The FCC moved forward 3-2 on another leftover issue Thursday evening, proposing fines against 10 entities for allegedly violating educational broadband service rules. All apparently didn't "provide the educational services” required. They "apparently failed to meet their obligations to maintain local program committees to inform the use of their respective licenses in the 2.5 GHz band.” Commissioner Brendan Carr raised issues in 2019 about how some EBS licensees are using the spectrum. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks slammed the move, with Joe Biden's administration starting Jan. 20.
Texas legislators probably can’t quickly fix a state USF on the brink of collapse, a top state lawmaker told us Friday. The Public Utility Commission, which has been unwilling to make changes on its own authority, sought legislative guidance in a competition report this month. AT&T and cable companies agreed it's the legislature's job. Small telcos facing possible bankruptcy worry legislative relief won’t come fast enough, said Texas Telephone Association (TTA) Executive Director Mark Seale. Nebraska and Oklahoma commissioners could soon make USF contribution method changes after hearings this and last week.
The FCC will disburse $3.2 billion in emergency broadband assistance as the pandemic has boosted broadband demand and usage (see 2012220061). How the money will be spent and whether it will reach the hardest-hit communities remain uncertain, said experts in interviews this month. Some telecom stakeholders are optimistic, however.
Communications Decency Act Section 230 should be rewritten and tweaked, not repealed, House Republicans told us after President Donald Trump failed to dismantle the statute through must-pass spending bills. House Democrats agreed there’s bipartisan consensus on the need to rework the tech industry’s liability shield.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai condemned rioters who took over the Capitol Wednesday and President Donald Trump’s challenges to the results of the November election, which led to the attack (see 2101080026). Pai also said he won't proceed with an NPRM on Communications Decency Act Section 230 (see 2101080051), during an appearance on C-SPAN's Communicators posted online Friday. Pai, who's doing a round of appearances before his Jan. 20 departure, also highlighted his push for more openness at the FCC, during a Free State Foundation webinar.
Facebook extended its ban of President Donald Trump’s accounts on the platform and Instagram “indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks,” until Joe Biden takes office, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced. Also Thursday, congressional critics and others in the telecom and tech spheres slammed Trump over his encouraging protesters to go to the Capitol, where several were reported by authorities to have been killed. See here and here for our reports. (Our reporter, who was trapped for several hours, was later able to safely leave, as were other journalists.)
Viasat's argument the FCC should do a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of SpaceX's pending license modification (see 2012230003) comes as the incoming Joe Biden administration is likely to put more emphasis on NEPA requirements. However, that may not ripple out to the FCC, environmental and space law experts told us.
What the FCC does on net neutrality starting Jan. 20 likely depends on whether it’s immediately clear when the agency will have a permanent chair, experts said. If Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel is named acting chief, she would likely wait to start an item if it appears a new chair is imminent. Action on two court cases could come more quickly, experts said. The new FCC’s top focus is expected to be building on the 2015 order, largely revoked by Republicans, to reclassify broadband under Communications Act Title II (see 2101060055).
FCC members condemned violence erupting on Capitol Hill by pro-Trump forces Wednesday. And now two FCC GOP members have explicitly acknowledged that, contrary to President Donald Trump's wishes, Joe Biden is slated to become the next president in a few weeks. See our news bulletin here. Before recent days, those commissioners were largely silent on the issue.
Democrats’ apparent victories in runoffs for Georgia’s Senate seats likely smooth the way for the party to gain a majority on the FCC later this year and take Democrats' preferred course of action on net neutrality and other top-tier matters, officials and lobbyists said in interviews. The leads in both the two contests, if they hold, would leave the Senate split 50-50. Democrats would gain a majority after Jan. 20 with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris breaking ties. The FCC will be tied 2-2 once Chairman Ajit Pai leaves, raising questions about what the commission can get done before the Senate confirms President-elect Joe Biden’s eventual nominee to a third Democratic seat (see 2012090063).