📡New FCC Rules to Accelerate Broadband Deployment and Compliance
In this document, a Fifth Report and Order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) establishes rules ensuring greater collaboration and cooperation between utilities and attachers, establishing a timeline for large pole attachment requests, revising and improving the pole attachment timeline, and establishing a deadline for the contractor approval process. In addition, the Commission denies in part and grants in part a Petition for Clarification and/or Reconsideration from the Edison Electric Institute of portions of the Commission's December 2023 Fourth Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Finally, the Commission denies a Petition for Reconsideration from the Coalition of Concerned Utilities of a portion of the Fourth Report and Order.
Learn More📶New Rules for Broadband Deployment and Utility Pole Attachments
In this document, the Commission adopted a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM or Further Notice) addressing deployment of broadband facilities on utility poles. It seeks comment on requiring attachers to deploy equipment on poles within 120 days of completion of make-ready work. It also seeks comment on whether the Commission should require attachers to make payment on an estimate to a utility within a specific period of time after acceptance. It additionally seeks comment on limiting the amount that final make-ready costs can exceed the utility's estimate without receiving prior approval from the attacher. It further seeks comment on whether to expand the availability of the one-touch, make-ready (OTMR) process to include complex survey and make-ready work. Moreover, it seeks comment establishing a deadline to on-board approved contractors. It also seeks comment on whether the Commission should define the term "pole" for purposes of Section 224 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and whether the term should be construed to include light poles. Further, it seeks comment on legal authority to adopt each of the proposals as well as any other germane policy points or facts, and on how the costs, benefits, or burdens of any rules the Commission adopts might impact businesses of various sizes.
Learn More📡Notice on Utility Broadband Alliance Membership Updates and Implications
The Department of Justice issued a notice regarding changes in the membership of the Utility Broadband Alliance, Inc. This update involves the addition of several firms and the withdrawal of one, aimed at extending antitrust liability protections under the National Cooperative Research and Production Act, impacting cooperative research activities in the broadband sector.
Learn More📶FCC Rule Amendments Affecting Telecommunications Compliance
In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communication Commission (Commission) conforms certain rule parts in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the rules that are actually in effect as a result of the Ohio Telecom and Iowa Utilities Board II decisions.
Learn More📶FCC Open Meeting Discusses Regulatory Changes for Broadband
The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes and seeks comment on revisions to the Commission's network change disclosure rules and section 214(a) discontinuance processes to eliminate regulatory barriers and costs, thus encouraging the swift transition to IP-based networks and advanced communications services for consumers. 2.................. WIRELINE COMPETITION.. Title: Removing Barriers to Broadband Deployment and Investment (WC Docket No. 17-84). Summary: The Commission will consider a Fifth Report and Order, Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Orders on Reconsideration to promote broadband infrastructure deployment by ensuring greater collaboration between utilities and attachers, establishing a timeline for large pole attachment requests, implementing other improvements to the pole attachment timeline, and speeding up the contractor approval process. The Commission would seek comment on ways to further facilitate the pole attachment process and on defining the term "pole" for purposes of section 224, and would resolve two petitions for reconsideration of prior Commission action. 3.................. ECONOMICS AND Title: Enhancing National ANALYTICS. Security Through the Auction of AWS-3 Spectrum Licenses (GN Docket No. 25- 70); Applying New Average Annual Gross Revenue Benchmarks for Small Business Bidding Credits (GN Docket No. 25-71); and Amendment of the Commission's Rules with Regard to Commercial Operations in the 1695- 1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz Bands (GN Docket No. 13-185). Summary: The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Second Report and Order that would update 10-year-old AWS-3 service-specific designated entity eligibility requirements to bring those requirements, along with related eligibility requirements contained in the part 1 competitive bidding rules, in line with the Commission's current auctions practice. 4.................. GENERAL COUNSEL....... Title: Streamlined Repeal of Outdated and Obsolete Rules (GN Docket No. 25- 133). Summary: The Commission will consider a Direct Final Rule that would repeal certain rules identified as outdated and obsolete via a direct final rule procedure and clarify the potential use of the direct final rule procedure in other circumstances in the future. 5.................. CONSUMER AND Title: Protecting Consumers GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. from Unauthorized Carrier Changes and Related Unauthorized Charges (CG Docket No. 17-169); and Truth-in-Billing and Billing Format (CC Docket No. 98-170). Summary: The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to modernize and simplify the Commission's slamming and Truth-in- Billing rules to reflect the evolution of the telecommunications marketplace, retain core consumer protections against unauthorized carrier switches and charges, and reduce regulatory burdens that can stifle innovation. 6.................. WIRELINE COMPETITION.. Title: 988 Text Georouting to Improve Access to the 988 Lifeline (WC Docket No. 18-336). Summary: The Commission will consider a Fourth Report and Order that would adopt rules to require wireless providers to transmit data that enables text messages sent to the 988 Lifeline to be routed to the closest local crisis center based on a person's general geographic location. 7.................. MANAGING DIRECTOR..... Title: Personnel Action #25- 09--Promotion. Summary: The Commission will consider a personnel action. 8.................. MANAGING DIRECTOR..... Title: Personnel Action #25- 10--Promotion. Summary: The Commission will consider a personnel action. 9.................. MANAGING DIRECTOR..... Title: Personnel Action #25- 11--Promotion. Summary: The Commission will consider a personnel action. 10................. MANAGING DIRECTOR..... Title: Personnel Action #25- 12--Promotion. Summary: The Commission will consider a personnel action. 11................. MANAGING DIRECTOR..... Title: Personnel Action #25- 13--Promotion. Summary: The Commission will consider a personnel action. 12................. PUBLIC SAFETY AND Title: Appointment of the HOMELAND SECURITY. Defense Commissioner. Summary: The Commission will consider a personnel action regarding the appointment of the Defense Commissioner. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Learn More📡Regulatory Compliance and Implications of Connect America Fund
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, an information collection associated with certain rules for the Connect America Fund contained in the Commission's Enhanced A-CAM Order of August 17, 2023, and Connect America Fund Order of April 10, 2024 (Orders). This document is consistent with the Orders, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the revised information collection requirement.
Learn More📡FCC Rule Change on Broadband Data Collection Certifications
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) eliminates the professional engineer certification requirement for the biannual Broadband Data Collection filings and instead allows the biannual filings to be certified by a qualified engineer that has relevant minimum experience and education.
Learn More📊NTIA Internet Use Survey 2025
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Learn More📡Antitrust Notice on Utility Broadband Alliance Membership Changes
This notice from the Department of Justice announces changes to the membership of the Utility Broadband Alliance, Inc. under the National Cooperative Research and Production Act, emphasizing compliance with antitrust laws. It details new parties added to the research project and mentions the ongoing openness of membership within the group, signifying ongoing collaborative efforts in the utility broadband sector.
Learn More📡FCC Information Collection Notice
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
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