are being used and can be evaluated for effectiveness before making any revisions. Comments were posted through Friday in docket 22-2.

FCC commissioners moved to assist survivors of domestic violence by approving an NPRM on access to affordable communications services, during the agency's open meeting Thursday (see 2301260050). lt also approved an item seeking comment on ways to further participation among tribal libraries in the E-rate program.

Library groups welcomed a draft FCC NPRM on barriers for tribal libraries seeking to participate in the E-rate program. Commissioners will consider the item during their meeting Thursday, after amending the definition of library last year to clarify tribal libraries' eligibility (see 2301260050).

Video relay service providers and accessibility advocacy organizations disagreed on how the FCC should modify its rules on at-home interpretation services and experience requirements for communications assistants (CA). Advocates said CAs should have a certain number of years' worth of experience, while providers again asked to eliminate the cap on the number of minutes a CA may handle through at-home work, in reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 03-123 (see 2301100081).

Broadband industry officials Wednesday stressed the need for Congress to take an active role in broadband deployment and adoption efforts, before NTIA's broadband, equity, access, and deployment program and other recent federal investments. Some during a Broadband Breakfast webinar emphasized the role of fiber as states consider their plans and proper vetting of the FCC's new broadband maps.

Broadband experts and industry officials stressed the need for improved data and urged policymakers to establish thorough evaluation processes for programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, during an Information Technology and Innovation Foundation webinar Tuesday. Some disagreed which technologies should be prioritized with the recent influx of funding through the broadband, equity, access and deployment program and how to address the adoption gap for consumers.

Citing “serious flaws” in the rates database for the FCC’s rural healthcare telecom program, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Thursday the agency is fixing the issue "for good" (see 2301230045). Commissioners during their open meeting adopted an order on reconsideration and NPRM on streamlining and improving the program's funding mechanism. Commissioners also denied several petitions for reconsideration as moot. Also approved 4-0 was an NPRM about extending 911-like outage reporting requirements to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Industry continued to urge the FCC to help facilitate the transition to fully IP-networks and Stir/Shaken caller ID authentication. In reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 17-97 (see 2212130065), some disagreed whether the transition should be mandated and how to treat existing non-IP networks.

FCC rural healthcare program participants and industry sought several changes to a draft order and NPRM proposing to modify the program’s funding mechanism. Most urged the FCC to maintain the current support methodology until a new one is established. Commissioners will consider the item Thursday.