Good afternoon from Washington, DC! Below you will find this week’s Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up, your update on the wireless telecommunications regulatory landscape, important wireless decisions, and more! Of note this week, the FCC released a Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on the future of the Universal Service Fund and entered into consent decrees with four wireless carriers resolving investigations into the carriers’ compliance with the FCC’s 911 reliability rules. Please note that there will be no weekly post next week, due to the holidays. TLP wishes you all a happy holidays and a safe and happy new year! Here’s your wrap-up:
FCC:
- Late last Tuesday, the FCC released an Order on Reconsideration, Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Waiver Order in the Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Robocalls matter. The Order addresses USTelecom’s Petition for Reconsideration and Request for Clarification and reconsiders several provisions of the Fourth Report and Order, seeks comment on transitioning fully to SIP Codes 607 and 608, and waives several provisions of the FCC’s rules. For more information and to view a copy of the Order, view our post here.
- Last Wednesday, the Wireline Competition Bureau (“WCB”) released a Public Notice reevaluating the STIR/SHAKEN implementation extensions as required by the TRACED Act. The WCB considered all three extensions based on undue hardship and evaluated whether they should be retained. For more information and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
- Also last Wednesday, the FCC released a Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”) seeking comment on issues related to the future of the Universal Service Fund (“USF”) in light of the broadband investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“Infrastructure Act”). Comments are due January 18, 2022 and Reply Comments are due January 31, 2022. For more information and to view a copy of the NOI, see our post here.
- Last Thursday, the FCC entered into Consent Decrees with AT&T, Intrado, Lumen, and Verizon, resolving investigations into the companies’ compliance with the FCC’s 911 reliability rules during network outages that occurred in 2020. Each company has agreed to make settlement payments, which total more than $6 million combined, and implement a compliance plan. For more information and to view copies of the Consent Decrees, see our post here.
- On Monday, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released a Public Notice seeking comment on the National Association of State 911 Administrator’s Petition for Rulemaking (“Petition”). Comment are due January 19, 2022. Reply Comments are due February 3, 2022. For more information and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
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