Agenda

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announces the soft launch date for the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier in Alaska, American Samoa, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, the Northern Mariana Islands, Rhode Island, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Bureau also announces the full launch of the National Verifier in Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Soft Launch – February 6: Alaska, American Samoa, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, the Northern Mariana Islands, Rhode Island, and the U.S.

Former Federal Communications Commission Chairmen Tom Wheeler and Michael Powell will be among the high-profile witnesses at the Feb 7 House Communications Subcommittee hearing on network neutrality. Others testifying include:

• Jessica González, deputy director and senior counsel, Free Press & Free Press Action Fund
• Denelle Dixon, COO, Mozilla
• Ruth Livier, actress, writer, and UCLA doctoral student.

The Federal Communications Commission will vote in Feb on proposed procedures for phasing out traditional Universal Service Fund (USF) support for areas served by price cap carriers in which the carrier did not accept funding through the Connect America Fund (CAF) to deploy broadband service. Those areas were subsequently made available for auction, with funding going to the network operator that offered to deploy broadband for the lowest level of support.

House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) said this week's hearing on net neutrality won’t be the last — and a bill is forthcoming: “It’s going to be quickly followed after a couple hearings with legislation that would repeal the repeal, if you will, of net neutrality, bring back net neutrality,” Chairman Pallone pledged during a video update.

Federal Communications Commission General Counsel Thomas Johnson faced a skeptical panel of judges of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit as he defended the agency's repeal of net neutrality rules and deregulation of the broadband industry.

Oral arguments in the case against Ajit Pai's net neutrality repeal are scheduled for Feb 1, and net neutrality advocates are confident that they will be victorious. Courts generally give deference to FCC classifications, so Pai's opponents will have the burden of proving that the FCC's reasoning wasn't legally sound. Net neutrality proponents spoke to reporters about the upcoming oral arguments in a press conference on Jan 30.