Today’s Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for August Open Meeting, Virginia Plans to Expedite Broadband Program
FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for August Open Meeting
The FCC announced the items on the agenda for the August Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 5, 2021:
- Establishing Two New Innovation Zones – The Commission will consider a Public Notice that would create two new Innovation Zones for Program Experimental Licenses and the expansion of an existing Innovation Zone. (ET Docket No. 19-257)
- Numbering Policies for Modern Communications – The Commission will consider a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to update the Commission’s rules regarding direct access to numbers by interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol providers to safeguard the nation’s finite numbering resources, curb illegal robocalls, protect national security, and further promote public safety. (WC Docket Nos. 13-97, 07-243, 20-67; IB Docket No. 16-155)
- Appeals of the STIR/SHAKEN Governance Authority Token Revocation Decisions – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would establish a process for the Commission to review decisions of the private STIR/SHAKEN Governance Authority that would have the effect of placing voice service providers out of compliance with the Commission’s STIR/SHAKEN implementation rules. (WC Docket Nos. 17-97, 21-291)
- Modernizing Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Compensation – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on TRS Fund compensation methodology for IP Relay service. (CG Docket No. 03-123; RM-11820)
- Updating Outmoded Political Programming and Record-Keeping Rules – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to update outmoded political programming rules. (MB Docket No. 21-293)
- Review of the Commission’s Part 95 Personal Radio Services Rules – The Commission will consider a Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration that would grant three petitions for reconsideration of the Commission’s May 2017 Part 95 Personal Radio Services Rules Report and Order. (WT Docket No. 10-119)
Virginia Plans to Expedite Broadband Program
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D.) announced that Virginia plans to invest $700 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan expedite the deployment of last-mile broadband infrastructure to unserved areas and close the digital divide within the next three years. This proposal accelerates the Governor’s 10-year goal for achieving universal internet access from 2028 to 2024, with most connections to occur within the next 18 months. In May, Governor Northam and General Assembly leaders released a joint statement outlining shared priorities for allocating the $4.3 billion in federal funds available to the Commonwealth from the American Rescue Plan. “It’s time to close the digital divide in our Commonwealth and treat internet service like the 21st century necessity that it is—not just a luxury for some, but an essential utility for all,” Governor Northam said. “The pandemic has reinforced how important high-quality broadband is for the health, education, and economic opportunity, and we cannot afford to leave any community behind.”
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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.
