Press Release

Facial recognition technology raises issues that go to the heart of fundamental human rights protections like privacy and freedom of expression. These issues heighten responsibility for tech companies that create these products. In our view, they also call for thoughtful government regulation and for the development of norms around acceptable uses. In a democratic republic, there is no substitute for decision making by our elected representatives regarding the issues that require the balancing of public safety with the essence of our democratic freedoms.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the following items are tentatively on the agenda for the August Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 2, 2018:

The Federal Communications Commission adopted an Order creating a more uniform set of procedural rules designed to improve formal complaint proceedings handled by the Enforcement Bureau. The Order streamlines and consolidates the procedural rules governing formal complaints against common carriers, formal complaints regarding pole attachments, and formal complaints concerning the accessibility of telecommunications and advanced communications services and equipment for people with disabilities.

The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order that:

In a Report and Order, the Federal Communications Commission set forth procedures for authorized state and local officials to conduct “live code” tests of the Emergency Alert System, which use the same alert codes and processes as would be used in actual emergencies. These tests can increase the proficiency of local alerting officials while educating the public about how to respond to actual alerts. The procedures require appropriate coordination, planning, and disclaimers to accompany any such test.

The Federal Communications Commission eliminated rules applicable to the Cellular Service and other Part 22 licensees. The action:

• Modernizes record-keeping rules by deleting rules requiring licensees to retain hard copies of station authorizations and other station records.
• Eliminates the requirement for licensees to maintain station control points and personnel on duty at those control points.
• Eliminates duplicative rules pertaining to operation of mobile stations, operational control of mobile devices, and equal opportunity regulations.

The Federal Communications Commission launched a proceeding to seek comment on proposed revisions to the children’s television programming rules. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking recommends modifying rules adopted in 1996 pursuant to the Children’s Television Act. The NPRM seeks input on proposed changes to the criteria that children’s programming must meet to be considered Core Programming, which among other things currently require that programming be at least 30 minutes in length and regularly scheduled.

The Federal Communications Commission adopted an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which identifies new opportunities for flexible use in up to 500 megahertz of mid-band spectrum between 3.7 and 4.2 GHz. The proposals set forth several steps toward making more mid-band spectrum available for terrestrial fixed and mobile broadband use.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that he has circulated a proposal that would establish the requirements to govern the incubator program that the FCC decided to adopt in 2017 to support the entry of new and diverse voices into the broadcast industry. The proposal, which the FCC will vote on at its August Open Meeting, outlines a program in which established broadcasters would pair with small aspiring new entrants or struggling broadcast station owners who lack access to capital and operational experience, among other things.

Leading off our August agenda will be 5G, the next generation of wireless connectivity. We’ll finalize the rules for the auction of airwaves in the 28 GHz band and the auction of the 24 GHz band, which will follow immediately afterward.  These will be the first auctions of high-band spectrum for 5G services, but they won’t be the last.  Specifically, I’m excited to announce my plan to move forward with a single auction of three more millimeter-wave spectrum bands—the 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands—in the second half of 2019.