The draft order on relaxing radio non-duplication rules will be expanded to apply to FM and AM stations, and draft items on broadcast antenna siting and telephone relay service rules are expected to be approved before Thursday’s commissioners' meeting, FCC and industry officials said in interviews this week. FCC Democrats are seen likely to oppose the expanded radio item, agency officials said.
The FCC provided more details on the rules for the upcoming C-band auction in the draft public notice, circulated for an Aug. 6 vote by commissioners (see 2007150066). The FCC also posted draft items on inmate calling services rates and media modernization, among others set for a vote.
Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday the FCC will stick with Dec. 8 for starting the auction of C-band spectrum for 5G, circulating draft final auction procedures (see 2007150047). Commissioners approved the auction 3-2 in February, including a procedures NPRM (see 2002280044). The FCC will also consider inmate calling services rates and media modernization among other items at the Aug. 6 commissioners’ meeting.
The FCC extended temporary waivers another two months through Aug. 31 for telecom relay service providers, again citing COVID-19 uncertainty (see 2005140056), staff ordered Monday. This lets more employees work from home and expands the pool of contractors qualified to provide American Sign Language interpretation.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission authorized funding for a 90-day pilot by Hamilton Relay of real-time texting technology for low-income people who need assistance communicating. Commissioners voted 4-0 Thursday to use funding from the state telecom relay service fund, the agency said. The pilot will include 50 participants and help the PUC decide if wireline RTT devices should be included in the TRS telecom device distribution program, it said. Hamilton will notify the commission 20 days before starting the pilot and confirm its proposed $167,575 cost then, a PUC spokesperson said.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission authorized funding for a 90-day pilot by Hamilton Relay of real-time texting technology for low-income people who need assistance communicating. Commissioners voted 4-0 Thursday to use funding from the state telecom relay service fund, the agency said. The pilot will include 50 participants and help the PUC decide if wireline RTT devices should be included in the TRS telecom device distribution program, it said. Hamilton will notify the commission 20 days before starting the pilot and confirm its proposed $167,575 cost then, a PUC spokesperson said.
Comments are due May 29, replies June 5, on a request from Sprint for interim waiver and rate relief for its IP relay service, and for a proposed change in per-minute interstate compensation rates for the telecom relay services fund in funding year 2020-21, said a Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau public notice Friday for dockets including 03-123.
The FCC extended waivers to help telecom relay service and video relay service providers offer quicker access to subscribers amid concerns over longer wait times during COVID-19 (see 2005080034), in an order Thursday. Two renewed waivers plus two new ones, including allowing registered VRS users to make calls to the U.S. from abroad during the national emergency, are all through June 30.
The FCC seeks comment by May 4, replies May 11 on a petition for emergency waiver and declaratory ruling by Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and eight other consumer advocacy groups, said a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau public notice Monday on docket 03-123. Groups want temporary waiver of telecommunications relay services user registration and per-call validation rules during COVID-19.
Missouri’s telecom relay service is having higher call volumes and longer calls due to COVID-19, resulting in longer wait times, the Missouri Public Service Commission said Thursday. Average call time is five to eight minutes, up from two to three minutes normally, the PSC said. Missouri relay service provider Sprint reported higher wait times amid the pandemic Wednesday (see 2003250055).