press release

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced the appointment of Commission bureau and office chiefs. The following are new appointments:
Michelle Carey, Acting Chief of the Media Bureau.
Michael Carowitz, Acting Chief of the Enforcement Bureau.
Lisa Fowlkes, Acting Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
Nese Guendelsberger, Acting Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
Kris Monteith, Acting Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau.
Tom Sullivan, Acting Chief of the International Bureau.
Wayne A. Leighton, Acting Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis.
Timothy Strachan, Acting Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs.

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an Open Meeting on the subjects listed below on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.
Revisions to Public Inspection File Requirements – Broadcaster Correspondence File and Cable Principal Headend Location (MB Docket No. 16-161): The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would eliminate the requirement that commercial broadcast stations retain copies of letters and emails from the public in their public inspection file and the requirement that cable operators retain the location of the cable system’s principal headend in their public inspection file.

The House of Representatives passed eleven Commerce Committee bills. Bills related to communications policy include:

Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2017 (HR 290), sponsored by Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), would make the FCC more efficient, transparent, and accountable through reforming the commission’s processes and ensuring the FCC regulates in an innovative and dynamic way. HR 290 passed the House unanimously by voice vote.
Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017 (HR 423) sponsored by Rep Grace Meng (D-NY), would protect consumers against fraudulent actors and deceptive text messages by updating the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009, which prohibits entities from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information. HR 423 passed the House 398-5.
Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017 (HR 460), sponsored by Rep. David Young (R-IA), would require intermediate providers to register with the FCC and comply with the service quality standards set by the agency in order to improve call quality from long distance or wireless calls in rural areas throughout the country. HR 460 passed the House unanimously by voice vote.
Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 (HR 555), sponsored by committee member Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), would instruct the FCC to adopt rules that protect the rights of amateur radio operators to use radio equipment in deed-restricted communities. HR 555 passed the House unanimously by voice vote.
Kari’s Law Act of 2017 (HR 582), sponsored by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), would require that any multi-line telephone system connects directly to 911 when dialed, even in instances where the phone requires the user to dial “9” to get an outside line. HR 582 passed the House 408-0.
Securing Access to Networks in Disaster Act (HR 588), sponsored by full committee Ranking Member Rep Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), would create requirements for mobile service providers during emergencies to ensure that consumers have access to networks during disasters, and requires the FCC and GAO to examine the resiliency of networks during these events. In addition, it amends the Stafford Act to ensure all categories of communications service providers may access disaster sites to restore service. HR 588 passed the House unanimously by voice vote.
Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2017 (HR 599), sponsored by committee member and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), would consolidate eight separate reports at the FCC into a single, comprehensive overview of the communications marketplace, reducing reporting burdens and encouraging the agency to analyze competition in the marketplace. HR 599 passed the House unanimously by voice vote.

The Senate Commerce Committee approved 16 bills and the nominations for Wilbur Ross to be Secretary of Commerce and Elaine Chao to be Secretary of Transportation. The bills (all approved by voice vote) include:
MOBILE Now Act (S 19), Sponsors: Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act (S 88), Sponsors: Sens Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S 96), Sponsors: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairman Thune, Jon Tester (D-MT)
Securing Access to Networks in Disasters (SANDY) Act (S 102), Sponsors: Sens Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ranking Member Nelson
Kari’s Law Act (S 123), Sponsors: Sens Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chairman Thune, Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Spoofing Prevention Act (S 134), Sponsors: Ranking Member Nelson, Deb Fischer (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act (S 174), Sponsors: Sens Dean Heller (R-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI)

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced the appointment of Brendan Carr as the Commission’s Acting General Counsel. For the past three years, Carr has served as Commissioner Pai’s Wireless, Public Safety, and International Legal Advisor. He joined the office from the FCC’s Office of General Counsel. In that role, he provided legal advice on a wide range of spectrum policy, competition, and public safety matters.

Prior to joining the FCC, Carr was an attorney at Wiley Rein LLP, where he worked in the firm’s appellate, litigation, and telecom practices. He represented clients in both trial and appellate court proceedings, including complex litigation involving the First Amendment and the Communications Act. Earlier in his career, he served as a law clerk for Judge Dennis W. Shedd of the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Carr graduated magna cum laude from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and obtained a certificate from its Institute for Communications Law Studies. Carr received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced staff appointments to the Office of the Chairman:

Matthew Berry, Chief of Staff. For the past four years, Berry has served as Commissioner Pai’s Chief of Staff.
Nicholas Degani, Senior Counsel. For the past four years, Degani has served as Commissioner Pai’s Wireline Legal Advisor.
Jay Schwarz, Acting Wireline Advisor. Dr Schwarz is an economist; previously he served in the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning, where he was as Acting Deputy Chief.
Alison Nemeth, Acting Media Advisor. Nemeth joins the office from the FCC’s Media Bureau, where she most recently served as a Legal Advisor.
Rachael Bender, Acting Wireless Advisor. Bender joins the office from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, where
she worked on competition issues and efforts to streamline infrastructure deployment.
Zenji Nakazawa, Acting Public Safety and Consumer Protection Advisor. Nakazawa joins the office from the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, where he served as chief of the Policy and Rules Division.
Lori Alexiou, Confidential Assistant. For the past four years, Alexiou has been Commissioner Pai’s confidential assistant.
Kim Mattos, Acting Executive Assistant. Mattos will assist Berry and Degani.
Deanne Erwin, Executive Assistant. Erwin will assist Dr. Schwarz, Nemeth, Bender, and Nakazawa.

On Jan 19, 2017, the Coalition for Local Internet Choice (CLIC) distributed a letter to Virginia lawmakers opposing House Bill (HB) 2108. The letter was co-signed by: Atlantic Engineering, Coalition for Local Internet Choice, CTC Energy & Technology, Fiber to the Home Council, Google, Indeed, Internet Association, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, Netflix, Next Century Cities, Nokia, OnTrac, Telecommunications Industry Association, Ting Internet, and Utilities Technology Council. The letter noted that HB 2108 would essentially ban public broadband networks and public-private partnerships and harm Virginia communities, especially rural communities, and businesses that operate in the state. CLIC, along with its co-signers, encourages the Virginia legislature to reject this harmful legislation.

The Senate Commerce Committee will hold an executive session on Tuesday, January 24th at 10:00 am to formally adopt the rules and budget resolution for the 115th Congress and consider legislative measures including the following telecommunications-related bills.
S. 19, MOBILE Now Act, Sponsors: Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Bill Nelson (D-FL)
S. 81, Senior Fraud Prevention Act of 2017, Sponsors: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-Maine)
S. 88, Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, Sponsors: Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
S. 96, Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act, Sponsors: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD), Jon Tester (D-MT)
S. 102, Securing Access to Networks in Disasters (SANDY) Act, Sponsors: Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bill Nelson (D-FL)
S. 123, Kari’s Law Act, Sponsors: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Thune (R-SD), Ted Cruz (R-TX)
S. 134, Spoofing Prevention Act, Sponsors: Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roy Blunt (R-MO)
S.174, Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act, Sponsors: Sens. Dean Heller (R-NV), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)

Rural areas have been left in the dust when it comes to staying up to speed in the digital age. Thirty-nine percent of rural Americans and 41 percent of tribal lands lack access to basic 25 Mpbs broadband service. Compare those numbers to only 4 percent of urban residents. To address this rural/urban digital divide, we recently hosted a webinar on “Partnerships and Rural Broadband Needs”. We have also crafted the Rural American Broadband Connectivity (Rural ABC) Program for the Trump Administration.

With rumors of an infrastructure bill in the works, the School Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition is preparing to participate actively in these debates. Please let us know if you would like to join our Coalition and support our advocacy for open, affordable, high-capacity broadband for anchor institutions and their communities. Together we can bring our rural communities up to speed.

The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in federal district court charging Qualcomm Inc. with using anticompetitive tactics to maintain its monopoly in the supply of a key semiconductor device used in cell phones and other consumer products. Qualcomm is the world’s dominant supplier of baseband processors – devices that manage cellular communications in mobile products. The FTC alleges that Qualcomm has used its dominant position as a supplier of certain baseband processors to impose onerous and anticompetitive supply and licensing terms on cell phone manufacturers and to weaken competitors. Qualcomm also holds patents that it has declared essential to industry standards that enable cellular connectivity. These standards were adopted by standard-setting organizations for the telecommunications industry, which include Qualcomm and many of its competitors. In exchange for having their patented technologies included in the standards, participants typically commit to license their patents on what are known as fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory, or “FRAND,” terms.