The Federal Communications Commission initiated a new process for collecting fixed broadband data to better pinpoint where broadband service is lacking. The Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concludes that there is a compelling and immediate need to develop more granular broadband deployment data to meet this goal, and accordingly, creates the new Digital Opportunity Data Collection. To provide the data required by the FCC, the Report and Order, among other steps:

• Establishes the Digital Opportunity Data Collection—a new data collection that will collect geospatial broadband coverage maps from fixed broadband Internet service providers of areas where they make fixed service available. This geospatial data will facilitate development of granular, high-quality fixed broadband deployment maps, which should improve the FCC’s ability to target support for broadband expansion through the agency’s Universal Service Fund programs.
• Adopts a process to collect public input on the accuracy of service providers’ broadband maps, facilitated by a crowd-sourcing portal that will gather input from consumers as well as from state, local, and Tribal governments.
• Makes targeted changes to the existing Form 477 data collection to reduce reporting burdens for all filers and incorporate new technologies.

The Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on a number of issues, including:

• Possible additional technical standards for fixed broadband providers that could ensure greater precision for the Digital Opportunity Data Collection deployment reporting and ways the Commission can incorporate location-specific fixed broadband deployment data in this new data collection;
• Collection of more accurate, reliable mobile wireless voice and broadband coverage data and incorporation of this information into the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; and,
• Sunsetting the Form 477 broadband deployment collection following the full implementation of the Digital Opportunity Data Collection.

The new data collection will take effect after the FCC's Office of Economics and Analytics issues a notice announcing the availability of the new collection platform as well as reporting deadlines.

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to prohibit excessive franchise fees. The Order explains that local governments may not regulate most non-cable services, including broadband Internet access service, offered over a cable system. These rules respond to a remand by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and set forth how local franchising authorities may regulate cable operators pursuant to the Communications Act.

In order to rein in overreach by local franchising authorities, and thereby facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure, the FCC concluded that, under the Act, cable-related, non-monetary contributions required by a local franchise are franchise fees subject to the statutory five percent cap with limited exceptions, including an exemption for certain capital costs related to public, educational, and governmental access channels. It has also prohibited, pursuant to the Act, local franchising authorities from regulating the provision of most non-cable services, including broadband Internet access service, that cable operators offer over their cable systems. In addition, the FCC decided that any state or local regulation of a cable operator’s non-cable services that imposes obligations on franchised cable operators beyond what the Communications Act allows is preempted. Finally, the FCC concluded that requirements concerning local franchising authority regulation of cable operators should apply to state-level franchising actions and state regulations related to local franchising. Together, these rules faithfully implement the terms of the Act and remove obstacles to the deployment of broadband. 

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to help ensure that people who call 911 from multi-line telephone systems—which commonly serve hotels, office buildings, and campuses—can reach 911 and be quickly located by first responders. The new rules will also improve emergency response for people who call 911 from other calling platforms. The action implements two laws enacted in 2018 that are designed to strengthen emergency calling. First, the FCC took action to implement Kari’s Law, which requires multi-line telephone systems to enable users to dial 911 directly, without having to dial a prefix (such as a “9”) to reach an outside line. Kari’s Law also requires multi-line telephone systems to provide notification, such as to a front desk or security office, when a 911 call is made in order to facilitate building entry by first responders. Second, Section 506 of RAY BAUM’S Act requires the FCC to consider adopting rules to ensure that “dispatchable location” information, such as the street address, floor level, and room number of a 911 caller, is conveyed with 911 calls, regardless of the technological platform used, so that first responders can be quickly dispatched to the caller’s location. In addition, the FCC consolidated its 911 rules from multiple rule parts into a single rule part, making it easier for stakeholders, such as service providers and emergency management officials, to more easily ascertain 911 requirements. 

The fate of T-Mobile and Sprint's $26.5 billion merger may hinge on whether a federal judge sees satellite TV provider Dish Network as a viable fourth competitor in the US wireless market. But there isn't an easy answer -- especially when you balance its history of ignoring its obligations to build a wireless network with its newfound ambitions sparked by the mobile megamerger. Dish has been a major player in several past wireless auctions. And for years, the company sat on its assets without any plans for deployment. It has asked for and was granted build-out extensions from the Federal Communications Commission. Finally, the company agreed to spend $1 billion to build what it called a narrowband IoT (internet of things) network by March 2020. There has been some rumbling at the FCC and among other carriers, mainly T-Mobile, that if Dish failed to meet this deadline that it would have to give back its licenses. While the terms of the brokered DOJ deal are broadly favorable for Dish, the biggest perk for the company is that the FCC will extend Dish's build-out deadline by three years. But there's one condition: The network that Dish builds must be a commercial wireless broadband network and not one just for IoT devices. 

Layoffs continue to pummel US newspapers. Roughly a quarter of papers with an average Sunday circulation of 50,000 or more experienced layoffs in 2018. The layoffs come on top of the roughly one-third of papers in the same circulation range that experienced layoffs in 2017. What’s more, the number of jobs typically cut by newspapers in 2018 tended to be higher than in the year before. Mid-market newspapers were the most likely to suffer layoffs in 2018 – unlike in 2017, when the largest papers most frequently saw cutbacks. Meanwhile, digital-native news outlets also faced continued layoffs: In 2018, 14% of the highest-traffic digital-native news outlets went through layoffs, down slightly from one-in-five in 2017.

Starting in early 2020, Google will present a new search provider choice screen to Android users in Europe when first setting up a new phone or tablet. The selection will then be the default search provider that powers the search box on the Android home screen as well as the Chrome browser if installed. Search providers will be required to pay Google each time a user selects them from the choice screen. Inclusion on the choice screen will be determined through a sealed-bid auction, with the top three bidders added alongside Google search. The announcement follows the record-setting $5 billion fine against Google for antitrust violations in the EU. The July 2018 ruling required Google to stop “illegally tying” its Chrome and search apps to Android. The European Commission then left the means of compliance up to Google, which the Commission continues to monitor.