Telecommunication

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an Open Meeting on the subjects listed below on Friday, April 12, 2019:

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved two telecommunications bills:

Two US providers of phone services for correctional facilities called off their planned merger after the Federal Communications Commission refused to clear the deal. Closely held Securus Technologies Inc. and Inmate Calling Solutions LLC withdrew their merger application after FCC staff reviewing the deal said it would hurt the public interest.

Based on a record of nearly 1 million documents comprised of 7.7 million pages of information submitted by the applicants, as well as arguments and evidence submitted by criminal justice advocates, consumer groups, and other commenters, FCC staff concluded that this deal posed significant competitive concerns and would not be in the public interest. I agree. I’m therefore pleased that the companies have determined that withdrawing their application is the best course.

Reps David Kustoff (R-TN) and William Timmons (R-SC) introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2019 (HR 1954). Sens Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced identical legislation on the Senate side. This bill will address the use of contraband cell phones in state and federal correctional facilities.  What this bill does:

America’s telecommunications watchdogs have levied hefty financial penalties against illegal robocallers and demanded that bad actors repay millions to their victims. But years later, little money has been collected. Since 2015, the Federal Communications Commission has ordered violators of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, a law governing telemarketing and robodialing, to pay $208.4 million. That sum includes so-called forfeiture orders in cases involving robocalling, Do Not Call Registry and telephone solicitation violations.

The Benton Foundation unequivocally opposes any proposals from the Federal Communications Commission that would allow the FCC to shirk its responsibilities to meet its Congressionally-mandated mission. The FCC is supposed to ensure:

Count Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) as critics of a proposal from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to explore a spending cap on telecommunications subsidies to expand telephone and broadband access. “Any effort that could harm classroom learning, broadband deployment, rural health opportunities, or connecting more individuals should be shelved and never considered again,” said Markey said of the FCC proposal, which would target Universal Service Fund programs.

Four separate operations responsible for bombarding consumers nationwide with billions of unwanted and illegal robocalls pitching auto warranties, debt-relief services, home security systems, fake charities, and Google search results services have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they violated the FTC Act and the agency’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), including its Do Not Call (DNC) provisions.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the April Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Friday, April 12, 2019:
5G Incentive Auction Public Notice – The Commission will consider a Public Notice seeking comment on procedures for the incentive auction of Upper Microwave Flexible Use Licenses in the Upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz Bands (Auction 103) for Next Generation Wireless Services. (AU Docket 19-59)