November 2016

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler announced that the following items are tentatively on the agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 15, 2016:

1. Transition from TTY to Real-Time Text Technology: The FCC will consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to help achieve the transition from TTY technology to a reliable and interoperable means of providing real-time text communication over wireless Internet protocol-enabled networks and services. (CG Docket No. 16-145, GN Docket No. 15-178).
2. Improving the Nation’s Public Alert and Warning Systems: The FCC will consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to enhance the Emergency Alert System (EAS) as a tool for community emergency preparedness. The Report and Order improves alerting organization at the state and local levels, builds stronger community-based alerting exercise programs, and protects the EAS against accidental misuse and malicious intrusion. The Further Notice seeks comment on proposals to leverage technological advances to improve alerting and additional measures to preserve EAS security. (PS Docket No. 15-94)

The following items that are currently on circulation may be considered, unless voted on circulation prior to the December Open Meeting:

• Update to Parts 2 and 25 Concerning Non-geostationary, Fixed-Satellite Service Systems and Related Matters, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• In the Matter of Amendment of Part 0 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Public Information, the Inspection of Records, and Implementing the Freedom of Information Act
• Maritime Communications/Land Mobile, LLC, Order on Reconsideration and Memorandum Opinion and Order
• Improving the Resiliency of the Nation's Mobile Wireless Communications Networks, Order
• Preferred Long Distance, Inc., Memorandum Opinion and Order

[Commentary] Hopes that Google would establish a nationwide model for fiber Internet service were dashed, when the company suddenly declared a “pause” in its plans to lay fiber in as many as 18 municipalities. The disappointed suitors will have to wait for this strategy to play out or move ahead on their own. They would be well advised to keep an eye on San Francisco. That city is contemplating what would be the largest and most ambitious public broadband system in the country, with the ultimate goal of running fiber into every home and public building.

San Francisco has some advantages other communities lack. It’s geographically compact and densely populated, with a technophile citizenry. But the city of 865,000 residents is facing a daunting challenge. No city of comparable size has deployed a system of fiber to every building. The technical and physical obstacles to laying fiber citywide could sink the project at birth. The cost, which could come close to $1 billion, could raise public and political opposition. Existing Internet providers such as Comcast and AT&T can be expected to fight the project through lobbying and lawsuits. Still, this is a city sensitive to its digital inadequacies. As of 2014, the legislative analyst reported, only 2.6% of San Francisco residents had gigabit-per-second access, the gold standard for broadband connectivity. To this day, service in a city closely identified with high technology is spotty and often atrocious.