Federal Communications Commission Open Meeting (July 2017)

Open Meeting

Federal Communications Commission
July 13, 2017
10:30 -- 12:30
https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2017/04/april-2017-open-commissio...

Coverage from Benton's Headlines

   FCC Seeks Comment on Combating Rural Call Completion Problems - press release
   FCC Takes Action to Alleviate Robocalls to Reassigned Phone Numbers - press release [links to Benton summary]
   FCC Seeks Reliable Call Authentication System [links to Federal Communications Commission]
   FCC Fines Robocalling Platform Almost $3 Million for Illegal Calls [links to Federal Communications Commission]
   FCC Proposes Rules to Protect Consumers from Slamming & Cramming [links to Federal Communications Commission]
   FCC Rules on Game Show Network v. Cablevision - press release
   FCC Revises and Clarifies Certain Wireless Microphone Rules [links to Federal Communications Commission]
   FCC Unlocks New Airwaves for Vehicular Radar Use [links to Federal Communications Commission]
   FCC Updates Rules on Authorization of Radiofrequency Devices - press release


RURAL CALL COMPLETION
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Press release]
Continuing its work to improve communications services in rural America, the Federal Communications Commission took additional steps to combat the problem of long-distance calls failing to reach rural communities. The FCC is seeking comment on rules that would hold phone companies more accountable for ensuring that long-distance calls to rural America get through to a called party. Certain telephone companies that hand off calls to intermediate providers would be required to monitor the performance of these intermediaries and hold them accountable if calls don’t go through. By making long-distance providers accountable for the rural call completion performance of their intermediate providers, this new proposal would more directly and quickly tackle rural call completion problems than the FCC’s current regulations. This solution represents an effective means of improving rural call completion while not unnecessarily burdening providers because it follows industry best practices. The Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on this proposal as well as on proposals to either modify or eliminate the FCC’s current rural call completion data collection and reporting rules.
benton.org/headlines/fcc-seeks-comment-combating-rural-call-completion-problems | Federal Communications Commission
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AUTHORIZATION OF RADIOFREQUENCY DEVICES
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Press release]
The Federal Communications Commission streamlined and modernized the authorization requirements for most radiofrequency devices, such as cell phones or TV receivers, that are imported, marketed, or operated within the United States. This decision continues the FCC’s ongoing efforts to provide greater flexibility and reduce the burdens associated with certain equipment authorization rules. The FCC’s action allows required labeling information to be provided to the consumer via the device’s electronic display. This provides an alternative to the requirement for etching or permanent labels on the exterior of devices, and manufacturers expect the use of electronic labelling rather than permanent physical labels to result in a measurable reduction in costs. This action is consistent with the objectives of the Enhance Labeling, Accessing, and Branding of Electronic Licenses Act of 2014 or the E-LABEL Act. The FCC also eliminates the requirement to file with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the FCC Form 740 – the FCC’s unique import declaration for RF devices brought into the United States.
benton.org/headlines/fcc-updates-rules-authorization-radiofrequency-devices | Federal Communications Commission
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GAME SHOW NETWORK BS CABLEVISION
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Press release]
The Federal Communications Commission responded to Cablevision’s appeal of a decision by the FCC’s Administrative Law Judge which granted Game Show Network’s (GSN) program carriage complaint against Cablevision. The Memorandum Opinion and Order adopted today reverses the Initial Decision and denies GSN’s complaint.
benton.org/headlines/fcc-rules-game-show-network-v-cablevision | Federal Communications Commission
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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the following items are tentatively on the agenda for the July Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 13, 2017:

  1. Call Authentication Trust Anchor – The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry that seeks comment on methods to authenticate telephone calls to further secure our telephone networks against illegal robocallers. The Notice seeks comment on implementing authentication standards for telephone calls, as well as the Commission’s role in this process and other public policy considerations. (WC Docket No. 17-97)
  2. Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls – The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry that explores methods by which reassigned telephone number data could be made available to callers to avoid making unwanted calls to consumers. (CG Docket No. 17-59)
  3. Protecting Consumers from Unauthorized Carrier Changes and Related Unauthorized Charges – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking outlining steps to further curtail slamming and cramming. (CG Docket No. 17-169)
  4. Rural Call Completion - The Commission will consider a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes rule changes to better address ongoing problems in the completion of long-distance telephone calls to rural areas. The Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes to (1) adopt new rural call completion requirements for covered providers, and (2) eliminate the Commission’s existing rural call completion recording, retention, and reporting rules. (WC Docket No. 13-39)
  5. Video Description – The Commission will consider a Report and Order which increases the required hours of video described programming that covered broadcast stations and MVPDs must provide to consumers. (MB Docket No. 11-43)
  6. Updating the Part 2 Equipment Authorization Program – The Commission will consider a First Report and Order that would update and amend its equipment authorization program by replacing two certification procedures with a new Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity process, codifying procedures for the electronic labeling of devices, modernizing the requirements related to the importation of electronic equipment, and incorporating up-to-date methods for equipment compliance measurements into the rules. (ET Docket No. 15-170)
  7. Radar Services in the 76-81 GHz Band – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would address use of the 76-81 GHz band under the Part 95 rules to support a broad range of vehicular radar uses, such as collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems, as well as to expand the types of fixed and mobile radar operations permitted within airport environments. (ET Docket No. 15-26)
  8. Wireless Microphone Operations – The Commission will consider an Order on Reconsideration and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would address licensed and unlicensed wireless microphone operations in the TV bands and various other frequency bands. (GN Docket No. 14-166; ET Docket No. 14-165)