The FCC has released the following tentative agenda for the November Open Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, November 16, 2017, to begin at 10:30 am:
Blocking Unlawful Robocalls – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would expressly authorize voice service providers to block certain types of robocalls that falsely appear to be from telephone numbers that do not or cannot make outgoing calls. It would also prohibit voice service providers from blocking 911 calls under these rules, encouraging voice service providers to provide a mechanism to allow subscribers whose legitimate calls are blocked in error to stop such blocking, and clarify that providers may exclude calls blocked under these rules from their call completion reports. (CG Docket No. 17-59) FCC FACT SHEET AND DRAFT
Spectrum Bands Above 24 GHz – The Commission will consider a Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Memorandum Opinion and Order that would make available 1,700 MHz of additional high-frequency spectrum for flexible terrestrial wireless use; provide 4 gigahertz for core satellite use; and adopt, refine, or affirm a number of service rules to promote robust deployment in these bands, and a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on certain related earth station, buildout, and licensing issues. (GN Docket No. 14-177; IB Docket No. 15-256; WT Docket No. 10-112; IB Docket No. 97-95) FCC FACT SHEET AND DRAFT
Replacement Utility Poles Report & Order – The Commission will consider a Report and Order to eliminate the requirement for historic preservation review where utility poles are replaced with substantially identical poles that can support antennas or other wireless communications equipment, and to consolidate the Commission’s historic preservation review rules into a single rule. (WT Docket No. 17-79) FCC FACT SHEET AND DRAFT
Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment – The Commission will consider a Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order that will revise and seek comment on further changes to the Commission’s pole attachment rules, network change disclosure processes, and section 214(a) discontinuance processes to remove barriers to infrastructure investment and promote broadband deployment, and will seek comment on taking targeted actions to facilitate rebuilding and repairing broadband infrastructure after natural disasters. (WC Docket No. 17-84) FCC FACT SHEET AND DRAFT
Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers – The Commission will consider a Fourth Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, Memorandum Opinion and Order, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Notice of Inquiry to adopt and propose measures to effectively and efficiently bridge the digital divide for Lifeline subscribers and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline program. (WC Docket No. 17-287) FCC FACT SHEET AND DRAFT
Reconsideration of Broadcast Ownership Rules – The Commission will consider an Order on Reconsideration and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that updates the Commission’s broadcast ownership and attribution rules to reflect the current media marketplace, denies various other requests for reconsideration, finds that the Commission will adopt an Incubator Program to promote ownership diversity, and seeks comment on how to structure and administer such a program. (MB Docket Nos. 14-50, 09-182, 07-294, 04-256, 17-289) FCC FACT SHEET AND DRAFT
Modernizing Cable Data Collection – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on whether to eliminate Form 325, Annual Report of Cable Television Systems, or, in the alternative, on ways to modernize and streamline the form. (MB Docket Nos. 17-290, 17-105) FCC FACT SHEET AND DRAFT
‘Next Generation’ Broadcast Television Standard – The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking authorizing television broadcasters to use the Next Generation television transmission standard (ATSC 3.0) on a voluntary, market-driven basis. (GN Docket No. 16-142) FCC FACT SHEET AND DRAFT
In addition to the links above, drafts of the above items will also be made available here. Audio/Video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning from the FCC Live web page at http://www.fcc.gov/live.
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