Press Release
FCC Settles Investigation into Two AT&T Mobility 911 Outages in 2017
The Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau settled an investigation into AT&T Mobility’s 911 outages of March and May 2017.
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio seeks comment on AT&T Ohio application to end Lifeline Participation
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) issued a call for comments regarding AT&T Ohio’s application to discontinue its participation in the federal Lifeline program throughout the majority of its service territory. Comments are due Aug. 31, 2018. Lifeline is a federally funded program that provides monthly discounts to eligible consumers of landline, wireless or broadband services. Customers enrolled in their service provider’s Lifeline program receive a $9.25 monthly credit. On Sept.
APTS Commends Senate Appropriations Committee For Providing Level Funding For Public Broadcasting
America's Public Television Stations are grateful to the Senate Appropriations Committee for providing level funding of $445 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) for Fiscal Year 2021 and $20 million in FY 2019 for an annual interconnection and infrastructure account, which is the backbone of the public broadcasting system, providing local stations with national programming, connecting stations with each other, and creating efficiencies for our system. The broad support for this funding among both Republican and Democratic members of the committee, where the bill passed
Commissioner Rosenworcel Announces Availability of Small Cell Model Agreements
Right now, policymakers across the country are focused on strengthening American infrastructure. That effort includes roads, bridges, and broadband networks that support 5G wireless services. That’s vital—because to be first to a 5G future, we need to focus as much on the ground as on the skies. But figuring out how to deploy 5G infrastructure—which puts a premium on small cells—is a big task. It means acknowledging that we have a legal tradition of local control in this country but also recognizing that more streamlined and uniform practices can help speed deployment.
Senate Commerce Committee Approves Nomination of Geoffrey Starks to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission
The Senate Commerce Committee approved eight bills including the Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act of 2017 (S.645), and four nominations, including Geoffrey Starks to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission. S.645 would require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment and analysis of the effects of broadband deploymnet and adoption on the economy of the United States.
David Lawrence to Lead T-Mobile/Sprint Transaction Task Force
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that David Lawrence will lead the FCC task force coordinating the agency’s review of the transaction proposed by T-Mobile US and Sprint. The parties filed their applications with the Commission on June 18, 2018.
Conservative Coalition Supports T-Mobile and Sprint Merger
A group of conservative organizations sent a letter to the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee supporting the proposed merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, saying the transaction is consistent with antitrust law and will benefit consumers. The groups say the merger will drive competition and will result in higher speeds and lowered prices for consumers.
Rep Pallone to Introduce Bill to Ensure Immigrant Parents Can Contact Their Separated Children Free of Charge
House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced the Compassionate Calling and Immigrant Family Reunification Act of 2018 to put an end to the abusive practice of charging detained immigrant parents extortionary rates to use the phone to either contact their children that have been separated from them and placed in detention facilities or to contact federal agencies to learn where their children are being held.
Consumer Groups Welcome Advocates to Washington (DC) for Net Neutrality Advocacy Day
Public Knowledge leads a group of public interest and racial justice allies in welcoming net neutrality advocates from across the United States to Washington (DC) for a “Day of Advocacy.” Volunteers plan to express how important net neutrality is to their lives, schools, and businesses and why Congress should support the Congressional Review Act resolution to reinstate the FCC’s strong net neutrality rules. More than 50 participants volunteered to share their stories in scheduled meetings with their representatives on Capitol Hill.
FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for July 2018 Open Meeting
[Press release] Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the following items are tentatively on the agenda for the July Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 12, 2018: