press release

Continuing its work to expand broadband access in rural areas, the Federal Communications Commission amended its rules to help bring high-speed Internet to locations that are very costly to serve. The change allows carriers greater flexibility in planning deployment projects that are funded by the high-cost universal service support program. Today’s change allows carriers to pay for the portion of the excess capital expenditure with their own funds, rather than disallowing support for the project altogether, while continuing to promote the efficient use of universal service.

The Federal Communications Commission opened a proceeding to identify and address unnecessary regulatory barriers to wireless infrastructure deployment. The Commission’s goal is to promote the rapid deployment of advanced wireless broadband service to all Americans. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) begins an examination of how state and local processes affect the speed and cost of infrastructure deployment, and asks for comment on improving state and local infrastructure reviews, such as zoning requests.

Among other things, the NPRM seeks comment on whether siting applications that are not acted on by state or local governments within a reasonable period of time should be “deemed granted” by Commission rules. The NPRM also examines FCC rules and procedures for complying with the National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act. The Commission seeks input on the costs and benefits inherent in the historic preservation and environmental review processes as currently structured and asks what changes could be made to minimize costs and delays.

The Federal Communications Commission today voted to relax its third-party fundraising restrictions to permit many noncommercial television and radio stations to air limited fundraisers for the benefit of other non-profit organizations. Noncommercial educational broadcasters (NCEs) – such as public and religious broadcasters – have long been free to solicit funds to support their own operations, including through program-length fundraising events. However, until now, such broadcasters could only conduct on-air fundraising for third parties if they received an FCC waiver or the fundraising activity did not alter or suspend regular programming. Historically, waivers were temporary and given only after a crisis or natural disaster. Today’s action relaxes these rules to permit NCEs to devote up to one percent of their annual airtime to fundraising for third-party organizations that qualify as tax-exempt non-profits under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, without having to first seek a waiver from the FCC.

The Federal Communications Commission made optional a previously mandatory requirement that compelled the officers and board members of noncommercial educational (NCE) stations to report personal information. NCE broadcasters said that, if left unchanged, this requirement would deter volunteers from serving in these important leadership positions. April 20’s action will allow NCE stations to more readily utilize “special use” registration numbers, which do not require the submission of personal information to the Commission, on their ownership forms.

NCE stations will no longer be required to make “reasonable and good faith efforts” to obtain the information needed to use unique registration numbers for board members and officers—and individuals serving in these important leadership positions will no longer be required to provide such information under the threat of FCC enforcement action. However, the FCC will still require NCEs to submit information about the gender, race, and ethnicity of their governing officers and board members.

On April 20, several activists “RickRolled” the Federal Communications Commission’s open meeting to protest FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s plans to undermine network neutrality. Singing and dancing along to a recording of the 1987 Rick Astley song "Never Gonna Give You Up," the activists disrupted the agency’s monthly meeting and were escorted from FCC headquarters. “We’re never gonna give up fighting for our online rights,” said Free Press Field Director Mary Alice Crim. “Today’s protest was a reminder to Chairman Pai and his boss Donald Trump that people everywhere love the internet. We will do anything and everything to oppose his efforts to destroy the open internet. More than 4 million took a stand for Net Neutrality in 2015, and we aren’t going to take this sitting down today.”

The G20 (Group of 20) is a forum for representatives of governments of 20 major economies to consider and address issues of common interest impacting the citizens of these economies. As the president of the G20, Germany initiated a work stream focused on the digital economy. Over the past four months, representatives of the G20 countries have been examining policies and practices that will further the growth, development and deployment of digital economy technologies. These policies and practices cover all aspects of the digital economy, from connecting to the internet, to the use of international standards, to strengthening user confidence in digital technologies, to policies that allow U.S.-headquartered companies to compete around the world.

Recognizing the importance of these factors, the United States signed the G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Declaration. The Declaration recognizes and reiterates many fundamental principles that have made the internet possible and have improved the quality of our lives. By committing with our G20 partners to the free flow of information across national borders, to the protection of intellectual property, to the use of industry-led international standards, and to fair competition, we will ensure that the full potential of the digital economy can be realized, and that our citizens will reap its benefits. The United States government will continue to work with Germany, other G20 partners and all other interested countries to strengthen these fundamental principles, while fighting against efforts to weaken them or create barriers that impede U.S. companies from accessing and competing in foreign markets.

The Federal Communications Commission has proposed to fine a New York City resident for apparently operating a radio transmitter on frequencies that the FCC licensed to the New York Police Department (NYPD), causing interference with the NYPD’s radio system.

Jay Peralta faces a proposed fine of $404,166 for this egregious conduct. Peralta allegedly transmitted threatening messages directed at NYPD officers. These messages included false bomb threats and false officer-in-distress calls to NYPD dispatchers. This action is a result of an investigation that began in August 2016 when a FCC employee observed a Twitter post about an unlawful intrusion on the NYPD’s radio system. The NYPD provided the FCC with a written statement by Peralta, who is currently in police custody for related charges, in which he apparently acknowledged making nine unauthorized transmissions on the NYPD’s radio system. The proposed fine details the FCC’s allegations of unlawful conduct and proposes the maximum monetary penalty permitted under the law. As with any proposed fine, Peralta has 30 days to respond to this notice. According to his statement to the NYPD, on at least one occasion, Peralta apparently made unauthorized transmissions on the NYPD’s radio system in order to distract officers while his accomplices allegedly committed a robbery.

Reverse Auction:
$10.05 billion Revenues to winning broadcast stations
$304 million Largest individual station payout
$194 million Largest non-commercial station payout

Forward Auction:
$19.8 billion Gross revenues (2nd largest in FCC auction history)
$19.3 billion Revenues net of requested bidding credits
$7.3 billion Auction proceeds for federal deficit reduction

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced a transition in the leadership of the agency’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB). Current Bureau Chief Alison Kutler has decided to leave the agency, and Chairman Pai intends to appoint Patrick Webre as her replacement.

Webre has most recently worked at Jenner & Block in Washington, DC. He served for nine years in several leadership roles at the FCC, including as an Associate Bureau Chief and Chief Programs Officer in CGB, where he helped lead the FCC’s historic transition of broadcast television from analog to digital. He also served as a legal advisor to the chief of the Media Bureau and as an attorney in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Webre has also practiced law in Louisiana, where he earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a juris doctorate from Tulane University Law School. Kutler will be moving to the private sector. Her last day at the agency is expected to be Friday, April 14. Webre is expected to take over as Acting Bureau Chief on Monday, April 17.

The Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act (HB 529/SB 1215) provides $45 million over three years in grants and tax credits for service providers to assist in making broadband available to unserved homes and businesses. In addition, the plan will permit Tennessee’s private, nonprofit electric cooperatives to provide retail broadband service and make grant funding available to the state’s local libraries to help residents improve their digital literacy skills and maximize the benefits of broadband.

The House of Representatives passed HB 529/SB 1215 93-4, and it now heads to the governor’s desk for signature. The Senate passed the legislation 31-0 on April 3. Tennessee currently ranks 29th in the U.S. for broadband access, with 34 percent of rural Tennessee residents lacking access at recognized minimum standards.

Gov. Bill Haslam (R-TN) praised the passage of the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act, the governor’s legislation to increase broadband access to Tennessee’s unserved citizens.