In a year, there has been an 18% jump in registered drones and 12% increase in certified remote pilots, said Sean Cassidy, Amazon Prime Air director-safety and regulatory affairs. Over the next five years, registered pilots are expected to double and drones to increase four or five times, he said. It’s critical to “connect to the drone community” and “get the safety message across,” he said. The former commercial pilot spoke Thursday at a symposium (see 2007080070) co-sponsored by FAA and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. Tomorrow's issue of this publication will have a report on additional comments from the conference's day two.
About a fifth of federal agencies, including the FCC, have moderate or lower quality spending data, GAO reported Thursday. The Digital Accountability and Transparency (Data) Act (HR-2061) (see 1204260112) requires inspectors general at federal agencies to issue reports on spending data quality. GAO analyzed 51 agencies, 11 of which reported moderate or “lower quality” and 37 “higher quality." The FCC was one of the “lower” scoring agencies, and the FTC scored in the “higher” category.
FAA is working on drone issues, agency officials told an event the regulator co-sponsored. The annual unmanned aircraft system event was postponed from June and began virtually Wednesday, with speakers also saying UASs are being used in the pandemic. The main questions Office of UAS Integration Executive Director Jay Merkle gets are on remote identification, subject of a December NPRM. “We received over 53,000 comments,” he said: “We’re on track to deliver remote identification and operations over people at the end of this year.” ID standards “will increase the safety and security of the airspace” by allowing authorities to identify and track drones, laying groundwork for future rules, said President Brian Wynne of event co-sponsor Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. Teri Bristol, FAA chief operating officer-air traffic control, said the agency is developing a policy allowing more use at airports. "An airport is an especially complex arena with a lot of moving parts," she said. FedEx found it can inspect its aircraft in 20 minutes using a drone, compared with three hours without, she said. The expansion of drones “is a worldwide phenomenon,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “No one here can work in a vacuum when it comes to how we set the parameters that will enable the global industry to prosper, yet remain safe,” he said. “We’ve got to develop our infrastructure in harmony” for seamless operations across borders, he said. The International Civil Aviation Organization understands the importance of drones, said Chris Rocheleau, executive director, FAA Office of International Affairs. “Everyone has gotten onboard,” he said. “ICAO is definitely showing some leadership.” Other drone announcements also were made Wednesday; see the next issue of this publication.
The FCC anticipates renewing the charter of the Consumer Advisory Committee by Oct. 20 and is soliciting nominations for new members, said a public notice Tuesday. Terms last two years, and the agency is seeking “interested consumers” who want to serve on their own behalf, along with representatives of nonprofits, industry and government agencies. Nominations are due by Aug. 7.
Universal Service Administrative Co. must fully fund eligible category one and two E-rate requests for funding year 2020, the FCC Wireline Bureau directed said Monday. USAC estimated demand of $2.91 billion: $1.74 billion for category one and $1.17 billion for two, and it has sufficient funds, the bureau said.
The public can virtually access four administrative litigation proceedings, the FTC announced in orders Monday, citing COVID-19. The public won’t be allowed inside the hearing room, with in-person access limited to the witnesses, counsel, judicial staff and the court reporter. One such proceeding involves Axon having bought body-worn camera rival VieVu.
Comments are due Aug. 5, replies Sept. 4 on an NPRM on 5G backhaul and deployment of broadband services to aircraft, ships and other uses in 70/80/90 GHz, approved by FCC members 5-0 in June (see 2006090060). Dockets include 20-133, says Monday's Federal Register.
Valeo North America's waiver request to market short-range motion sensing devices for 57-64 GHz at higher power than specified in rules (see 2005070051) points to the need for the FCC to focus on the 60 GHz band, Facebook, Google, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung and others filed, posted Thursday in docket 20-121. “A long-term solution is needed to allow for technological innovation while ensuring reasonable coexistence of all technologies operating pursuant to the Commission’s 60 GHz unlicensed rules.”
That the pandemic showed "we can't imagine a future" with Americans lacking a connection is no reason to regulate broadband service as a utility, USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter told C-SPAN's The Communicators scheduled to have been televised this weekend. "To wrap it in the red tape of regulatory strictures, the overhang of bureaucracy that would be required if we were to make it a utility, would take us backward." He's "confident a wise administration that believes in the future of progress in our internet will understand this framework and will continue it." He has seen bipartisan support for keeping the internet open and transparent and for closing the digital divide, and cited predictions it could take $100 billion in government support to extend broadband to all unserved areas. That's adequate, he said, in the context of a broader U.S. infrastructure investment that may approach $1 trillion. Asked about the debate over changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, Spalter said: "The issues concerning content moderation are complex and thorny. It’s not our job, it’s not our business, and we’ll be watching with interest as these discussions take place."
The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau seeks comment on three requests for waiver of rules requiring smaller carriers to meet a June 30 deadline for supporting real-time text (RTT) instead of traditional text technology for IP-based voice services. The bureau sought comment on a Competitive Carriers Association request on behalf of six members for a temporary waiver (see 2006170039), plus requests by US Cellular and East Kentucky Network. Comments are due July 31, replies Aug. 17 in docket 16-145, said Wednesday's notice. Commissioners approved an order on a common standard for the transition in December 2016 (see 1612150048).