Groups asked the FCC to quickly approve additional rule changes proposed in a Further NPRM on the 6 GHz band (see 2006300042). Very-low power “devices with sufficient power to be fully functional will prove central to the entire 5G wireless ecosystem,” the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition filed in docket 18-295: “Widespread access everywhere to untethered, solar- or battery-powered VLP devices will facilitate not only Wi-Fi 6 networks, but will also make 5G mobile networks far more valuable.” New America’s Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, Consumer Reports and the Consumer Federation of America were among the groups on the filing.
The FCC Wireline Bureau could use $198 million in past unused funds as needed to satisfy funding year 2020 demand up to $802.7 million for its Rural Health Care program, a record amount that's up from the previous $604.76 million cap for this year, said a public notice Tuesday. Chairman Ajit Pai said the carryover funding ability is fortuitous because "telehealth is proving to be critical in our fight against COVID-19."
Industrial Internet of Things Coalition members “described the difficulties critical industries experience in acquiring much-needed spectrum, in particular broadband spectrum, both in the auction process and in the aftermarket,” in a meeting with FCC Wireless Bureau staff, said a filing posted Monday in docket 19-38: “Their spectrum needs are defined by industrial operational requirements that do not necessarily conform to FCC population or geographic criteria designed to ensure optimal wireless coverage for consumer use.” Southern Linc, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance, Edison Electric Institute, Anterix and Utilities Technology Council participated.
NTIA's Minority Broadband Initiative plans a July 15 webinar about cyberinfrastructure at historically Black and tribal colleges and universities, it said Monday. In earlier outreach, the "schools’ leaders identified an ongoing need for targeted federal funding for broadband access, digital literacy training, and continued close engagement with government at all levels to expand the relationship with the HBCU community and ensure the distinct needs of their institutions are well understood by decision makers," NTIA said.
FCC employees will keep working remotely at least until the agency completes its move into its new headquarters near Union Station in Washington, with that switch finished by Aug. 27, said an agencywide staff memo Monday, the commission told us (see 2006290034). Whether the 1,800-some workers at the current HQ will report to the new building immediately after Aug. 27 hasn't been determined. Employees have begun signing up to move their personal effects out through Aug. 10. The agency then will move office equipment, furniture and cubicles Aug. 10-27. The FCC expects telework to remain an option at least through August's end, and it anticipates being more liberal in telework policies (see 2006040050).
The FCC is likely to grant Charter's petition to end conditions from the 2016 Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks deal (see 2006180050), perhaps before the November election, Cowen's Paul Gallant wrote investors Friday. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was a critic of the conditions then and the over-the-top market has boomed since, the analyst noted. The speed at which the FCC requested comment on the petition suggests the agency will act quickly, he said.
The FCC rejected Anthem's request for clarity that health plan providers can enroll customers in message programs without “prior express consent” and instead require they take affirmative action to prevent calls and texts. The company sought to exempt certain nonemergency, urgent healthcare calls from TCPA requirements. “The mere existence of a caller-consumer relationship does not satisfy the prior-express-consent requirement for calls to wireless numbers, nor does it create an exception,” the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau said in an order in Friday’s Daily Digest.
Auction 903 and rural broadband experiment funding recipients have a limited waiver until the end of 2021 from letter of credit rules, the Wireline Bureau said Friday. Skybeam and the Connect America Fund Phase II Coalition petitioned for waivers to conform with recent Rural Digital Opportunity Fund rules (see 2003110034). Staff said waiver is justified given how the pandemic has increased demand for broadband while impeding business.
The FCC Wireline Bureau received OMB approval for three years on Form 477 data on its local phone competition and broadband reporting order, effective Monday, says that day's Federal Register.
June 26, 2020 by Jonathan Make and Monica Hogan|Agencies
The FCC stopped taking COVID-19 telehealth applications, it announced Thursday (see 2006250069). "Based on the applications received to date, demand for funding exceeds available" money. Some $200 million was allotted. The FCC doesn't "want to impose burdens on health care providers who may prepare new applications that cannot be funded under the current appropriation." The program has approved 444 requests in 46 states plus Washington, D.C., for $157.64 million, the agency announced. The latest awards were disclosed this week. A Wireline Bureau public notice has details on the cessation of accepting new requests for money. The bureau began taking applications for the congressionally mandated program April 13 after the commission approved program rules earlier that month (see 2004010042). The bureau was directed to review applications and award funding commitments on a rolling basis until funding exhausts or the pandemic ends. The bureau prioritized funding applications targeting areas hardest hit by the coronavirus and where the support will have the most impact on healthcare needs, as Congress directed. The American Telemedicine Association has asked Congress to expand the program in the next COVID-19 legislative package, a spokesperson emailed Thursday. Commissioner Brendan Carr has been a proponent at the agency for telehealth funds. “Less than two years ago, we set out to establish a new FCC telehealth program to support the trend towards connected care," Carr said in a statement to us. "I am pleased that this leg work enabled the FCC to stand up the emergency telehealth initiative in record time. And I am pleased with the interest that health care providers have shown in participating. I look forward to the FCC’s continued work on these efforts, including the upcoming Connected Care Pilot.” The FCC didn't answer our questions.