Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions-Fall 2021, 5340-5370 [2021-28337]
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5340
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda
Unified Agenda of Major and Other
Significant Proceedings
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Ch. I
Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory
and Deregulatory Actions—Fall 2021
Federal Communications
Commission.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Semiannual Regulatory Agenda.
Twice a year, in spring and
fall, the Commission publishes in the
Federal Register a list in the Unified
Agenda of those major items and other
significant proceedings under
development or review that pertain to
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (U.S.C.
602). The Unified Agenda also provides
the Code of Federal Regulations
citations and legal authorities that
govern these proceedings. The complete
Unified Agenda will be published on
the internet in a searchable format at
www.reginfo.gov.
SUMMARY:
Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maura McGowan, Telecommunications
Policy Specialist, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, (202)
418–0990.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Commission encourages public
participation in its rulemaking process.
To help keep the public informed of
significant rulemaking proceedings, the
Commission has prepared a list of
important proceedings now in progress.
The General Services Administration
publishes the Unified Agenda in the
Federal Register in the spring and fall
of each year.
The following terms may clarify the
status of the proceedings included in
this report:
Docket Number—assigned to a
proceeding if the Commission has
issued either a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking or a Notice of Inquiry
concerning the matter under
consideration. The Commission has
used docket numbers since January 1,
1978. Docket numbers consist of the last
two digits of the calendar year in which
the docket was established plus a
sequential number that begins at 1 with
the first docket initiated during a
calendar year (e.g., Docket No. 15–1 or
Docket No. 17–1). The abbreviation for
the responsible bureau usually precedes
the docket number, as in ‘‘MB Docket
No. 17–289,’’ which indicates that the
responsible bureau is the Media Bureau.
A docket number consisting of only five
digits (e.g., Docket No. 29622) indicates
that the docket was established before
January 1, 1978.
Notice of Inquiry (NOI)—issued by the
Commission when it is seeking
information on a broad subject or trying
to generate ideas on a given topic. A
comment period is specified during
which all interested parties may submit
comments.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM)—issued by the Commission
when it is proposing a specific change
to Commission rules and regulations.
Before any changes are actually made,
interested parties may submit written
comments on the proposed revisions.
Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FNPRM)—issued by the
Commission when additional comment
in the proceeding is sought.
Memorandum Opinion and Order
(MO&O)—issued by the Commission to
deny a petition for rulemaking,
conclude an inquiry, modify a decision,
or address a petition for reconsideration
of a decision.
Rulemaking (RM) Number—assigned
to a proceeding after the appropriate
bureau or office has reviewed a petition
for rulemaking, but before the
Commission has acted on the petition.
Report and Order (R&O)—issued by
the Commission to state a new or
amended rule or state that the
Commission rules and regulations will
not be revised.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission.
CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Regulation
Identifier No.
Sequence No.
Title
472 ....................
Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 (CG Docket No. 02–278).
Rules and Regulations Implementing Section 225 of the Communications Act (Telecommunications Relay
Service) (CG Docket No. 03–123).
Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service (VRS) Program (CG Docket No. 10–51) ......................
Implementation of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012/Establishment of a Public
Safety Answering Point Do-Not-Call Registry (CG Docket No. 12–129).
Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service; Telecommunications Relay Services and
Speech-to-Speech Services; CG Docket No. 13–24.
Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls (CG Docket No. 17–59) ............................
473 ....................
474 ....................
475 ....................
476 ....................
477 ....................
3060–AI14
3060–AI15
3060–AJ42
3060–AJ84
3060–AK01
3060–AK62
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ECONOMICS—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Regulation
Identifier No.
Sequence No.
Title
478 ....................
Development of Nationwide Broadband Data to Evaluate Reasonable and Timely Deployment of Advanced Services to All Americans.
Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions (GN
Docket No. 12–268).
479 ....................
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5341
OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Sequence No.
480
481
482
483
....................
....................
....................
....................
484 ....................
485 ....................
486 ....................
Regulation
Identifier No.
Title
Encouraging the Provision of New Technologies and Services to the Public (GN Docket No. 18–22) .........
Spectrum Horizon (ET Docket No. 18–21) ......................................................................................................
Use of the 5.850–5.925 GHz Band (ET Docket No. 19–138) .........................................................................
Allowing Earlier Equipment Marketing and Importation Opportunities; Petition to Expand Marketing Opportunities for Innovative Technologies (ET Docket No. 20–382 & RM–11857) NPRM, 86 FR 2337, January 1.
Unlicensed White Space Device Operations in the Television Bands (ET Docket No. 20–36) .....................
Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain through the Equipment
Authorization and Competitive Bidding Programs; ET Docket No. 21–232, EA Docket No. 21–233.
Wireless Microphones in the TV Bands, 600 MHz Guard Band, 600 MHz Duplex Gap, and the 941.5–944
MHz, 944–952 MHz, 952.850–956.250 MHz, 956.45–959.85 MHz, 1435–1525 MHz, 6875–6900 MHz
and 7100–7125 MHz.
3060–AK80
3060–AK81
3060–AK96
3060–AL18
3060–AL22
3060–AL23
3060–AL27
INTERNATIONAL BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Regulation
Identifier No.
Sequence No.
Title
487 ....................
Update to Parts 2 and 25 Concerning NonGeostationary, Fixed-Satellite Service Systems, and Related
Matters: IB Docket No. I6–408.
Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the FCC Rules to Facilitate the Use of Earth Stations in Motion Communicating With Geostationary Orbit Space Stations in FSS Bands: IB Docket No. 17–95.
Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules Governing Satellite Services: IB Docket No. 18–314 ............................
Facilitating the Communications of Earth Stations in Motion With Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Stations:
IB Docket No. 18–315.
Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age: IB Docket No. 18–313 ...................................................
Process Reform for Executive Branch Review of Certain FCC Applications and Petitions Involving Foreign
Ownership (IB Docket No. 16–155).
Parts 2 and 25 to Enable GSO FSS in the 17.3–17.8 GHz Band, Modernize Rules for 17/24 GHz BSS
Space Stations, and Establish Off-Axis Uplink Power Limits for Extended Ka-Band FSS (IB Doc. No.
20–330).
488 ....................
489 ....................
490 ....................
491 ....................
492 ....................
493 ....................
3060–AK59
3060–AK84
3060–AK87
3060–AK89
3060–AK90
3060–AL12
3060–AL28
MEDIA BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Regulation
Identifier No.
Sequence No.
Title
494 ....................
495 ....................
Revision of EEO Rules and Policies (MM Docket No. 98–204) .....................................................................
Establishment of Rules for Digital Low-Power Television, Television Translator, and Television Booster
Stations (MB Docket No. 03–185).
Preserving Vacant Channels in the UHF Television Band for Unlicensed Use; (MB Docket No. 15–146) ...
Authorizing Permissive Use of the ‘‘Next Generation’’ Broadcast Television Standard (GN Docket No. 16–
142).
2018 Quadrennial Regulatory Review of the Commission’s Broadcast Ownership Rules (MB Docket 18–
349).
Equal Employment Opportunity Enforcement (MB Docket 19–177) ...............................................................
Duplication of Programming on Commonly Owned Radio Stations (MB Docket No. 19–310) ......................
Sponsorship Identification Requirements for Foreign Government-Provided Programming (MB Docket No.
20–299).
FM Broadcast Booster Stations (MB Docket 20–401) ....................................................................................
Revisions to Political Programming and Record-Keeping Rules (MB Docket No. 21–93) .............................
Updating Broadcast Radio Technical Rules (MB Docket 21–263) .................................................................
496 ....................
497 ....................
498 ....................
499 ....................
500 ....................
501 ....................
502 ....................
503 ....................
504 ....................
3060–AH95
3060–AI38
3060–AK43
3060–AK56
3060–AK77
3060–AK86
3060–AL19
3060–AL20
3060–AL21
3060–AL25
3060–AL26
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OFFICE OF MANAGING DIRECTOR—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Regulation
Identifier No.
Sequence No.
Title
505 ....................
Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees ..............................................................................................
3060–AK64
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Regulation
Identifier No.
Sequence No.
Title
506 ....................
507 ....................
Wireless E911 Location Accuracy Requirements: PS Docket No. 07–114 ....................................................
Improving Outage Reporting for Submarine Cables and Enhancing Submarine Cable Outage Data; GN
Docket No. 15–206.
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS—Continued
Regulation
Identifier No.
Sequence No.
Title
508 ....................
Amendments to Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications: PS Docket
No. 15–80.
New Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications; ET Docket No. 04–35
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): PS Docket No. 15–91 .............................................................................
Blue Alert EAS Event Code .............................................................................................................................
509 ....................
510 ....................
511 ....................
3060–AK40
3060–AK41
3060–AK54
3060–AK63
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Regulation
Identifier No.
Sequence No.
Title
512 ....................
Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 22, 24, 27, 90, and 95 of the Commission’s Rules to Improve Wireless Coverage Through the Use of Signal Boosters (WT Docket No. 10–4).
Promoting Technological Solutions to Combat Wireless Contraband Device Use in Correctional Facilities;
GN Docket No. 13–111.
Promoting Investment in the 3550–3700 MHz Band; GN Docket No. 17–258 ...............................................
Use of Spectrum Bands Above 24 GHz for Mobile Services—Spectrum Frontiers: WT Docket 10–112 ......
Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band, WT Docket No.18–120 ...............................................................................
Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band: GN Docket No. 18–122 ..............................................
Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Promote Aviation Safety: WT Docket No. 19–140 .....................
Implementation of State and Local Governments’ Obligation to Approve Certain Wireless Facility Modification Requests Under Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act of 2012 (WT Docket No.19–250).
513 ....................
514
515
516
517
518
519
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
3060–AJ87
3060–AK06
3060–AK12
3060–AK44
3060–AK75
3060–AK76
3060–AK92
3060–AL29
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Regulation
Identifier No.
Sequence No.
Title
520 ....................
800 MHz Cellular Telecommunications Licensing Reform; Docket No. 12–40 ..............................................
3060–AK13
WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS
Sequence No.
521
522
523
524
525
526
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
527 ....................
528 ....................
529 ....................
530 ....................
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531
532
533
534
535
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
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Regulation
Identifier No.
Title
Local Telephone Networks That LECs Must Make Available to Competitors ................................................
Jurisdictional Separations ................................................................................................................................
Rural Call Completion; WC Docket No. 13–39 ...............................................................................................
Rates for Inmate Calling Services; WC Docket No. 12–375 ...........................................................................
Comprehensive Review of the Part 32 Uniform System of Accounts (WC Docket No. 14–130) ...................
Restoring Internet Freedom (WC Docket No. 17–108); Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet (GN
Docket No. 14–28).
Technology Transitions; GN Docket No 13–5, WC Docket No. 05–25; Accelerating Wireline Broadband
Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment; WC Docket No. 17–84.
Numbering Policies for Modern Communications, WC Docket No. 13–97 .....................................................
Implementation of the Universal Service Portions of the 1996 Telecommunications Act ..............................
Toll Free Assignment Modernization and Toll Free Service Access Codes: WC Docket No. 17–192, CC
Docket No. 95–155.
Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; WC Docket Nos. 19–195 and 11–10 ..........................
Call Authentication Trust Anchor .....................................................................................................................
Implementation of the National Suicide Improvement Act of 2018 .................................................................
Modernizing Unbundling and Resale Requirements in an Era of Next-Generation Networks and Services
Eliminating Ex Ante Pricing Regulation and Tariffing of Telephone Access Charges (WC Docket 20–71) ...
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3060–AK20
3060–AK21
3060–AK32
3060–AK36
3060–AK57
3060–AK91
3060–AK93
3060–AL00
3060–AL01
3060–AL02
3060–AL03
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
Action
Consumer and Governmental Affairs
Bureau
Long-Term Actions
472. Rules and Regulations
Implementing the Telephone Consumer
Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 (CG
Docket No. 02–278)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 227
Abstract: In this docket, the
Commission considers rules and
policies to implement the Telephone
Consumer Protection Act of 1991
(TCPA). The TCPA places requirements
on robocalls (calls using an automatic
telephone dialing system, an autodialer,
a prerecorded or, an artificial voice),
telemarketing calls, and unsolicited fax
advertisements.
Timetable:
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Action
Date
NPRM ..................
FNPRM ...............
Order ...................
Order Effective ....
Order on Reconsideration.
Order ...................
FNPRM ...............
Order ...................
Order ...................
Order on Reconsideration.
Order ...................
NPRM ..................
Public Notice .......
Order ...................
NPRM ..................
Declaratory Ruling
R&O ....................
Order on Reconsideration.
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice (Reconsideration
Petitions Filed).
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Opposition End
Date.
Rule Corrections
Declaratory Ruling
(release date).
Declaratory Ruling
(release date).
Declaratory Ruling
and Order.
NPRM ..................
Declaratory Ruling
R&O ....................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Declaratory Ruling
Declaratory Ruling
Order ...................
Declaratory Ruling
Declaratory Ruling
VerDate Sep<11>2014
FR Cite
10/08/02
04/03/03
07/25/03
08/25/03
08/25/03
67 FR 62667
68 FR 16250
68 FR 44144
10/14/03
03/31/04
10/08/04
10/28/04
04/13/05
68
69
69
69
70
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
59130
16873
60311
62816
19330
06/30/05
12/19/05
04/26/06
05/03/06
12/14/07
02/01/08
07/14/08
10/30/08
70
70
71
71
72
73
73
73
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
37705
75102
24634
25967
71099
6041
40183
64556
03/22/10
06/11/12
06/30/10
10/03/12
75
77
75
77
FR
FR
FR
FR
13471
34233
34244
60343
10/16/12
77 FR 63240
68 FR 50978
10/18/12
11/08/12
11/29/12
Declaratory Ruling
and Order.
Order on Reconsideration.
Declaratory Ruling
Declaratory Ruling
NPRM ..................
Public Notice .......
Declaratory Ruling
Declaratory Ruling
Order on Recon ..
R&O ....................
Public Notice (Reconsideration
Petitions Filed).
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
06/25/20
08/28/20
09/04/20
09/21/20
10/09/20
12/17/20
12/18/20
01/15/21
02/12/21
02/25/21
04/12/21
85 FR 64091
86 FR 9299
86 FR 11443
86 FR 18934
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Kristi Thornton,
Deputy Division Chief, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2467, Email:
kristi.thornton@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AI14
473. Rules and Regulations
Implementing Section 225 of the
Communications Act
(Telecommunications Relay Service)
(CG Docket No. 03–123)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225
Abstract: This proceeding continues
the Commission’s inquiry into
improving the quality of
telecommunications relay service (TRS)
and furthering the goal of functional
equivalency, consistent with Congress’
mandate that TRS regulations encourage
the use of existing technology and not
discourage or impair the development of
new technology. In this docket, the
Commission explores ways to improve
emergency preparedness for TRS
facilities and services, new TRS
technologies, public access to
information and outreach, and issues
related to payments from the Interstate
TRS Fund.
Timetable:
77 FR 66935
Action
05/09/13
10/09/15
80 FR 61129
05/20/16
07/05/16
11/16/16
06/28/18
10/03/18
12/06/19
12/09/19
03/17/20
03/20/20
06/25/20
81 FR 31889
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Date
81 FR 80594
83 FR 26284
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Date
NPRM ..................
R&O, Order on
Reconsideration.
FNPRM ...............
Public Notice .......
Declaratory Ruling/Interpretation.
Public Notice .......
Order ...................
Public Notice/Announcement of
Date.
Order ...................
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FR Cite
08/25/03
09/01/04
68 FR 50993
69 FR 53346
09/01/04
02/17/05
02/25/05
69 FR 53382
70 FR 8034
70 FR 9239
03/07/05
03/23/05
04/06/05
70 FR 10930
70 FR 14568
70 FR 17334
07/01/05
70 FR 38134
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Action
Order on Reconsideration.
R&O ....................
Order ...................
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
R&O/Order on
Reconsideration.
Order ...................
Order ...................
NPRM ..................
Declaratory Ruling/Clarification.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM ...............
Declaratory Ruling/Dismissal of
Petition.
Clarification .........
Declaratory Ruling
on Reconsideration.
Order on Reconsideration.
MO&O .................
Clarification .........
FNPRM ...............
Final Rule; Clarification.
Order ...................
R&O ....................
Public Notice .......
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
R&O/Declaratory
Ruling.
Order ...................
Order ...................
R&O ....................
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
Order ...................
Declaratory Ruling
FNPRM ...............
R&O ....................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Order ...................
2nd R&O and
Order on Reconsideration.
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
NPRM ..................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
Order ...................
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
Order Denying
Stay Motion
(Release Date).
Order ...................
Order ...................
NPRM ..................
NPRM ..................
Order ...................
Final Rule (Order)
Final Rule; Announcement of
Effective Date.
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Date
FR Cite
08/31/05
70 FR 51643
08/31/05
09/14/05
09/14/05
10/12/05
12/23/05
70
70
70
70
70
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
51649
54294
54298
59346
76208
12/28/05
12/29/05
02/01/06
05/31/06
70
70
71
71
FR
FR
FR
FR
76712
77052
5221
30818
05/31/06
06/01/06
06/21/06
71 FR 30848
71 FR 31131
71 FR 35553
06/28/06
07/06/06
71 FR 36690
71 FR 38268
08/16/06
71 FR 47141
08/16/06
08/23/06
09/13/06
02/14/07
71
71
71
72
FR
FR
FR
FR
47145
49380
54009
6960
03/14/07
08/06/07
08/16/07
11/01/07
01/04/08
01/17/08
72
72
72
72
73
73
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
11789
43546
46060
61813
863
3197
02/19/08
04/21/08
04/21/08
04/23/08
04/30/08
05/15/08
07/08/08
07/18/08
07/18/08
08/01/08
08/05/08
10/10/08
10/23/08
12/30/08
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
9031
21347
21252
21843
23361
28057
38928
41307
41286
45006
45354
60172
63078
79683
05/06/09
05/07/09
05/21/09
05/21/09
06/12/09
07/29/09
08/07/09
09/18/09
10/26/09
05/12/10
07/09/10
74
74
74
74
74
74
74
74
74
75
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
20892
21364
23815
23859
28046
37624
39699
47894
54913
26701
08/13/10
09/03/10
11/02/10
05/02/11
07/25/11
09/27/11
11/22/11
75
75
75
76
76
76
76
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
49491
54040
67333
24442
44326
59551
72124
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
Action
Date
Proposed Rule
(Public Notice).
Proposed Rule
(FNPRM).
First R&O ............
Public Notice .......
Order on Reconsideration.
Order ...................
Order (Interim
Rule).
NPRM ..................
Announcement of
Effective Date.
NPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
NPRM ..................
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Petiton for Reconsideration; Request for Comment.
Petition for Reconsideration;
Request for
Comment.
Request for Clarification; Request for Comment; Correction.
Petition for Reconsideration
Comment Period End.
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Correction—Announcement of
Effective Date.
Technical Amendments.
Public Notice .......
R&O and Order ...
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Final Action (Announcement of
Effective Date).
Final Rule Effective.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
FR Cite
Action
02/28/12
77 FR 11997
02/01/12
77 FR 4948
07/25/12
10/29/12
12/26/12
77 FR 43538
77 FR 65526
77 FR 75894
02/05/13
02/05/13
78 FR 8030
78 FR 8032
02/05/13
03/07/13
78 FR 8090
78 FR 14701
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
NOI and FNPRM
NOI and FNPRM
Comment Period End.
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice—
Correction.
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
Public Notice—
Correction
Comment Period End.
R&O ....................
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due
Date.
R&O and Declaratory Ruling.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice Opposition Period
End.
Announcement of
Effective Date.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
Petition for Recon
Request for
Comment.
Petition for Recon
Comment Period End.
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Final Rule; removal of compliance notices.
Report & Order ...
Final Rule; correction.
R&O and Order
on Recon.
03/13/13
07/05/13
09/18/13
78 FR 40407
07/05/13
08/15/13
08/15/13
09/30/13
78 FR 40582
78 FR 49693
78 FR 49717
08/30/13
09/03/13
10/23/13
11/18/13
78 FR 53684
78 FR 54201
78 FR 63152
12/16/13
78 FR 76096
12/16/13
12/30/13
78 FR 76097
78 FR 79362
01/10/14
01/21/14
07/11/14
79 FR 40003
08/28/14
79 FR 51446
08/28/14
79 FR 51450
09/09/14
79 FR 53303
09/15/14
10/21/14
10/21/14
12/22/14
79 FR 54979
79 FR 62875
79 FR 62935
10/30/14
79 FR 64515
10/30/14
11/08/15
01/01/16
80 FR 72029
01/20/16
02/16/16
81 FR 3085
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Date
FR Cite
Action
03/21/16
08/24/16
09/14/16
81 FR 14984
81 FR 57851
04/12/17
05/30/17
82 FR 17613
04/13/17
04/27/17
04/27/17
07/11/17
82 FR 17754
82 FR 19322
82 FR 19347
06/23/17
07/21/17
07/25/17
82 FR 28566
82 FR 33856
82 FR 34471
Final Rule; announcement of
effective and
compliance
dates.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due
Date.
R&O ....................
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM ..................
NPRM Correction
Order on Recon ..
Public Notice .......
NPRM Correction
Comment Period End.
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
07/31/17
08/17/17
08/22/17
10/17/17
82 FR 39673
82 FR 48203
10/25/17
82 FR 49303
11/20/17
06/27/18
83 FR 30082
07/18/18
11/15/18
83 FR 33899
08/23/18
09/17/18
83 FR 42630
02/04/19
84 FR 1409
03/08/19
03/14/19
04/29/19
84 FR 8457
84 FR 9276
06/06/19
06/06/19
06/18/19
84 FR 26364
84 FR 26379
84 FR 28264
07/15/19
08/05/19
10/23/20
85 FR 67447
02/01/21
04/02/21
86 FR 7681
02/22/21
86 FR 10458
03/19/21
02/23/21
03/19/21
05/03/21
86 FR 10844
86 FR 14859
06/04/21
06/15/21
07/07/21
07/15/21
07/30/21
86
86
86
86
FR
FR
FR
FR
29969
31668
35632
37328
08/09/21
474. Structure and Practices of the
Video Relay Service (VRS) Program
(CG Docket No. 10–51)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C.
303(r)
Abstract: The Commission takes a
fresh look at its VRS rules to ensure that
it is available to and used by the full
spectrum of eligible users, encourages
innovation, and is provided efficiently
to be less susceptible to the waste,
fraud, and abuse that have plagued the
program and threatened its long-term
viability. The Commission also
considers the most effective and
efficient way to make VRS available and
to determine what is the most fair,
efficient, and transparent cost-recovery
methodology. In addition, the
Commission looks at various ways to
measure the quality of VRS so as to
ensure a better consumer experience.
Timetable:
85 FR 462
85 FR 1125
85 FR 1134
02/19/20
85 FR 9392
05/06/20
85 FR 26857
05/08/20
08/26/20
85 FR 27309
85 FR 52489
Action
10/14/20
85 FR 64971
Declaratory Ruling
Declaratory Ruling
Order ...................
Sfmt 4702
FR Cite
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald,
Deputy Chief, Disability Rights Office,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2235, Email:
eliot.greenwald@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AI15
01/06/20
01/09/20
01/09/20
02/13/20
Fmt 4701
Date
E:\FR\FM\31JAP23.SGM
31JAP23
Date
05/07/10
07/13/10
07/13/10
FR Cite
75 FR 25255
75 FR 39945
75 FR 39859
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda
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Action
Date
Notice of Inquiry ..
NPRM ..................
Interim Final Rule
Public Notice .......
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
NPRM ..................
R&O (Correction)
Order ...................
2nd R&O .............
Order (Interim
Final Rule).
Final Rule; Announcement of
Effective Date.
Final Rule; Petition for Reconsideration; Public Notice.
Oppositions Due
Date.
Final Rule; Clarification (MO&O).
FNPRM ...............
Interim Final Rule;
Announcement
of Effective
Date.
Final Rule; Announcement of
Effective Date.
Final Rule; Announcement of
Effective Date.
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Final Rule; Correction.
Correcting
Amendments.
Order (Release
Date).
Correcting
Amendments.
Public Notice .......
Comment Period
End.
FNPRM ...............
R&O ....................
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Comment Period
End.
Final Action (Announcement of
Effective Date).
Final Rule Effective.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
NOI and FNPRM
NOI and FNPRM
Comment Period End.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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08/23/10
02/15/11
03/02/11
05/02/11
05/02/11
05/02/11
05/27/11
07/25/11
08/05/11
08/05/11
75
75
76
76
76
76
76
76
76
76
76
09/26/11
76 FR 59269
09/27/11
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
41863
51735
8659
11462
24393
24437
24442
30841
44326
47469
47476
76 FR 59557
10/07/11
10/31/11
76 FR 67070
10/31/11
11/03/11
76 FR 67118
76 FR 68116
11/04/11
76 FR 68328
11/07/11
76 FR 68642
12/30/11
02/01/12
03/19/12
77 FR 4948
03/27/12
77 FR 18106
06/07/12
77 FR 33662
07/25/12
10/04/12
77 FR 60630
10/29/12
11/29/12
77 FR 65526
07/05/13
07/05/13
09/18/13
78 FR 40407
78 FR 40582
09/11/13
09/15/14
10/10/14
78 FR 55696
79 FR 54979
10/30/14
79 FR 64515
10/30/14
11/18/15
02/01/16
80 FR 72029
03/21/16
08/24/16
09/14/16
81 FR 14984
81 FR 57851
04/12/17
05/30/17
82 FR 17613
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
Action
Date
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
Public Notice Correction.
Public Notice Correction Comment Period
End.
R&O and Order ...
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due
Date.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Report & Order ...
R&O and Order
on Recon.
Final rule; announcement of
effective and
compliance
dates.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due
Date.
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM ..................
NPRM Correction
NPRM Correction
Comment Period End.
Order on Recon ..
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
04/13/17
04/27/17
04/27/17
07/01/17
82 FR 17754
82 FR 19322
82 FR 19347
06/23/17
07/21/17
07/31/17
82 FR 28566
82 FR 33856
07/25/17
82 FR 34471
08/17/17
Frm 00007
Legal Authority: Pub. L. 112–96, sec.
6507
Abstract: The Middle Class Tax Relief
and Job Creation Act of 2012 required
the Commission to create a Do-Not-Call
Registry for public safety answering
point (PSAP) telephone numbers and to
prohibit the use of automated dialing
equipment to place calls to PSAP
numbers on the Registry. In this docket,
the Commission adopted rules and
policies implementing these statutory
requirements.
Timetable:
82 FR 39673
82 FR 48203
10/25/17
82 FR 49303
Action
06/06/19
06/06/19
08/05/19
84 FR 26364
84 FR 26379
05/08/20
10/14/20
85 FR 27309
85 FR 64971
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
Correction
Amendments.
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Next Action Undetermined.
10/23/20
85 FR 67447
02/01/21
04/02/21
86 FR 7681
02/22/21
86 FR 10458
03/19/21
03/19/21
05/03/21
86 FR 14859
06/04/21
06/15/21
07/30/21
86 FR 29969
86 FR 31668
07/07/21
86 FR 35632
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald,
Deputy Chief, Disability Rights Office,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2235, Email:
eliot.greenwald@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AJ42
PO 00000
475. Implementation of the Middle
Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act
of 2012/Establishment of a Public Safety
Answering Point Do-Not-Call Registry
(CG Docket No. 12–129)
08/22/17
10/17/17
11/20/17
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
5345
Date
FR Cite
06/21/12
10/29/12
02/13/13
77 FR 37362
77 FR 71131
78 FR 10099
03/26/13
78 FR 18246
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Richard D. Smith,
Special Counsel, Consumer Policy
Division, Federal Communications
Commission, Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau, 445 12th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 717 338–2797, Fax: 717 338–
2574, Email: richard.smith@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AJ84
476. Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP)
Captioned Telephone Service;
Telecommunications Relay Services
and Speech-to-Speech Services; CG
Docket No. 13–24
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225
Abstract: The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
initiated this proceeding in its effort to
ensure that Internet-Protocol Captioned
Telephone Service (IP CTS) is provided
effectively and in the most efficient
manner. In doing so, the FCC adopted
rules to address certain practices related
to the provision and marketing of IP
CTS, as well as compensation of TRS
providers. IP CTS is a form of relay
service designed to allow people with
hearing loss to speak directly to another
party on a telephone call and to
simultaneously listen to the other party
and read captions of what that party is
saying over an IP-enabled device. To
ensure that IP CTS is provided
efficiently to persons who need to use
E:\FR\FM\31JAP23.SGM
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this service, the Commission adopted
rules establishing several requirements
and issued an FNPRM to address
additional issues.
Timetable:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
Order (Interim
Rule).
Order ...................
Announcement of
Effective Date.
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Petition for Reconsideration
Request for
Comment.
Petition for Reconsideration
Comment Period End.
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Correction—Announcement of
Effective Date.
Technical Amendments.
R&O and Declaratory Ruling.
FNPRM ...............
Public Notice .......
Public Notice Opposition Period
End.
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Announcement of
Effective Date.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Petition for Recon
Request for
Comment.
Petition for Recon
Comment Period End.
R&O ....................
Announcement of
Effective Date.
Final Rule; Removal of Compliance Notes.
Final Rule; correction.
R&O and Order
on Recon.
FNPRM ...............
Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.
NPRM ..................
Oppositions Due
Date.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
FR Cite
02/05/13
02/05/13
78 FR 8090
78 FR 8032
02/05/13
03/07/13
78 FR 8030
78 FR 14701
03/12/13
08/30/13
09/03/13
11/18/13
78 FR 53684
78 FR 54201
12/16/13
78 FR 76097
01/10/14
Action
Date
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
04/02/21
05/03/21
07/15/21
08/09/21
86 FR 37328
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald,
Deputy Chief, Disability Rights Office,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2235, Email:
eliot.greenwald@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK01
477. Advanced Methods To Target and
Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls (CG
Docket No. 17–59)
07/11/14
79 FR 40003
08/28/14
79 FR 51446
08/28/14
79 FR 51450
09/09/14
79 FR 53303
06/27/18
83 FR 30082
07/18/18
08/23/18
09/17/18
83 FR 33899
83 FR 42630
11/15/18
02/04/19
84 FR 1409
03/08/19
03/14/19
04/29/19
84 FR 8457
84 FR 9276
06/18/19
84 FR 28264
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201 and
202; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 251(e)
Abstract: The Telephone Consumer
Protection Act of 1991 restricts the use
of robocalls autodialed or prerecorded
calls in certain instances. In CG Docket
No. 17–59, the Commission considers
rules and policies aimed at eliminating
unlawful robocalling. Among the issues
it examines in this docket are whether
to allow carriers to block calls that
purport to be from unallocated or
unassigned phone numbers through the
use of spoofing, whether to allow
carriers to block calls based on their
own analyses of which calls are likely
to be unlawful and whether to establish
a database of reassigned phone numbers
to help prevent robocalls to consumers,
who did not consent to such calls.
Timetable:
Action
07/15/19
01/06/20
02/19/20
85 FR 462
85 FR 9392
05/06/20
85 FR 26857
08/26/20
85 FR 52489
10/14/20
85 FR 64971
02/01/21
02/22/21
86 FR 7681
86 FR 10458
03/19/21
03/19/21
86 FR 14859
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
FR Cite
Jkt 256001
Date
NPRM/NOI ..........
2nd NOI ...............
NPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM ...............
R&O ....................
2nd FNPRM ........
2nd FNPRM
Comment Period End.
2nd FNPRM
Reply Comment
Period End.
2nd R&O .............
3rd FNPRM .........
Declaratory Ruling
Public Notice
Seeking Input
on Report.
PO 00000
Frm 00008
FR Cite
05/17/17
07/13/17
07/31/17
82 FR 22625
01/08/18
01/12/18
04/23/18
06/07/18
83 FR 770
83 FR 1566
83 FR 17631
07/09/18
03/26/19
06/24/19
06/24/19
12/30/19
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
84 FR 11226
84 FR 29478
84 FR 29387
Action
Public Notice
Seeking Comment on Reassigned Numbers.
Public Notice
Seeking Comment on RND
Cost/Fee Structure.
Public Notice Establishing
Guidelines for
RND.
Report .................
3rd NPRM Comment Date.
Announcement of
Compliance
Dates.
3rd R&O, Order of
Reconsideration, 4th
FNPRM.
4th R&O (release
date).
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
FR Cite
01/24/20
02/26/20
04/16/20
06/25/20
06/26/20
06/26/20
85 FR 38334
07/31/20
85 FR 46063
12/30/20
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Karen Schroeder,
Associate Division Chief, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0654, Email:
karen.schroeder@fcc.gov.
Jerusha Burnett, Attorney Advisor,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0526, Email:
jerusha.burnett@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK62
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
Economics
Long-Term Actions
478. Development of Nationwide
Broadband Data To Evaluate
Reasonable and Timely Deployment of
Advanced Services to all Americans
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 251; 47
U.S.C. 252; 47 U.S.C. 257; 47 U.S.C. 271;
47 U.S.C. 1302; 47 U.S.C. 160(b); 47
U.S.C. 161(a)(2)
Abstract: The Report and Order
streamlined and reformed the
Commission’s Form 477 Data Program,
which is the Commission’s primary tool
to collect data on broadband and
telephone services.
Timetable:
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Action
Date
NPRM ..................
Order ...................
Order ...................
NPRM ..................
Order ...................
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
R&O and FNPRM
Next Action Undetermined.
05/16/07
07/02/08
10/15/08
02/08/11
06/27/13
08/24/17
09/25/17
FR Cite
72
73
73
76
78
82
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
27519
37861
60997
10827
49126
40118
10/10/17
08/22/19
84 FR 43764
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Suzanne Mendez,
Program Analyst, OEA, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0941, Email:
suzanne.mendez@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AJ15
479. Expanding the Economic and
Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum
Through Incentive Auctions (GN
Docket No. 12–268)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C.
309(j)(8)(G); 47 U.S.C. 1452
Abstract: In February 2012, the
Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
Creation Act was enacted (Pub. L. 112–
96, 126 Stat. 156 (2012)). Title VI of that
statute, commonly known as the
Spectrum Act, provides the Commission
with the authority to conduct incentive
auctions to meet the growing demand
for wireless broadband. Pursuant to the
Spectrum Act, the Commission may
conduct incentive auctions that will
offer new initial spectrum licenses
subject to flexible-use service rules on
spectrum made available by licensees
that voluntarily relinquish some or all of
their spectrum usage rights in exchange
for a portion, based on the value of the
relinquished rights as determined by an
auction, of the proceeds of bidding for
the new licenses. In addition to granting
the Commission general authority to
conduct incentive auctions, the
Spectrum Act requires the Commission
to conduct an incentive auction of
broadcast TV spectrum and sets forth
special requirements for such an
auction.
The Spectrum Act requires that the
BIA consist of a reverse auction ‘‘to
determine the amount of compensation
that each broadcast television licensee
would accept in return for voluntarily
relinquishing some or all of its spectrum
usage rights’’ and a forward auction of
licenses in the reallocated spectrum for
flexible-use services, including mobile
broadband. Broadcast television
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18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
licensees who elected to voluntarily
participate in the auction had three
bidding options: Go off-the-air, share
spectrum with another broadcast
television licensee, or move channels to
the upper or lower VHS band in
exchange for receiving part of the
proceeds from auctioning that spectrum
to wireless providers. The Spectrum Act
also authorized the Commission to
reorganize the 600 MHz band following
the BIA including, as necessary,
reassigning full power and Class A
television stations to new channels in
order to clear the spectrum sold in the
BIA. That post-auction reorganization
(known as the repack) is currently
underway and all of the stations who
were assigned new channels are
scheduled to have vacated their preauction channels by July 3, 2020,
pursuant to a 10-phase transition
schedule adopted by the Commission.
In May 2014, the Commission
adopted a Report and Order that laid out
the general framework for the BIA. The
auction started on March 29, 2016, with
the submission of initial commitments
by eligible broadcast licensees. The BIA
ended on April 13, 2017, with the
release of the Auction Closing and
Channel Reassignment Public Notice
that also marked the start of the 39month transition period during which
987 of the full power and Class A
television stations remaining on-the-air
will transition their stations to their
post-auction channel assignments in the
reorganized television band. Pursuant to
the Spectrum Act, the Commission will
reimburse 957 of those full power and
Class A stations for the reasonable costs
associated with relocating to their postauction channel assignments and will
reimburse multichannel video
programming distributors for their costs
associated with continuing to carry the
signals of those stations.
In March 2018, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 115–141, at
Div. E, Title V, 511, 132 Stat. 348 (2018),
codified at 47 U.S.C. 1452(j)–(n)) (the
Reimbursement Expansion Act or REA),
extended the deadline for
reimbursement of eligible entities from
April 2020 to no later than July 3, 2023,
and also expanded the universe of
entities eligible for reimbursement to
include low-power television stations
and TV translator stations displaced by
the BIA for their reasonably incurred
costs to relocate to a new channel, and
FM broadcast stations for their
reasonably incurred costs for facilities
necessary to reasonably minimize
disruption of service as a result of the
post-auction reorganization of the
television band. On March 15, 2019, the
Commission adopted a Report and
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Order setting rules for the
reimbursement of eligible costs to those
newly eligible entities.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
Final Rule ............
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
11/21/12
08/15/14
10/11/17
08/27/18
03/26/19
FR Cite
77
79
82
83
84
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
69933
48441
47155
43613
11233
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jean L. Kiddoo,
Chair, Incentive Auction Task Force,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–7757, Email:
jean.kiddoo@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AJ82
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
Office of Engineering and Technology
Long-Term Actions
480. Encouraging the Provision of New
Technologies and Services to the Public
(GN Docket No. 18–22)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(3)
Abstract: In this proceeding, the FCC
seeks to establish rules describing
guidelines and procedures to implement
the stated policy goal of section 7 to
encourage the provision of new
technologies and services to the public.
Although the forces of competition and
technological growth work together to
enable the development and
deployment of many new technologies
and services to the public, the
Commission has at times been slow to
identify and take action to ensure that
important new technologies or services
are made available as quickly as
possible. The Commission has sought to
overcome these impediments by
streamlining many of its processes but
all too often regulatory delays can
adversely impact newly proposed
technologies or services.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
Comment Period
End.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
04/04/18
05/04/18
FR Cite
83 FR 14395
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
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Agency Contact: Paul Murray,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Office of
Engineering and Technology, 445 12th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0688, Fax: 202 418–
7447, Email: paul.murray@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK80
481. Spectrum Horizon (ET Docket No.
18–21)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and
152; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47
U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C.
302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47
U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 332; sec. 76 of
1996 Telecom Act, as amended, 47
U.S.C. 302 and sec. 1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, the FCC
seeks to implement a plan to make the
spectrum above 95 GHz more readily
accessible for new innovative services
and technologies. Throughout its
history, when the Commission has
expanded access to what was thought to
be the upper reaches of the usable
spectrum, new technological advances
have emerged to push the boundary of
usable spectrum even further. The
frequencies above 95 GHz are today’s
spectrum horizons. The Notice sought
comment on proposed rules to permit
licensed fixed point-to-point operations
in a total of 102.2 gigahertz of spectrum;
on making 15.2 gigahertz of spectrum
available for unlicensed use; and on
creating a new category of experimental
licenses to increase opportunities for
entities to develop new services and
technologies from 95 GHz to 3 THz with
no limits on geography or technology.
Timetable:
Action
Date
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
NPRM ..................
ANPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
04/02/18
05/02/18
83 FR 13888
06/14/19
84 FR 25685
Action
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michael Ha, Deputy
Division Chief, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 201 418–2099, Email:
michael.ha@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK81
482. Use of the 5.850–5.925 GHz Band
(ET Docket No. 19–138)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 1; 47 U.S.C.
4(i); 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 302; 47
U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 332;
47 CFR 1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, we
repurpose 45 megahertz of the 5.850–
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
5.925 GHz band (the 5.9 GHz band) to
allow for the expansion of unlicensed
mid-band spectrum operations, while
continuing to dedicate 30 megahertz of
spectrum for vital intelligent
transportation system (ITS) operations.
In addition, to promote the most
efficient and effective use of this ITS
spectrum, we are requiring the ITS
service to use cellular vehicle-toeverything (C–V2X) based technology at
the end of a transition period. By
splitting the 5.9 GHz band between
unlicensed and ITS uses, today’s
decision puts the 5.9 GHz band in the
best position to serve the needs of the
American public.
In the Further Notice, the Commission
addresses issues remaining to finalize
the restructuring of the 5.9 GHz band.
Specifically, the Commission addresses:
The transition of ITS operations in the
5.895–5.925 GHz band from Dedicated
Short Range Communications (DSRC)
based technology to Cellular Vehicle-toEverything (C–V2X) based technology;
the codification of C–V2X technical
parameters in the Commission’s rules;
other transition considerations; and the
transmitter power and emissions limits,
and other issues, related to full-power
outdoor unlicensed operations across
the entire 5.850–5.895 GHz portion of
the 5.9 GHz band. The Commission
modified the Further Notice released on
November 20, 2020, with an Erratum
released on December 11, 2020. The
Commission released a Second Erratum
on February 9, 2021. The corrections
from these errata are included in this
document.
Timetable:
Jkt 256001
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O & Order of
Proposed Modification.
FNPRM ...............
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
Frm 00010
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 301,
302a, 303(c), 303(f), and 303(r)
Abstract: In this document, the
Commission recognize that our
equipment authorization rules have in
some ways failed to keep pace with
developments in the modern device
ecosystem. In particular, our rules limit
the ability of device manufacturers to
market and import radiofrequency
devices in the most efficient and costeffective ways possible. We therefore
take the opportunity here to propose
specific rule changes that would allow
device manufacturers to take full
advantage of modern marketing and
importation practices.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
01/12/21
02/11/21
FR Cite
86 FR 2337
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Thomas Struble,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2470, Email:
thomas.struble@fcc.gov.
Brian Butler, Attorney, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2702, Email:
brian.butler@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL18
02/06/20
03/09/20
85 FR 6841
484. Unlicensed White Space Device
Operations in the Television Bands (ET
Docket No. 20–36)
05/03/21
86 FR 23281
05/03/21
86 FR 23323
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47
U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 302a; 47 U.S.C.
303; 47 U.S.C. 1.407 and 1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission revises its rules to provide
additional opportunities for unlicensed
white space devices operating in the
broadcast television bands (TV bands) to
deliver wireless broadband services in
rural areas and applications associated
with the Internet of Things (IoT). This
region of the spectrum has excellent
propagation characteristics that make it
particularly attractive for delivering
communications services over long
distances, coping with variations in
terrain, as well as providing coverage
into and within buildings. We offer
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Howard Griboff,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0657, Fax: 202 418–
2824, Email: howard.griboff@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK96
PO 00000
483. Allowing Earlier Equipment
Marketing and Importation
Opportunities; Petition To Expand
Marketing Opportunities for Innovative
Technologies (ET Docket No. 20–382 &
RM–11857) NPRM, 86 FR 2337,
January 1
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several proposals to spur continued
growth of the white space device
ecosystem, especially for providing
affordable broadband service to rural
and underserved communities that can
help close the digital divide.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
04/03/20
04/03/20
85 FR 18901
01/12/21
86 FR 2278
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Hugh Van Tuyl,
Electronics Engineer, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–7506, Fax: 202 418–
1944, Email: hugh.vantuyl@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL22
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
485. • Protecting Against National
Security Threats to the
Communications Supply Chain
Through the Equipment Authorization
and Competitive Bidding Programs; ET
Docket No. 21–232, EA Docket No. 21–
233
Legal Authority: Secs. 4(i), 301, 302,
303, 309(j), 312, and 316 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i), 301,
302a, 303, 309(j), 312, 316, and sec.
1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission proposes prohibiting the
authorization of any communications
equipment on the list of equipment and
services (Covered List) that the
Commission maintains pursuant to the
Secure and Trusted Communications
Networks Act of 2019. Such equipment
has been found to pose an unacceptable
risk to the national security of the
United States or the security and safety
of United States persons. We also seek
comment on whether and under what
circumstances we should revoke any
existing authorizations of such
‘‘covered’’ communications equipment.
We invite comment on whether we
should require additional certifications
relating to national security from
applicants who wish to participate in
Commission auctions. In the Notice of
Inquiry, we seek comment on other
actions the Commission should consider
taking to create incentives in its
equipment authorization processes for
improved trust through the adoption of
cybersecurity best practices in consumer
devices.
Timetable:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
Action
Date
NPRM and NOI ...
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
08/19/21
09/20/21
FR Cite
86 FR 46644
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jamie Coleman,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2705, Email:
jaime.coleman@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL23
486. • Wireless Microphones in the TV
Bands, 600 MHz Guard Band, 600 MHz
Duplex Gap, and the 941.5–944 MHz,
944–952 MHz, 952.850–956.250 MHz,
956.45–959.85 MHz, 1435–1525 MHz,
6875–6900 MHz and 7100–7125 MHz
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i),
201, 302a, 303, and secs. 1.407 and
1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission seeks to enhance the
spectral efficiency of wireless
microphones by permitting a recently
developed type of wireless microphone
system, termed herein as a Wireless
Multi-Channel Audio System (WMAS),
to operate in certain frequency bands.
This emerging technology would enable
more wireless microphones to operate
in the spectrum available for wireless
microphone operations, and thus
advances an important Commission goal
of promoting efficient spectrum use.
The Commission proposes to revise the
applicable technical rules for operation
of low-power auxiliary station (LPAS)
devices to permit WMAS to operate in
the broadcast television (TV) bands and
other LPAS frequency bands on a
licensed basis. The Commission also
proposes to update the existing LPAS
and wireless microphone rules to reflect
the end of the post-Incentive auction
transition period and update references
to international wireless microphone
standards.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
07/01/21
08/02/21
FR Cite
86 FR 35046
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Hugh Van Tuyl,
Electronics Engineer, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Phone: 202 418–7506, Fax: 202 418–
1944, Email: hugh.vantuyl@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL27
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
International Bureau
Long-Term Actions
487. Update to Parts 2 and 25
Concerning Nongeostationary, FixedSatellite Service Systems, and Related
Matters: IB Docket No. I6–408
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47
U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 316
Abstract: On January 11, 2017, the
Commission began a rulemaking to
update its rules and policies concerning
non-geostationary-satellite orbit
(NGSO), fixed-satellite service (FSS)
systems and related matters. The
Commission proposed among other
things, to provide for more flexible use
of the 17.8–20.2 GHz bands for FSS,
promote shared use of spectrum among
NGSO FSS satellite systems, and
remove unnecessary design restrictions
on NGSO FSS systems. The Commission
subsequently adopted a Report and
Order establishing new sharing criteria
among NGSO FSS systems and
providing additional flexibility for FSS
spectrum use. The Commission also
released a Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking proposing to remove the
domestic coverage requirement for
NGSO FSS systems and later adopted a
Second Report and Order removing this
requirement.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM ...............
R&O ....................
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
2nd R&O .............
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
FR Cite
01/11/17
04/10/17
82 FR 3258
11/15/17
12/18/17
01/02/18
82 FR 52869
82 FR 59972
02/21/21
86 FR 11642
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Clay DeCell,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission,
International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
0803, Email: clay.decell@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK59
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488. Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of
the FCC Rules To Facilitate the Use of
Earth Stations in Motion
Communicating With Geostationary
Orbit Space Stations in FSS Bands: IB
Docket No. 17–95
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47
U.S.C. 157(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C.
308(b); 47 U.S.C. 316
Abstract: In June 2017, the
Commission began a rulemaking to
streamline, consolidate, and harmonize
rules governing earth stations in motion
(ESIMs) used to provide satellite-based
services on ships, airplanes and vehicles
communicating with geostationarysatellite orbit (GSO), fixed-satellite
service (FSS) satellite systems. In
September 2018, the Commission
adopted rules governing
communications of ESIMs with GSO
satellites. These rules addressed
communications in the conventional
C-, Ku-, and Ka-bands, as well as
portions of the extended Ku-band. At
the same time, the Commission also
released a Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking that sought comment on
allowing ESIMs to operate in all of the
frequency bands in which earth stations
at fixed locations operating in GSO FSS
satellite networks can be blanketlicensed. Specifically, comment was
sought on expanding the frequencies
available for communications of ESIMs
with GSO FSS satellites to include the
following frequency bands: 10.7–10.95
GHz, 11.2–11.45 GHz, 17.8–18.3 GHz,
18.8–19.3 GHz, 19.3–19.4 GHz, 19.6–
19.7 GHz (space-to-Earth); and 28.6–
29.1 GHz (Earth-to-space).
Timetable:
Action
Date
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
OMB-approval for
Information Collection of R&O
Comment Period End.
FNPRM ...............
R&O ....................
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
06/16/17
08/30/17
FR Cite
82 FR 27652
08/28/18
07/24/20
07/24/20
09/22/20
85 FR 44818
85 FR 44772
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Cindy Spiers,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission,
International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
1593, Email: cindy.spiers@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK84
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
489. Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules
Governing Satellite Services: IB Docket
No. 18–314
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i);
47 U.S.C. 161; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C.
316
Abstract: Under the Commission’s
rules, satellite operators must follow
separate application and authorization
processes for the satellites and earth
stations that make up their networks
and have no option for a single, unified
network license. In a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, the FCC proposed to create
a new, optional, unified license to
include both space stations and earth
stations operating in a geostationarysatellite orbit, fixed-satellite service
(GSO FSS) satellite network. In
addition, the Commission proposed to
repeal or modify unnecessarily
burdensome rules in Part 25 governing
satellite services, such as annual
reporting requirements. These proposals
would greatly simplify the
Commission’s licensing and regulation
of satellite systems. In a subsequent
Report and Order, the Commission
streamlined its rules governing satellite
services by creating an optional
framework for the authorization of
blanket-licensed earth stations and
space stations in a satellite system
through a unified license. The
Commission also aligned the build-out
requirements for earth stations and
space stations and eliminated
unnecessary reporting rules.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
Report & Order ...
Next Action Undetermined.
01/31/19
03/18/19
FR Cite
84 FR 638
04/16/19
03/01/21
86 FR 11880
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Clay DeCell,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission,
International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
0803, Email: clay.decell@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK87
490. Facilitating the Communications of
Earth Stations in Motion With NonGeostationary Orbit Space Stations: IB
Docket No. 18–315
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47
U.S.C. 157(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C.
308(b); 47 U.S.C. 316
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Abstract: In November 2018, the
Commission adopted a notice of
proposed rulemaking that proposed to
expand the scope of the Commission’s
rules governing ESIMs operations to
cover communications with NGSO FSS
satellites. Comment was sought on
establishing a regulatory framework for
communications of ESIMs with NGSO
FSS satellites that would be analogous
to that which exists for ESIMs
communicating with GSO FSS satellites.
In this context, comment was sought on:
(1) Allowing ESIMs to communicate in
many of the same conventional Kuband, extended Ku-band, and Ka-band
frequencies that were allowed for
communications of ESIMs with GSO
FSS satellites (with the exception of the
18.6–18.8 GHz and 29.25–29.5 GHz
frequency bands); (2) extending blanket
licensing to ESIMs communicating with
NGSO satellites; and (3) revisions to
specific provisions in the Commission’s
rules to implement these changes. The
specific frequency bands for
communications of ESIMs with NGOS
FSS satellites on which comment was
sought are as follows: 10.7–11.7 GHz;
11.7–12.2 GHz; 14.0–14.5 GHz; 17.8–
18.3 GHz; 18.3–18.6 GHz; 18.8–19.3
GHz; 19.3–19.4 GHz; 19.6–19.7 GHz;
19.7–20.2 GHz; 28.35–28.6 GHz; 28.6–
29.1 GHz; and 29.5–30.0 GHz.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
12/28/18
03/13/19
FR Cite
83 FR 67180
07/24/20
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Cindy Spiers,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission,
International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
1593, Email: cindy.spiers@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK89
491. Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the
New Space Age: IB Docket No. 18–313
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47
U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 302;
47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C.
308; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47
U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 336;
47 U.S.C. 605; 47 U.S.C. 721
Abstract: The Commission’s current
orbital debris rules were first adopted in
2004. Since then, significant changes
have occurred in satellite technologies
and market conditions, particularly in
Low Earth Orbit, i.e., below 2,000
kilometers altitude. These changes
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include the increasing use of lower cost
small satellites and proposals to deploy
large constellations of non-geostationary
satellite orbit (NGSO) systems, some
involving thousands of satellites.
The NPRM proposes changes to
improve disclosure of debris mitigation
plans. The NPRM also makes proposals
and seeks comment related to satellite
disposal reliability and methodology,
appropriate deployment altitudes in
low-Earth-orbit, and on-orbit lifetime,
with a particular focus on large NGSO
satellite constellations. Other aspects of
the NPRM include new rule proposals
for geostationary orbit satellite (GSO)
license term extension requests, and
consideration of disclosure
requirements related to several emerging
technologies and new types of
commercial operations, including
rendezvous and proximity operations.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
02/19/19
05/06/19
84 FR 4742
08/25/20
08/25/20
10/09/20
85 FR 52422
85 FR 52455
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Merissa Velez,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission,
International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
0751, Email: merissa.velez@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK90
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
492. Process Reform for Executive
Branch Review of Certain FCC
Applications and Petitions Involving
Foreign Ownership (IB Docket No. 16–
155)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C 154(l); 47
U.S.C . 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 U.S.C.
303; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47
U.S.C. 413; 47 U.S.C. 34–39; E.O. 10530;
3 U.S.C. 301
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission considers rules and
procedures that streamline and improve
the timeliness and transparency of the
process by which the Commission refers
certain applications and petitions for
declaratory ruling to the Executive
Branch agencies for assessment of any
national security, law enforcement,
foreign policy or trade policy issues
related to foreign investment in the
applicants and petitioners.
Timetable:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
Report & Order ...
Public Notice .......
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
06/24/16
09/02/16
81 FR 46870
04/27/20
09/02/20
85 FR 29914
10/01/20
12/30/20
04/19/21
85 FR 76360
85 FR 12312
493. • Parts 2 and 25 To Enable GSO
FSS in the 17.3–17.8 GHz Band,
Modernize Rules for 17/24 GHz BSS
Space Stations, and Establish Off-Axis
Uplink Power Limits for Extended KaBand FSS (IB Doc. No. 20–330)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47
U.S.C. 303(r); 47 U.S.C. 309(j)
Abstract: This item addresses the
addition of an allocation in the 17.3–
17.7 GHz and 17.7–17.8 GHz bands to
the fixed-satellite service in the spaceto-Earth direction. The Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking proposes to add
these allocations to the U.S. Table of
Frequency Allocations (non-Federal),
and proposes modification of existing
technical rules to prevent harmful
interference between services in these
bands.
Timetable:
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
02/01/21
03/03/21
FR Cite
86 FR 7660
03/18/21
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Sean O’More,
Attorney Advisor, International Bureau,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 245 418–2453, Email:
sean.omore@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL28
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Media Bureau
Long-Term Actions
494. Revision of EEO Rules and Policies
(MM Docket No. 98–204)
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Arthur T. Lechtman,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission,
International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
1465, Fax: 202 418–0175, Email:
arthur.lechtman@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL12
Action
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 257; 47 U.S.C. 301;
47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47
U.S.C. 334; 47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 554
Abstract: FCC authority to govern
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
responsibilities of cable television
operators was codified in the Cable
Communications Policy Act of 1984.
This authority was extended to
television broadcast licensees and other
multi-channel video programming
distributors in the Cable and Television
Consumer Protection Act of 1992. In the
Second Report and Order, the FCC
adopted new EEO rules and policies.
This action was in response to a
decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit that
found prior EEO rules unconstitutional.
The Third Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) requests comment
as to the applicability of the EEO rules
to part-time employees. The Third
Report and Order adopted revised forms
for broadcast station and MVPDs
Annual Employment Report. In the
Fourth NPRM, comment was sought
regarding public access to the data
contained in the forms.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
Second R&O and
Third NPRM.
Correction ............
Fourth NPRM ......
Third R&O ...........
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
FR Cite
01/14/02
01/07/03
67 FR 1704
68 FR 670
01/13/03
06/23/04
06/23/04
08/31/21
09/30/21
68
69
69
86
FR
FR
FR
FR
1657
34986
34950
48610
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Brendan Holland,
Chief, Industry Analysis Division,
Media Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
2486, Email: brendan.holland@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AH95
495. Establishment of Rules for Digital
Low-Power Television, Television
Translator, and Television Booster
Stations (MB Docket No. 03–185)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 309; 47
U.S.C. 336
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Abstract: This proceeding initiated
the digital television conversion for lowpower television (LPTV) and television
translator stations. The rules and
policies adopted as a result of this
proceeding provide the framework for
these stations’ conversion from analog
to digital broadcasting.
The Report and Order adopts
definitions and permissible use
provisions for digital TV translator and
LPTV stations. The Second Report and
Order takes steps to resolve the
remaining issues in order to complete
the low-power television digital
transition. The third Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking seeks comment on a
number of issues related to the potential
impact of the incentive auction and the
repacking process.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM and
MO&O.
2nd R&O .............
3rd NPRM ...........
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
3rd R&O ..............
4th NPRM ...........
Comment Period
End.
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
09/26/03
11/25/03
68 FR 55566
11/29/04
10/18/10
69 FR 69325
75 FR 63766
07/07/11
11/28/14
12/29/14
76 FR 44821
79 FR 70824
81 FR 5041
81 FR 5086
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Shaun Maher,
Attorney, Video Division, Federal
Communications Commission, Media
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418–2324, Fax: 202
418–2827, Email: shaun.maher@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AI38
496. Preserving Vacant Channels in the
UHF Television Band for Unlicensed
Use (MB Docket No. 15–146)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 301;
47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C.
308; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47
U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332;
47 U.S.C. 336; 47 U.S.C. 403
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission considers proposals to
preserve vacant television channels in
the UHF television band for shared use
by white space devices and wireless
microphones following the repacking of
the band after the conclusion of the
Incentive Auction. In the 2015 NPRM,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
Public Notice .......
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
07/02/15
08/03/15
FR Cite
80 FR 38158
08/31/15
09/01/15
02/12/21
80 FR 52715
86 FR 9297
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Shaun Maher,
Attorney, Video Division, Federal
Communications Commission, Media
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418–2324, Fax: 202
418–2827, Email: shaun.maher@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK43
497. Authorizing Permissive Use of the
‘‘Next Generation’’ Broadcast
Television Standard (GN Docket No.
16–142)
01/12/15
02/01/16
02/01/16
02/22/16
the Commission proposed preserving in
each area of the country at least one
vacant television channel. In the 2021
Report and Order, the Commission
declined to adopt rules proposed in the
2015 NPRM. Petitions for
reconsideration are pending.
Timetable:
Jkt 256001
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 301;
47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47
U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C.
325(b); 47 U.S.C. 336; 47 U.S.C. 399(b);
47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 534; 47 U.S.C.
535
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission seeks to authorize
television broadcasters to use the ‘‘Next
Generation’’ ATSC 3.0 broadcast
television transmission standard on a
voluntary, market-driven basis, while
they continue to deliver currentgeneration digital television broadcast
service to their viewers. In the Report
and Order, the Commission adopted
rules to afford broadcasters flexibility to
deploy ATSC 3.0-based transmissions,
while minimizing the impact on, and
costs to, consumers and other industry
stakeholders.
In the 2nd R&O, the Commission
provided additional guidance to
broadcasters deploying Next Gen TV.
In 2021, the Commission made a
technical modification to the rules
governing the use of a distribution
transmission system by a television
station to account for deployment of
ATSC 3.0.
Timetable:
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4701
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Action
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM ...............
R&O ....................
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
NPRM ..................
2nd R&O Order
on Recon.
Report & Order ...
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
FR Cite
03/10/17
05/09/17
82 FR 13285
12/20/17
02/02/18
02/20/18
82 FR 60350
83 FR 4998
03/20/18
05/13/20
07/17/20
85 FR 28586
85 FR 43478
04/22/21
86 FR 21217
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Ty Bream, Attorney
Advisor, Industry Analysis Div., Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0644, Email: ty.bream@
fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK56
498. 2018 Quadrennial Regulatory
Review of the Commission’s Broadcast
Ownership Rules (MB Docket 18–349)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 152(a); 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C.
257; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47
U.S.C. 309 and 310; 47 U.S.C. 403; sec.
202(h) of the Telecommunications Act
Abstract: Section 202(h) of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996
requires the Commission to review its
broadcast ownership rules every 4 years
and to determine whether any such
rules are necessary in the public interest
as the result of competition. The rules
subject to review in the 2018
quadrennial review are the Local Radio
Ownership Rule, the Local Television
Ownership Rule, and the Dual Network
Rule. The Commission also sought
comment on potential pro-diversity
proposals including extending cable
procurement requirements to
broadcasters, adopting formulas aimed
at creating media ownership limits that
promote diversity, and developing a
model for market-based, tradeable
diversity credits to serve as an
alternative method for setting
ownership limits.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
02/28/19
FR Cite
84 FR 6741
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Brendan Holland,
Chief, Industry Analysis Division,
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Media Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
2486, Email: brendan.holland@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK77
499. Equal Employment Opportunity
Enforcement (MB Docket 19–177)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(j); 47 U.S.C.
334; 47 U.S.C. 554
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission seeks comment on ways in
which it can make improvements to
equal employment opportunity (EEO)
compliance and enforcement.
Timetable:
501. Sponsorship Identification
Requirements for Foreign GovernmentProvided Programming (MB Docket No.
20–299)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151. 154,
155, 301, 303, 307, 309, 310, 334, 336,
339
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission modifies its rules to require
specific disclosure requirements for
broadcast programming that is paid for,
or provided by a foreign government or
its representative. Petitions for
reconsideration are pending.
Timetable:
Action
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
Next Action Undetermined.
07/22/19
84 FR 35063
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Radhika Karmarker,
Attorney Advisor, IAD, Media Bureau,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–1523, Email:
radhika.karmarkar@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK86
500. Duplication of Programming on
Commonly Owned Radio Stations (MB
Docket No. 19–310)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151. 154(i),
154(j), and 303(r)
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission eliminated the radio
duplication rule. The rule bars sameservice (AM or FM) commercial radio
stations from duplicating more than
25% of their total hours of programming
in an average broadcast week if the
stations have 50% or more contour
overlap and are commonly owned or
subject to a time brokerage agreement.
Petitions for reconsideration are
pending.
Timetable:
Action
Date
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NPRM ..................
Report & Order ...
Next Action Undetermined.
12/23/19
10/22/20
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
85 FR 74955
86 FR 32221
502. FM Broadcast Booster Stations
(MB Docket 20–401)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154,
157, 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, 309, 316,
319, 324
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission proposes to amend its rules
to enable FM broadcasters to use FM
booster stations to air geo-targeted
content (e.g., news, weather, and
advertisements) independent of the
signals of its primary station within
different portions of the primary
station’s protected service contour for a
limited period of time during the
broadcast hour.
Timetable:
Action
84 FR 70485
85 FR 67303
NPRM ..................
Next Action Undetermined.
Jkt 256001
11/24/20
06/17/21
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Radhika Karmarker,
Attorney Advisor, IAD, Media Bureau,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–1523, Email:
radhika.karmarkar@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL20
FR Cite
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jamile Kadre,
Industry Analysis Division, Media
Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
2245, Email: jamile.kadre@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL19
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Date
FR Cite
Date
01/11/21
FR Cite
86 FR 1909
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4701
503. • Revisions to Political
Programming and Record-Keeping
Rules (MB Docket No. 21–93)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C secs. 151,
154(i), 154(j), 303, 307, 312, 315, 335,
and 403
Abstract: This proceeding was
initiated to update the political
programming and recordkeeping rules
for broadcast licensees, cable television
system operators, Direct Broadcast
Satellite service providers, and Satellite
Digital Audio Radio Service licensees.
Given the substantial growth of such
programming in recent years, the
updates under consideration in this
proceeding are intended to conform the
Commission’s rules with statutory
amendments, increase transparency,
and account for modern campaign
practices.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
Sfmt 4702
Date
09/01/21
10/01/21
FR Cite
86 FR 48942
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Robert Baker,
Assistant Division Chief, Policy
Division, Media Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–1417, Email:
robert.baker@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL25
504. • Updating Broadcast Radio
Technical Rules (MB Docket 21–263)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 151,
154(i), 154(j), 301, 303, 307, 308, 309,
316, and 319
Abstract: This proceeding was
initiated to update the Commission’s
rules for the broadcast radio services by
eliminating or amending outmoded or
unnecessary regulations. This update
will ensure that the Commission’s rules
are accurate, reducing any potential
confusion and alleviating unnecessary
burdens.
Timetable:
Action
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Al Shuldiner, Chief,
Audio Div., Media Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2700, Email:
albert.shuldiner@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL21
5353
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
07/12/21
09/07/21
FR Cite
86 FR 43145
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Christine Goepp,
Attorney Advisor, Media Bureau,
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Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–7834, Email:
christine.goepp@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL26
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
of all emergency services. Wireless
carriers must provide specific automatic
location information in connection with
911 emergency calls to Public Safety
Answering Points (PSAPs). Wireless
licensees must satisfy enhanced 911
location accuracy standards at either a
county-based or a PSAP-based
geographic level.
Timetable:
Office of Managing Director
Action
Long-Term Actions
505. Assessment and Collection of
Regulatory Fees
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 159
Abstract: Section 9 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended (47 U.S.C. 159), requires the
Federal Communications Commission
to recover the cost of its activities by
assessing and collecting annual
regulatory fees from beneficiaries of the
activities.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
06/06/17
09/22/17
06/14/18
06/21/18
82 FR 26019
82 FR 44322
83 FR 27846
09/18/18
06/05/19
06/07/19
83 FR 47079
84 FR 26234
09/26/19
05/08/20
06/22/20
05/13/21
05/17/21
84
85
85
86
86
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
50890
32256
37364
26262
26677
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Roland Helvajian,
Office of the Managing Director, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0444, Email:
roland.helvajian@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK64
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
Public Notice .......
FNPRM; NOI .......
Public Notice .......
2nd R&O .............
Second NPRM ....
Second NPRM
Comment Period End.
Final Rule ............
NPRM, 3rd R&O,
and 2nd
FNPRM.
3rd FNPRM .........
Order Extending
Comment Period.
3rd FNPRM Comment Period
End.
Public Notice (Release Date).
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
4th R&O ..............
Final Rule ............
Order Granting
Waiver.
NPRM ..................
4th NPRM ...........
5th R&O ..............
5th NPRM ...........
5th NPRM Comment Period
End.
6th R&O and
Order on Recon.
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
06/20/07
02/14/08
09/25/08
11/02/10
11/18/09
11/18/10
08/04/11
11/02/11
72
73
73
75
74
75
76
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
33948
8617
55473
67321
59539
70604
47114
04/28/11
09/28/11
76 FR 23713
76 FR 59916
03/28/14
06/10/14
79 FR 17820
79 FR 33163
07/14/14
11/20/14
12/17/14
03/04/15
08/03/15
07/10/17
80 FR 11806
80 FR 45897
09/26/18
03/18/19
01/16/20
01/16/20
03/16/20
83
84
85
85
08/28/20
85 FR 53234
FR
FR
FR
FR
54180
13211
2660
2683
Long-Term Actions
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Brenda Boykin,
Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2062, Email:
brenda.boykin@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AJ52
506. Wireless E911 Location Accuracy
Requirements: PS Docket No. 07–114
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 332
Abstract: This rulemaking is related to
the proceedings in which the FCC
previously acted to improve the quality
507. Improving Outage Reporting for
Submarine Cables and Enhancing
Submarine Cable Outage Data; GN
Docket No. 15–206
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 34 to 39; 47 U.S.C.
301
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
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Date
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Bureau
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
PO 00000
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Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Abstract: This proceeding takes steps
toward assuring the reliability and
resiliency of submarine cables, a critical
piece of the Nation’s communications
infrastructure, by proposing to require
submarine cable licensees to report to
the Commission when outages occur
and communications are disrupted. The
Commission’s intent is to enhance
national security and emergency
preparedness by these actions. In
December 2019, the Commission
adopted an Order on Reconsideration
that modifies the requirement for
submarine cable licensees to report
outages to the Commission.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM (Release
Date).
R&O ....................
Petitions for
Recon.
Petitions for
Recon—Public
Comment.
Order on Recon ..
PRA Approval for
new collection.
Public Notice re
effective date.
Compliance Date
for New Rules.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
FR Cite
09/18/15
06/24/16
09/08/16
81 FR 52354
10/17/16
81 FR 75368
12/20/19
03/25/21
84 FR 15733
04/28/21
10/28/21
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Scott Cinnamon,
Attorney–Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2319, Email:
scott.cinnamon@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK39
508. Amendments to Part 4 of the
Commission’s Rules Concerning
Disruptions to Communications: PS
Docket No. 15–80
Legal Authority: Sec. 1, 4(i), 4(j), 4(o),
251(e)(3), 254, 301, 303(b), 303(g),
303(r), 307, 309(a), 309(j); 316, 332, 403,
615a–1, and 615c of Pub. L. 73–416, 4
Stat. 1064, as amended; and section 706
of Pub. L. 104–104, 110 Stat. 56; 47
U.S.C. 151, 154(i)–(j) & (o), 251(e)(3),
254, 301, 303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 307;
309(a), 309(j), 316, 332, 403, 615a–1,
615c, and 1302, unless otherwise noted
Abstract: The 2004 Report and Order
(R&O) extended the Commission’s
communication disruptions reporting
rules to non-wireline carriers and
streamlined reporting through a new
electronic template (see docket ET
Docket 04–35). In 2015, this proceeding,
PS Docket 15–80, was opened to amend
the original communications disruption
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reporting rules from 2004 in order to
reflect technology transitions observed
throughout the telecommunications
sector. The Commission seeks to further
study the possibility to share the
reporting database information and
access with State and other Federal
entities. In May 2016, the Commission
released a Report and Order, FNPRM,
and Order on Reconsideration (see also
Dockets 11–82 and 04–35). The R&O
adopted rules to update the part 4
requirements to reflect technology
transitions. The FNPRM sought
comment on sharing information in the
reporting database. Comments and
replies were received by the
Commission in August and September
2016.
In March 2020, the Commission
adopted a Second Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking in PS Docket No.
15–80 that proposed a framework to
provide state and federal agencies with
access to outage information to improve
their situational awareness while
preserving the confidentiality of this
data, including proposals to: Provide
direct, read-only access to NORS and
DIRS filings to qualified agencies of the
50 states, the District of Columbia,
Tribal nations, territories, and federal
government; allow these agencies to
share NORS and DIRS information with
other public safety officials that
reasonably require NORS and DIRS
information to prepare for and respond
to disasters; allow participating agencies
to publicly disclose NORS or DIRS filing
information that is aggregated and
anonymized across at least four service
providers; condition a participating
agency’s direct access to NORS and
DIRS filings on their agreement to treat
the filings as confidential and not
disclose them absent a finding by the
Commission that allows them to do so;
and establish an application process
that would grant agencies access to
NORS and DIRS after those agencies
certify to certain requirements related to
maintaining confidentiality of the data
and the security of the databases. In
March 2021, the Commission adopted
the proposed information sharing
framework with some modifications in
a Second Report and Order. In April
2021, in a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, the Commission proposed
to codify a rule adopted in 2016 that
exempts satellite and terrestrial wireless
providers from reporting outages that
potentially affect special offices and
facilities, as defined in Commission
rules.
Timetable:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
Action
Date
NPRM, 2nd R&O,
Order on Recon.
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM, 1 Part 4
R&O, Order on
Recon.
Order Denying
Reply Comment
Deadline Extension Request.
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Announcement of
Effective Date
for Rule
Changes in
R&O.
Announcement of
Effective Date
for Rule
Changes in
R&O.
Second Further
NPRM.
Second Further
NPRM Comment Period
End.
2nd R&O .............
3rd NPRM ...........
Next Action Undetermined.
06/16/15
FR Cite
80 FR 34321
07/31/15
07/12/16
08/11/16
81 FR 45055
81 FR 45059
09/08/16
09/12/16
06/22/17
82 FR 28410
06/22/17
82 FR 28410
85 FR 17818
06/01/20
04/29/21
06/30/21
86 FR 22796
86 FR 34679
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Robert Finley,
Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–7835, Email:
robert.finley@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK40
509. New Part 4 of the Commission’s
Rules Concerning Disruptions to
Communications; ET Docket No. 04–35
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154 and
155; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 251; 47
U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 316
Abstract: The proceeding creates a
new part 4 in title 47 and amends part
63.100. The proceeding updates the
Commission’s communication
disruptions reporting rules for wireline
providers formerly in 47 CFR 63.100
and extends these rules to other nonwireline providers. Through this
proceeding, the Commission streamlines
the reporting process through an
electronic template. The Report and
Order received several petitions for
reconsideration, of which two were
eventually withdrawn. In 2015, seven
were addressed in an Order on
Reconsideration and in 2016 another
petition was addressed in an Order on
Reconsideration. One petition (CPUC
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Petition) remains pending regarding
NORS database sharing with States,
which is addressed in a separate
proceeding, PS Docket 15–80. To the
extent the communication disruption
rules cover VoIP, the Commission
studies and addresses these questions in
a separate docket, PS Docket 11–82.
In May 2016, the Commission
released a Report and Order, FNPRM,
and Order on Reconsideration (see
Dockets 11–82 and 15–80). The Order
on Reconsideration addressed outage
reporting for events at airports, and the
FNPRM sought comment on database
sharing. The Commission received
comments and replies in August and
September 2016.
Timetable:
Action
02/28/20
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
5355
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
Denial for Petition
for Partial Stay.
Seek Comment
on Petition for
Recon.
Reply Period End
Seek Comment
on Broadband
and Interconnected
VOIP Service
Providers.
Reply Period End
2nd R&O, and
Order on
Recon, NPRM.
R&O ....................
FNPRM, 1 Part 4
R&O, Order on
Recon.
Order Denying
Extension of
Time to File
Reply Comments.
Announcement of
Effective Date
for Rule
Changes in
R&O.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
03/26/04
11/26/04
12/02/04
FR Cite
69 FR 15761
69 FR 68859
02/02/10
03/19/10
07/02/10
08/16/12
06/16/15
07/12/16
08/11/16
80 FR 34321
81 FR 45055
81 FR
45095, 81
FR 45055
09/08/16
06/22/17
82 FR 28410
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Robert Finley,
Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–7835, Email:
robert.finley@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK41
510. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA):
PS Docket No. 15–91
Legal Authority: Pub. L. 109–347, title
VI; 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i)
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Abstract: This proceeding was
initiated to improve Wireless
Emergency Alerts (WEA) messaging,
ensure that WEA alerts reach only those
individuals to whom they are relevant,
and establish an end-to-end testing
program based on advancements in
technology.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
Order ...................
FNPRM ...............
Comment Period
End.
Petition for Recon
Order on Recon ..
2nd R&O and 2nd
Order on Recon.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
Public Notice
Reply Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
11/19/15
01/13/16
FR Cite
80 FR 77289
02/12/16
Action
11/01/16
11/08/16
12/08/16
81 FR 75710
81 FR 78539
12/19/16
12/04/17
02/28/18
81 FR 91899
82 FR 57158
83 FR 8619
04/26/18
05/29/18
83 FR 18257
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
Order ...................
Next Action Undetermined.
06/30/17
07/31/17
FR Cite
82 FR 29811
08/29/17
12/14/18
83 FR 2557
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Linda Pintro,
Attorney Advisor, Policy and Licensing
Division, PSHSB, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–7490, Email:
linda.pintro@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK63
06/11/18
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: James Wiley,
Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–1678, Email:
james.wiley@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK54
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
Blue Alert Act. On June 22, 2017, the
FCC released an NPRM proposing to
revise the EAS rules to adopt a new
event code, which would allow
transmission of Blue Alerts to the public
over the EAS and thus satisfy the stated
need for a dedicated EAS event code.
On December 14, 2017, the Commission
released an Order adopting a new Blue
Alert EAS Code-BLU. EAS participants
must be able to implement the BLU
code by January 19, 2019. BLU alerts
must be available to wireless emergency
alerts by July, 2019.
Timetable:
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
511. Blue Alert EAS Event Code
Long-Term Actions
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and
152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(o); 47
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303(r) and (v); 47
U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 335;
47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C.544(g); 47
U.S.C. 606 and 615
Abstract: In 2015, Congress adopted
the Blue Alert Act to help the States
provide effective alerts to the public and
law enforcement when police and other
law enforcement officers are killed or
are in danger. To ensure that these State
plans are compatible and integrated
throughout the United States as
envisioned by the Blue Alert Act, the
Blue Alert Coordinator made a series of
recommendations in a 2016 Report to
Congress. Among these
recommendations, the Blue Alert
Coordinator identified the need for a
dedicated EAS event code for Blue
Alerts, and noted the alignment of the
EAS with the implementation of the
512. Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 22, 24,
27, 90, and 95 of the Commission’s
Rules To Improve Wireless Coverage
Through the Use of Signal Boosters (WT
Docket No. 10–4)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79; 47
U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C.
154(j); 47 U.S.C. 155; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47
U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C.
303(r)
Abstract: This action adopts new
technical, operational, and registration
requirements for signal boosters. It
creates two classes of signal boosters—
consumer and industrial—with distinct
regulatory requirements for each,
thereby establishing a two-step
transition process for equipment
certification for both consumer and
industrial signal boosters sold and
marketed in the United States.
Timetable:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Action
NPRM ..................
R&O ....................
Petition for Reconsideration.
Order on Reconsideration.
FNPRM ...............
2nd R&O and 2nd
FNPRM.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
FR Cite
05/10/11
04/11/13
06/06/13
76 FR 26983
78 FR 21555
78 FR 34015
11/08/14
79 FR 70790
11/28/14
03/23/18
79 FR 70837
83 FR 17131
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jaclyn Rosen, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0154, Email:
jaclyn.rosen@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AJ87
513. Promoting Technological Solutions
To Combat Wireless Contraband Device
Use in Correctional Facilities; GN
Docket No. 13–111
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 152;
47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(j); 47
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303(a); 47 U.S.C.
303(b); 47 U.S.C. 307 to 310; 47 U.S.C.
332; 47 U.S.C. 302(a)
Abstract: In the 2017 Report and
Order, 82 FR 22742, the Commission
addressed the problem of illegal use of
contraband wireless devices by inmates
in correctional facilities by streamlining
the process of deploying contraband
wireless device interdiction systems
(CIS)—systems that use radio
communications signals requiring
Commission authorization—in
correctional facilities. In particular, the
Commission eliminated certain filing
requirements and provides for
immediate approval of the lease
applications needed to operate these
systems. In the 2017 Further Notice, 82
FR 22780, the Commission sought
comment on a process for wireless
providers to disable contraband wireless
devices once they have been identified.
The Commission also sought comment
on additional methods and technologies
that might prove successful in
combating contraband device use in
correctional facilities, and on various
other proposals related to the
authorization process for CISs and their
deployment.
In the Second Report and Order, the
Commission takes further steps to
facilitate the deployment and viability
of technological solutions used to
combat contraband wireless devices in
correctional facilities. The Second
Report and Order adopts a framework
requiring the disabling of contraband
wireless devices detected in correctional
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facilities upon satisfaction of certain
criteria, and the Commission addresses
issues involving oversight, wireless
provider liability, and treatment of 911
calls. The Second Report and Order
further adopts rules requiring advance
notice of certain wireless provider
network changes to promote and
maintain contraband interdiction
system effectiveness. In the Second
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
the Commission takes further steps to
facilitate the deployment and viability
of technological solutions used to
combat contraband wireless devices in
correctional facilities. The Second
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
seeks further comment on the relative
effectiveness, viability, and cost of
additional technological solutions to
combat contraband phone use in
correctional facilities previously
identified in the record.
Timetable:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM ...............
R&O ....................
Final Rule Effective (Except for
Rules Requiring
OMB Approval).
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Final Rule Effective for 47 CFR
1.9020(n),
1.9030(m),
1.9035 (o), and
20.23(a).
Final Rule Effective for 47 CFR
1.902(d)(8),
1.9035(d)(4),
20.18(a), and
20.18(r).
2nd FNPRM ........
2nd FNPRM ........
2nd R&O .............
2nd R&O .............
2nd FNPRM
Comment Period End.
Final Rules Effective (except for
those requiring
OMB approval).
Final Rules Effective (except for
those requiring
OMB approval).
Reply Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
06/18/13
08/08/13
78 FR 36469
05/18/17
05/18/17
06/19/17
82 FR 22780
82 FR 22742
07/17/17
10/20/17
82 FR 48773
02/12/18
08/13/21
08/13/21
08/13/21
08/13/21
09/13/21
86
86
86
86
FR
FR
FR
FR
44681
44681
44635
44635
09/13/21
09/13/21
514. Promoting Investment in the 3550–
3700 MHz Band; GN Docket No. 17–258
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and
152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(j) ;
47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303 and 304;
47 U.S.C. 307(e); 47 U.S.C. 316
Abstract: The Report and Order and
Second Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) adopted by the
Commission established a new Citizens
Broadband Radio Service for shared
wireless broadband use of the 3550 to
3700 MHz band. The Citizens
Broadband Radio Service is governed by
a three-tiered spectrum authorization
framework to accommodate a variety of
commercial uses on a shared basis with
incumbent Federal and non-Federal
users of the band. Access and operations
will be managed by a dynamic spectrum
access system. The three tiers are:
Incumbent Access, Priority Access, and
General Authorized Access. Rules
governing the Citizens Broadband Radio
Service are found in part 96 of the
Commission’s rules.
The Order on Reconsideration and
Second Report and Order addressed
several Petitions for Reconsideration
submitted in response to the Report and
Order and resolved the outstanding
issues raised in the Second Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
The 2017 NPRM sought comment on
limited changes to the rules governing
Priority Access Licenses in the band,
adjacent channel emissions limits, and
public release of base station
registration information.
The 2018 Report and Order addressed
the issues raised in the 2017 NPRM and
implemented changes rules governing
Priority Access Licenses in the band and
public release of base station
registration information.
On July 2020, the Commission
commenced an auction of Priority
Access Licenses in the band. ‘‘Winning
bidders were announced on September
2, 2020’’.
Timetable:
Action
10/12/21
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Agency Contact: Melissa Conway,
Attorney Advisor, Mobility Div.,
Wireless Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–2887, Email:
melissa.conway@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK06
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
PO 00000
Frm 00019
FR Cite
01/08/13
03/19/13
78 FR 1188
06/02/14
08/15/14
79 FR 31247
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Action
R&O and 2nd
FNPRM.
2nd FNPRM
Comment Period End.
Order on Recon
and 2nd R&O.
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
06/15/15
FR Cite
80 FR 34119
08/14/15
07/26/16
81 FR 49023
11/28/17
01/29/18
82 FR 56193
12/07/18
83 FR 6306
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Paul Powell,
Assistant Chief, Mobility Division,
WTB, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–1613, Email:
paul.powell@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK12
515. Use of Spectrum Bands Above 24
GHz for Mobile Services—Spectrum
Frontiers: WT Docket 10–112
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 154;
47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 160; 47 U.S.C.
201; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47
U.S.C. 301 and 302; 47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47
U.S.C. 303 and 304; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47
U.S.C. 309 and 310; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47
U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 336;
47 U.S.C. 1302
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission adopted service rules for
licensing of mobile and other uses for
millimeter wave (mmW) bands. These
high frequencies previously have been
best suited for satellite or fixed
microwave applications; however,
recent technological breakthroughs have
newly enabled advanced mobile
services in these bands, notably
including very high speed and low
latency services. This action will help
facilitate Fifth Generation mobile
services and other mobile services. In
developing service rules for mmW
bands, the Commission will facilitate
access to spectrum, develop a flexible
spectrum policy, and encourage
wireless innovation.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM ...............
Comment Period
End.
FNPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
E:\FR\FM\31JAP23.SGM
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Date
FR Cite
01/13/16
02/26/16
81 FR 1802
08/24/16
09/30/16
81 FR 58269
10/31/16
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Action
Date
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
Action
11/14/16
01/02/18
01/02/18
01/23/18
81 FR 79894
83 FR 37
83 FR 85
07/20/18
07/20/18
09/28/18
83 FR 34478
83 FR 34520
02/05/19
05/01/19
84 FR 1618
84 FR 18405
NPRM Comment
Period Extended.
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Final Rule ............
Dismissal of Petitions for Reconsideration.
Next Action Undetermined.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: John Schauble,
Deputy Chief, Broadband Division,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0797, Email:
john.schauble@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK44
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
516. Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band,
WT Docket No. 18–120
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 153;
47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 157; 47
U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301 and 302; 47
U.S.C. 304; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 310; 47
U.S.C. 1302
Abstract: The 2.5 GHz band (2496–
2690 MHz) constitutes the single largest
band of contiguous spectrum below 3
GHz and has been identified as prime
spectrum for next generation mobile
operations, including 5G uses.
Significant portions of this band,
however, currently lie fallow across
approximately one-half of the United
States, primarily in rural areas.
Moreover, access to the Educational
Broadband Service (EBS) has been
strictly limited since 1995, and current
licensees are subject to a regulatory
regime largely unchanged from the days
when educational TV was the only use
envisioned for this spectrum. The
Commission proposes to allow more
efficient and effective use of this
spectrum band by providing greater
flexibility to current EBS licensees as
well as providing new opportunities for
additional entities to obtain unused 2.5
GHz spectrum to facilitate improved
access to next generation wireless
broadband, including 5G. The
Commission also seeks comment on
additional approaches for transforming
the 2.5 GHz band, including by moving
directly to an auction for some or all of
the spectrum.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
06/07/18
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
FR Cite
83 FR 26396
Jkt 256001
Date
06/21/18
FR Cite
Action
83 FR 31515
Certifications and
Data Filing
Deadline.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
Public Notice
Reply Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
09/07/18
10/25/19
02/23/21
84 FR 57343
86 FR 10839
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: John Schauble,
Deputy Chief, Broadband Division,
Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0797, Email:
john.schauble@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK75
517. Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7
to 4.2 GHz Band: GN Docket No. 18–122
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C.151 to 153;
47 U.S.C.154(i); 47 U.S.C 157; 47 U.S.C.
201; 47 U.S.C. 301 to 304; 47 U.S.C. 307
to 310; 47 U.S.C. 1302; . . .
Abstract: In the 2020 Report and
Order, the Commission adopted rules to
make 280 megahertz of mid-band
spectrum available for flexible use (plus
a 20-megahertz guard band) throughout
the contiguous United States. Pursuant
to the Report and Order, existing fixed
satellite service (FSS) and fixed services
(FS) must relocate operations out of the
lower portion of the 3.7–4.0 GHz band.
The Commission will issue flexible use
licenses in the 3.7–3.98 GHz portion of
the band in the contiguous United
States via a system of competitive
bidding. The Commission established
rules to govern the transition including
optional payments for satellite operators
that choose to relocate on an accelerated
schedule and provide reimbursement to
FSS operators and their associated earth
stations for reasonable expenses
incurred to facilitate the transition. The
Report and Order also established
service and technical rules for the new
flexible use licenses that will be issued
in the 3.7–3.98 GHz portion of the band.
‘‘On December 8, 2020, the Commission
began an auction of licenses in the 3.7–
3.98 GHz portion of the band. the
winning bidders were announced on
February 24, 2021’’.
Timetable:
PO 00000
Frm 00020
FR Cite
05/28/19
06/03/19
07/03/19
84 FR 22514
07/18/19
04/23/20
85 FR 22804
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Paul Powell,
Assistant Chief, Mobility Division,
WTB, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–1613, Email:
paul.powell@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK76
518. Amendment of the Commission’s
Rules To Promote Aviation Safety: WT
Docket No. 19–140
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47
U.S.C. 303; 307(e)
Abstract: The Federal
Communications Commission regulates
the Aviation Radio Service, a family of
services using dedicated spectrum to
enhance the safety of aircraft in flight,
facilitate the efficient movement of
aircraft both in the air and on the
ground, and otherwise ensure the
reliability and effectiveness of aviation
communications. Recent technological
advances have prompted the
Commission to open this new
rulemaking proceeding to ensure the
timely deployment and use of today’s
state-of-the-art safety-enhancing
technologies. With this Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission
proposes changes to its part 87 Aviation
Radio Service rules to support the
deployment of more advanced avionics
technology, increase the efficient use of
limited spectrum resources, and
generally improve aviation safety.
Timetable:
Action
Date
08/29/18
11/27/18
83 FR 44128
05/20/19
84 FR 22733
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Date
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
FR Cite
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07/02/19
09/03/19
FR Cite
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
Action
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Public Notice .......
Date
84 FR 31542
09/30/19
5359
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Agency Contact: Jeff Tobias, Attorney
Advisor, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–1617, Email:
jeff.tobias@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK92
519. • Implementation of State and
Local Governments’ Obligation To
Approve Certain Wireless Facility
Modification Requests Under Section
6409(a) of the Spectrum Act of 2012
(WT Docket No. 19–250)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. chs. 2, 5, 9,
13; 28 U.S.C. 2461, unless otherwise
noted
Abstract: In this proceeding, the
Commission seeks to reduce regulatory
barriers to wireless infrastructure
deployment by further streamlining the
state and local government review
process for modifications to existing
wireless infrastructure under section
6409(a) of the Spectrum Act of 2012.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
Declaratory Ruling
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
Petition for Recon
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
07/02/20
07/27/20
08/03/20
85 FR 39859
85 FR 45126
12/03/20
03/03/21
85 FR 78005
86 FR 12898
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Georgios Leris,
Federal Communications Commission,
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–1994, Email:
georgios.leris@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL29
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Completed Actions
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
520. 800 MHz Cellular
Telecommunications Licensing Reform;
Docket No. 12–40
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 152;
47 U.S.C. 154(i) to 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 301
to 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47 U.S.C.
332
Abstract: The proceeding was
launched to revisit and update rules
governing the 800 MHz Cellular
Radiotelephone Service (Cellular
Service). On November 10, 2014, the
FCC released a Report and Order (R&O)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FNPRM). In the R&O, the
FCC eliminated or streamlined
numerous regulatory requirements; in
the FNPRM, the FCC sought comment
on additional reforms of the Cellular
rules, including radiated power and
other technical rules, to promote
flexibility and help foster deployment of
new technologies such as LTE. On
March 24, 2017, the FCC released a
Second Report and Order (2d R&O) and
Second Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (2d FNPRM). In the 2d
R&O, the FCC revised the Cellular
radiated power rules to permit
compliance with limits based on power
spectral density as an option for
licensees deploying wideband
technologies such as LTE, made
conforming revisions to related
technical rules, and adopted additional
licensing reforms. In the 2d FNPRM, the
FCC sought comment on other measures
to give Cellular and other part 22
commercial mobile radio service
licensees more flexibility and
administrative relief, and on ways to
consolidate and simplify the rules for
the Cellular Service and other
geographically licensed wireless
services. On July 13, 2018, the FCC
released a Third Report and Order (3d
R&O) in which it deleted certain part 22
rules that imposed needless
recordkeeping and reporting obligations;
it also deleted certain Cellular Servicespecific and Part 22 rules that are
duplicative of other rules and are thus
no longer necessary. These revisions
reduce regulatory burdens for Cellular
and other Part 22 licensees and provide
them with enhanced flexibility, thereby
freeing up more resources for
investment in new technologies and
greater spectrum efficiency to meet
increasing consumer demand for
advanced wireless services. On March
22, 2019, the FCC released an Order on
Reconsideration addressing a petition
for reconsideration of a rule deletion in
the 3d R&O. The FCC denied the
petition, thus affirming its decision in
the 3d R&O.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM ...............
Final Rule Effective (With 3 Exceptions).
PO 00000
Frm 00021
03/16/12
05/15/12
FR Cite
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
2nd R&O .............
2nd FNPRM ........
Final Rule Effective (With 9 Exceptions).
2nd FNPRM
Comment Period End.
2nd FNPRM
Reply Comment
Period End.
3rd R&O ..............
Final Rule Effective (With 1 Exception).
Order on Reconsideration.
Date
FR Cite
01/21/15
02/20/15
04/12/17
04/14/17
05/12/17
82 FR 17570
82 FR 17959
05/15/17
06/14/17
08/02/18
09/04/18
83 FR 37760
04/09/19
84 FR 14080
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Nina Shafran,
Attorney Advisor, Wireless Bureau,
Mobility Div., Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
2781, Email: nina.shafran@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK13
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION (FCC)
Wireline Competition Bureau
Long-Term Actions
521. Local Telephone Networks That
LECS Must Make Available to
Competitors
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 251
Abstract: The Commission adopted
rules applicable to incumbent local
exchange carriers (LECs) to permit
competitive carriers to access portions
of the incumbent LECs’ networks on an
unbundled basis. Unbundling allows
competitors to lease portions of the
incumbent LECs’ network to provide
telecommunications services. These
rules, adopted in dockets CC 96–98, WC
01–338, and WC 04–313, are intended to
accelerate the development of local
exchange competition.
Timetable:
77 FR 15665
Action
06/14/12
12/05/14
12/22/14
01/05/15
Action
79 FR 72143
79FR 76268
Second FNPRM ..
Fourth FNPRM ....
Errata Third R&O
and Fourth
FNPRM.
Second Errata
Third R&O and
Fourth FNPRM.
E:\FR\FM\31JAP23.SGM
31JAP23
Date
FR Cite
04/26/99
01/14/00
01/18/00
64 FR 20238
65 FR 2367
65 FR 2542
01/18/00
65 FR 2542
5360
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda
Action
Date
Supplemental
Order.
Third R&O ...........
Correction ............
Supplemental
Order Clarification.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
NPRM ..................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
NPRM ..................
R&O and Order
on Remand.
Errata ..................
Report .................
Order ...................
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Order ...................
Second R&O .......
Order on Recon ..
Interim Order .......
NPRM ..................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Order on Recon ..
Order on Remand
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Declaratory Ruling
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Report & Order ...
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
01/18/00
65 FR 2542
01/18/00
04/11/00
06/20/00
65 FR 2542
65 FR 19334
65 FR 38214
02/01/01
03/05/01
04/10/01
04/23/01
05/14/01
01/15/02
05/29/02
08/01/02
08/13/02
08/21/03
08/21/03
66 FR 8555
66 FR 18279
09/17/03
10/09/03
10/28/03
01/09/04
01/09/04
02/18/04
07/08/04
07/08/04
08/09/04
08/20/04
08/20/04
09/10/04
09/13/04
10/20/04
12/29/04
02/04/04
04/25/05
05/25/05
05/26/11
01/06/20
03/06/20
01/08/21
67 FR 1947
68 FR 52276
68 FR 52276
68 FR 60391
69
69
69
69
FR
FR
FR
FR
43762
54589
55111
55128
69 FR 77950
70 FR 29313
70 FR 34765
85 FR 472
86 FR 1636
To Be Determined
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Edward Krachmer,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
1525, Email: edward.krachmer@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AH44
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522. Jurisdictional Separations
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 205;
47 U.S.C. 221(c); 47 U.S.C. 254; 47
U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 410
Abstract: Jurisdictional separations is
the process, pursuant to part 36 of the
Commission’s rules, by which
incumbent local exchange carriers
apportion regulated costs between the
intrastate and interstate jurisdictions. In
1997, the Commission initiated a
proceeding seeking comment on the
extent to which legislative changes,
technological changes, and marketplace
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18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
changes warrant comprehensive reform
of the separations process. In 2001, the
Commission adopted the Federal-State
Joint Board on Jurisdictional
Separations’ Joint Board’s
recommendation to impose an interim
freeze on the part 36 category
relationships and jurisdictional cost
allocation factors for a period of 5 years,
pending comprehensive reform of the
part 36 separations rules. In 2006, the
Commission issued an Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
that extended the separations freeze for
a period of 3 years and sought comment
on comprehensive reform. In 2009, the
Commission issued a Report and Order
extending the separations freeze an
additional year to June 2010. In 2010,
the Commission issued a Report and
Order extending the separations freeze
for an additional year to June 2011. In
2011, the Commission adopted a Report
and Order extending the separations
freeze for an additional year to June
2012. In 2012, the Commission issued a
Report and Order extending the
separations freeze for an additional 2
years to June 2014. In 2014, the
Commission issued a Report and Order
extending the separations freeze for an
additional 3 years to June 2017.
In 2016, the Commission issued a
Report and Order extending the
separations freeze for an additional 18
months until January 1, 2018. In 2017,
the Joint Board issued a Recommended
Decision recommending changes to the
part 36 rules designed to harmonize
them with the Commission’s previous
amendments to its part 32 accounting
rules. In February 2018, the Commission
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
proposing amendments to part 36
consistent with the Joint Board’s
recommendations. In October 2018, the
Commission issued a Report and Order
adopting each of the Joint Board’s
recommendations and amending the
Part 36 consistent with those
recommendations. In July 2018, the
Commission issued a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking proposing to
extend the separations freeze for an
additional 15 years and to provide rateof-return carriers that had elected to
freeze their category relationships a time
limited opportunity to opt out of that
freeze. In December 2018, the
Commission issued a Report and Order
extending the freeze for up to 6 years
until December 31, 2024, and granting
rate-of-return carriers that had elected to
freeze their category relationships a onetime opportunity to opt out of that
freeze.
On March 31, 2020, the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit affirmed the
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Commission’s December 2018 Report
and Order.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Order ...................
Order and
FNPRM.
Order and
FNPRM Comment Period
End.
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
Recommended
Decision.
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
Announcement of
OMB Approval.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
FR Cite
11/05/97
12/10/97
62 FR 59842
06/21/01
05/26/06
66 FR 33202
71 FR 29882
08/22/06
05/15/09
05/25/10
05/27/11
05/23/12
06/13/14
06/02/17
10/27/17
74
75
76
77
79
82
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
23955
30301
30840
30410
36232
25535
03/13/18
04/27/18
83 FR 10817
07/27/18
09/10/18
83 FR 35589
12/11/18
02/15/19
03/01/19
83 FR 63581
84 FR 4351
84 FR 6977
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William A. Kehoe III,
Senior Counsel, Policy & Program
Planning Division, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
1580, Email: william.kehoe@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AJ06
523. Rural Call Completion; WC Docket
No. 13–39
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47
U.S.C. 217; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 202;
47 U.S.C. 218; 47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C.
262; 47 U.S.C. 403(b)(2)(B); 47 U.S.C.
251(a); 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 620; 47
U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 251(e); 47 U.S.C.
254(k); 47 U.S.C. 616; 47 U.S.C. 226; 47
U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 228; 47 U.S.C.
1401–1473
Abstract: The Third RCC Order began
implementation of the Improving Rural
Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017
(RCC Act), by adopting rules designed to
ensure the integrity of our nation’s
telephone network and prevent unjust
or unreasonable discrimination among
areas of the United States in the delivery
of telephone service. In particular, the
Third RCC Order adopted rules to
establish a registry for intermediate
providers entities that transmit, but do
not originate or terminate, voice calls.
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The Order requires intermediate
providers to register with the
Commission before offering to transmit
covered voice communications, and
requires covered providers entities that
select the initial long-distance route for
a large number of lines to use only
registered intermediate providers to
transmit covered voice communications.
The Fourth RCC Order completed the
Commission’s implementation of the
RCC Act by adopting service quality
standards for intermediate providers, as
well as an exception to those standards
for intermediate providers that qualify
for the covered provider safe harbor in
our existing rules. The Order also set
forth procedures to enforce our
intermediate provider requirements.
Finally, the Fourth RCC Order adopted
provisions to sunset the rural call
completion data recording and retention
requirements adopted in the First RCC
Order one year after the effective date of
the new intermediate provider service
quality standards.
Timetable:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS22
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
Public Notice .......
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O and FNPRM
PRA 60 Day Notice.
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
PRA Comments
Due.
Public Notice .......
Order on Reconsideration.
Erratum ...............
Public Notice .......
2nd FNPRM ........
2nd FNPRM
Comment Period End.
Reply Comment
Period End.
2nd Order ............
3rd FNPRM .........
3rd FNPRM Comment Period
End.
3rd FNPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
3rd Order .............
4th Order .............
PRA 60 Day Notice.
PRA 60 Day Notice.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
PRA 60 Day Notice.
PRA Comment
Period End.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
FR Cite
04/12/13
05/07/13
05/28/13
78 FR 21891
78 FR 26572
12/17/13
12/30/13
78 FR 76218
78 FR 79448
02/18/14
03/11/14
05/06/14
12/10/14
79 FR 25682
79 FR 73227
01/08/15
03/04/15
07/27/17
08/28/17
80 FR 1007
80 FR 11593
82 FR 34911
09/25/17
05/10/18
05/11/18
06/04/18
83 FR 21723
83 FR 21983
06/19/18
08/13/18
03/15/19
05/22/18
83 FR 47296
84 FR 25692
83 FR 23681
09/18/18
83 FR 47153
10/24/18
04/15/19
05/17/21
83 FR 53588
84 FR 15124
86 FR 26722
07/16/21
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
Action
Date
PRA 60 Day Notice.
PRA Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
08/24/21
FR Cite
86 FR 47307
10/25/21
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Connor Ferraro,
Attorney Advisor, Competition Policy
Division, WCB, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–1322, Email:
connor.ferraro@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AJ89
524. Rates for Inmate Calling Services;
WC Docket No. 12–375
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and
152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and (j); 47 U.S.C.
201(b); 47 U.S.C. 218; 47 U.S.C. 220; 47
U.S.C. 276; 47 U.S.C. 403; 47 CFR 64
Abstract: In the Second Report and
Order, the Federal Communications
Commission adopted rule changes to
ensure that rates for both interstate and
intrastate inmate calling services (ICS)
are fair, just, and reasonable limits on
ancillary service charges imposed by
ICS providers. In the Second Report and
Order, the Commission set caps on all
interstate and intrastate calling rates for
ICS, established a tiered rate structure
based on the size and type of facility
being served, limited the types of
ancillary services that ICS providers
may charge for and capped the charges
for permitted fees, banned flat-rate
calling, facilitated access to ICS by
people with disabilities by requiring
providers to offer free or steeply
discounted rates for calls using TTY,
and imposed reporting and certification
requirements to facilitate continued
oversight of the ICS market. In the Third
Further Notice portion of the item, the
Commission sought comment on ways
to promote competition for ICS, video
visitation, and rates for international
calls, and considered an array of
solutions to further address areas of
concern in the ICS industry. In an Order
on Reconsideration, the Commission
amended its rate caps and the definition
of ‘‘mandatory tax or mandatory fee.’’
On June 13, 2017, the D.C. Circuit
vacated the rate caps adopted in the
Second Report and Order, as well as
reporting requirements related to video
visitation. The court held that the
Commission lacked jurisdiction over
intrastate ICS calls and that the rate caps
the Commission adopted for interstate
calls were arbitrary and capricious. The
court also remanded the Commission’s
PO 00000
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Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
5361
caps on ancillary fees. On September 26,
2017, the court denied a petition for
rehearing en banc. On December 21,
2017, the court issued two separate
orders: One vacating the 2016 Order on
Reconsideration insofar as it purports to
set rate caps on inmate calling services,
and one dismissing as moot challenges
to the Commission’s First Report and
Order on ICS.
On February 4, 2020, the
Commission’s Wireline Competition
Bureau released a Public Notice seeking
to refresh the record on ancillary service
charges imposed in connection with
inmate calling services.
On August 6, 2020, the Commission
adopted a Report and Order on Remand
and a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking responding to remands by
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit and proposing to
comprehensively reform rates and
charges for the inmate calling services
within the Commission’s jurisdiction.
The Report and Order on Remand found
that the Commission’s five permitted
ancillary service charges (1) automated
payment fees; (2) fees for single-call and
related services; (3) live agent fees; (4)
paper bill/statement fees; and (5) thirdparty financial transaction fees
generally, cannot be practically
segregated between interstate and
intrastate inmate telephone calls, except
in a limited number of cases.
Accordingly, the Commission
prohibited inmate calling services
providers from imposing ancillary
service fees higher than the
Commission’s caps,or imposing fees for
additional ancillary services unless
imposed in connection with purely
intrastate inmate telephone service
calls. The Order also reinstated a rule
prohibiting providers from marking up
third-party fees for single-call services;
reinstated rule language that prohibits
providers from marking up mandatory
taxes or fees that they pass on to inmate
telephone service consumers; and
amended certain of the inmate calling
services rules consistent with the D.C.
Circuit’s mandates to reflect that the
Commission’s rate and fee caps on
inmate calling service apply only to
interstate and international inmate
calling. The Fourth FNPRM proposes to
substantially reduce the interstate rate
cap for inmate telephone calls from the
current interim rate caps of $0.21 per
minute for debit or prepaid calls and
$0.25 per minute for collect calls for all
types of correctional facilities, to
permanent rate caps of $0.14 per minute
for all interstate calls from prisons and
$0.16 for all interstate calls from jails.
The Fourth FNPRM also proposes to
adopt rate caps for international inmate
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calling services calls for the first time
based on the proposed interstate rate
caps, plus the amount that the provider
must pay its underlying international
service provider for an international
call. It also proposes a waiver process
for providers that believe the
Commission’s rate caps would not allow
them to recover their costs of serving a
particular facility or contract. Finally, it
seeks comment on a further mandatory
data collection to continue efforts to
reform these rates and fees.
On November 23, 2020, Global
Tel*Link Corporation filed a petition for
reconsideration of the August 6, 2020
Order on Remand. On December 3,
2020, the Commission established the
opposition and reply comment dates for
the petition.
On May 24, 2021 the Commission
released the Third Report and Order,
Order on Reconsideration and Fifth
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
In the Third Report and Order, the
Commission: (1) Substantially reduced
the interim rate caps for interstate
inmate calling services from prisons and
larger jails (those with 1,000 or more
incarcerated people) from $0.21 per
minute for debit and prepaid calls and
$0.25 per minute for collect calls to new
uniform interim interstate caps of $0.12
per minute for prisons and $0.14 per
minute for larger jails; (2) maintained
the current interim interstate rate cap of
$0.21 for jails with less than 1,000
incarcerated people because of
insufficient record evidence to
determine providers’ costs of serving
those facilities at this time; (3)
eliminated separate treatment of collect
calls, resulting in a uniform interim
interstate rate cap for all types of calls
at each facility, as proposed; (4)
reformed the treatment of site
commission payments by specifying
that providers may pass through to
consumers (without any markup) site
commission payments that are
mandated by federal, state, or local law
and that providers may pass through to
consumers no more than $ 0.02 per
minute site commission payments
resulting from contractual obligations
negotiated between providers and
correctional officials; (5) capped, for the
first time, international calling rates at
all facilities at the applicable facility’s
total interstate rate cap, plus the amount
the inmate calling services provider
pays to its underlying wholesale carriers
for completing international calls; (6)
reformed the ancillary service charge
caps for third-party financial transaction
fees, including those related to calls that
are billed on a per-call basis; and (7)
adopted a new mandatory data
collection to obtain more uniform cost
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18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
data based on consistent, prescribed
allocation methodologies to determine
fair, permanent cost-based rates for
facilities of all sizes.
In the Order on Reconsideration, the
Commission denied GTL’s petition
seeking reconsideration of a single
sentence from the 2020 Remand Order,
in which the Commission reminded
providers that the jurisdictional nature
of a call, that is whether it is interstate
or intrastate, depends on the physical
location of the endpoints of the call and
not on whether the area code or NXX
prefix of the telephone number
associated with the account are
associated with a particular state. The
Commission determined that the end-toend analysis has been, and remains, the
generally applicable test for all
telecommunications carriers in
determining the jurisdiction of their
calls and the Commission continues to
use the traditional end-to-end
jurisdictional analysis in setting rates
for calls placed by inmate calling
services consumers.
In the Fifth Further Notice, the
Commission proposed to amend the
Commission’s rules to require calling
service providers to provide access to all
forms of Telecommunications Relay
Services, including internet-based
services, to facilitate greater
accessibility for incarcerated people
with hearing and speech disabilities.
The Commission also sought comment
on: (1) The methodology the
Commission should use to set
permanent per-minute rate caps for
interstate and international inmate
calling services; (2) site commission
costs for facilities of all sizes and site
commission reform generally; (3) the
costs of providing services to jails with
average daily populations of fewer than
1,000 incarcerated people; (4) whether
and how the Commission should reform
the ancillary service charge caps and
how the Commission can curtail
potentially abusive practices related to
these charges; (5) whether to institute a
recurring periodic data collection; and
(6) whether some providers have market
power in the bidding process, thereby
impacting the competitiveness of the
bidding process.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
FNPRM ...............
R&O ....................
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Announcement of
Effective Date.
2nd FNPRM ........
PO 00000
Frm 00024
FR Cite
01/22/13
11/13/13
11/13/13
12/20/13
78 FR 4369
78 FR 68005
78 FR 67956
06/20/14
79 FR 33709
11/21/14
79 FR 69682
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
Action
Date
2nd FNPRM
Comment Period End.
2nd FNPRM
Reply Comment
Period End.
3rd FNPRM .........
2nd R&O .............
3rd FNPRM Comment Period
End.
3rd FNPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
Order on Reconsideration.
Announcement of
OMB Approval.
Correction to Announcement of
OMB Approval.
Announcement of
OMB Approval.
Public Notice .......
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
Public Notice
Reply Comment
Period End.
Letter ...................
R&O on Remand
& 4th FNPRM.
01/15/15
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Letter ...................
Public Notice .......
Order ...................
Public Notice .......
Public Notice .......
Inactive per
Maura
McGowan.
5th FNPRM .........
3rd R&O ..............
Order ...................
5th NPRM Comment Period
End.
5th NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
09/01/20
09/24/20
10/23/20
11/13/20
12/03/20
12/17/20
01/08/21
03/03/21
03/31/21
FR Cite
01/20/15
12/18/15
12/18/15
01/19/16
80 FR 79020
80 FR 79136
02/08/16
09/12/16
81 FR 62818
03/01/17
82 FR 12182
03/08/17
82 FR 12922
02/06/20
85 FR 6947
02/19/20
03/20/20
85 FR 9444
04/06/20
07/15/20
08/06/20
07/28/21
07/28/21
08/10/21
09/27/21
85 FR
67450; 85
FR 67480;
85 FR
73233
85 FR 66512
85 FR 83000
86 FR 40416
86 FR 40340
86 FR 48952
10/27/21
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William A. Kehoe III,
Senior Counsel, Policy & Program
Planning Division, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
1580, Email: william.kehoe@fcc.gov.
Irina Asoskov, Assistant Division
Chief, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireline Competition
Bureau, 445 12th Street SW,
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Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
7122, Fax: 202 418–1413, Email:
irina.asoskov@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK08
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525. Comprehensive Review of the Part
32 Uniform System of Accounts (WC
Docket No. 14–130)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201(b); 47 U.S.C.
219 and 220
Abstract: The Commission initiates a
rulemaking proceeding to review the
Uniform System of Accounts (USOA) to
consider ways to minimize the
compliance burdens on incumbent local
exchange carriers while ensuring that
the Agency retains access to the
information it needs to fulfill its
regulatory duties. In light of the
Commission’s actions in areas of price
cap regulation, universal service reform,
and intercarrier compensation reform,
the Commission stated that it is likely
appropriate to streamline the existing
rules even though those reforms may
not have eliminated the need for
accounting data for some purposes. The
Commission’s analysis and proposals
are divided into three parts. First, the
Commission proposes to streamline the
USOA accounting rules while
preserving their existing structure.
Second, the Commission seeks more
focused comment on the accounting
requirements needed for price cap
carriers to address our statutory and
regulatory obligations. Third, the
Commission seeks comment on several
related issues, including state
requirements, rate effects,
implementation, continuing property
records, and legal authority.
On February 23, 2017, the
Commission adopted a Report and
Order that revised the part 32 USOA to
substantially reduce accounting burdens
for both price cap and rate-of-return
carriers. First, the Order streamlines the
USOA for all carriers. In addition, the
USOA will be aligned more closely with
generally accepted accounting
principles, or GAAP. Second, the Order
allows price cap carriers to use GAAP
for all regulatory accounting purposes as
long as they comply with targeted
accounting rules, which are designed to
mitigate any impact on pole attachment
rates. Alternatively, price cap carriers
can elect to use GAAP accounting for all
purposes other than those associated
with pole attachment rates and continue
to use the part 32 accounts for pole
attachment rates for up to 12 years.
Third, the Order addresses several
miscellaneous issues, including referral
to the Federal-State Joint Board on
Separations the issue of examining
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jurisdictional separations rules in light
of the reforms adopted to part 32.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
R&O ....................
Next Action Undetermined.
09/15/14
11/14/14
FR Cite
79 FR 54942
12/15/14
04/04/17
82 FR 20833
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Robin Cohn,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
2747, Email: robin.cohn@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK20
526. Restoring Internet Freedom (WC
Docket No. 17–108); Protecting and
Promoting the Open Internet (GN
Docket No. 14–28)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154(i) and (j); 47 U.S.C. 201(b)
Abstract: In December 2017, the
Commission adopted the Restoring
internet Freedom Declaratory Ruling,
Report and Order, and Order (Restoring
internet Freedom Order), which
reclassified broadband internet access
service as an information service;
reinstates the determination that mobile
broadband internet access service is not
a commercial mobile service and as a
private mobile service; finds that
transparency, internet Service Providers
(ISPs) economic incentives, and
antitrust and consumer protection laws
will protect the openness of the internet,
and that title II regulation is
unnecessary to do so; and adopts a
transparency rule similar to that in the
2010 Open internet Order, requiring
disclosure of network management
practices, performance characteristics,
and commercial terms of service.
Additionally, the transparency rule
requires ISPs to disclose any blocking,
throttling, paid prioritization, or affiliate
prioritization, and eliminates the
internet conduct standard and the
bright-line conduct rules set forth in the
2015 Open internet Order.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
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07/18/14
09/15/14
Fmt 4701
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FR Cite
79 FR 37448
Action
R&O on Remand,
Declaratory Ruling, and Order.
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Declaratory Ruling, R&O, and
Order.
Order on Remand
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
5363
FR Cite
04/13/15
80 FR 19737
06/02/17
07/03/17
82 FR 25568
02/22/18
83 FR 7852
01/07/21
86 FR 994
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Melissa Kirkel,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
7958, Fax: 202 418–1413, Email:
melissa.kirkel@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK21
527. Technology Transitions; GN
Docket No 13–5, WC Docket No. 05–25;
Accelerating Wireline Broadband
Deployment by Removing Barriers to
Infrastructure Investment; WC Docket
No. 17–84
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 214; 47
U.S.C. 251
Abstract: On April 20, 2017, the
Commission adopted a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, Notice of
Inquiry, and Request for Comment
(Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, NOl,
and RFC) seeking input on a number of
actions designed to accelerate: (1) The
deployment of next-generation networks
and services by removing barriers to
infrastructure investment at the Federal,
State, and local level; (2) the transition
from legacy copper networks and
services to next-generation fiber-based
networks and services; and (3) the
reduction of Commission regulations
that raise costs and slow, rather than
facilitate, broadband deployment.
On November 16, 2017, the
Commission adopted a Report and
Order (R&O), Declaratory Ruling, and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(Wireline Infrastructure Order) that
takes a number of actions and seeks
comment on further actions designed to
accelerate the deployment of nextgeneration networks and services
through removing barriers to
infrastructure investment.
The Wireline Infrastructure Order
took a number of actions. First, the
Report and Order revised the pole
attachment rules to reduce costs for
attachers, reforms the pole access
complaint procedures to settle access
disputes more swiftly, and increases
access to infrastructure for certain types
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of broadband providers. Second, the
Report and Order revised the section
214(a) discontinuance rules and the
network change notification rules,
including those applicable to copper
retirements, to expedite the process for
carriers seeking to replace legacy
network infrastructure and legacy
services with advanced broadband
networks and innovative new services.
Third, the Report and Order reversed a
2015 ruling that discontinuance
authority is required for solely
wholesale services to carrier-customers.
Fourth, the Declaratory Ruling
abandoned the 2014 ‘‘functional test’’
interpretation of when section 214
discontinuance applications are
required, bringing added clarity to the
section 214(a) discontinuance process
for carriers and consumers alike.
Finally, the Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking sought comment on
additional potential pole attachment
reforms, reforms to the network change
disclosure and section 214(a)
discontinuance processes, and ways to
facilitate rebuilding networks impacted
by natural disasters. Various parties
filed a Petition for Review of the
Wireline Infrastructure Order in the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The Ninth Circuit denied the Petition on
January 23, 2020 on the grounds that the
parties lacked standing.
On June 7, 2018, the Commission
adopted a Second Report and Order
(Wireline Infrastructure Second Report
and Order) taking further actions
designed to expedite the transition from
legacy networks and services to next
generation networks and advanced
services that benefit the American
public and to promote broadband
deployment by further streamlining the
section 214(a) discontinuance rules,
network change disclosure processes,
and part 68 customer notification
process.
The Wireline Infrastructure NPRM,
NOI, and RFC sought comment on
additional issues not addressed in the
November Wireline Infrastructure Order
or the June Wireline Infrastructure
Second Report and Order. It sought
comment on changes to the
Commission’s pole attachment rules to:
(1) Streamline the timeframe for gaining
access to utility poles; (2) reduce
charges paid by attachers for work done
to make a pole ready for new
attachments; and (3) establish a formula
for computing the maximum pole
attachment rate that may be imposed on
an incumbent LEC.
The Wireline Infrastructure NPRM,
NOI, and RFC also sought comment on
whether the Commission should enact
rules, consistent with its authority
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under section 253 of the Act, to promote
the deployment of broadband
infrastructure by preempting State and
local laws that inhibit broadband
deployment. It also sought comment on
whether there are State laws governing
the maintenance or retirement of copper
facilities that serve as a barrier to
deploying next-generation technologies
and services that the Commission might
seek to preempt.
Previously, in November 2014, the
Commission adopted a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking and Declaratory
Ruling that: (1) Proposed new backup
power rules; (2) proposed new or
revised rules for copper retirements and
service discontinuances; and (3)
adopted a functional test in determining
what constitutes a service for purposes
of section 214(a) discontinuance review.
In August 2015, the Commission
adopted a Report and Order, Order on
Reconsideration, and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking that: (i)
Lengthened and revised the copper
retirement process; (ii) determined that
a carrier must obtain Commission
approval before discontinuing a service
used as a wholesale input if the carrier’s
actions will discontinue service to a
carrier-customer’s retail end users; (iii)
adopted an interim rule requiring
incumbent LECs that seek to
discontinue certain TDM-based
wholesale services to commit to certain
rates, terms, and conditions; (iv)
proposed further revisions to the copper
retirement discontinuance process; and
(v) upheld the November 2014
Declaratory Ruling. In July 2016, the
Commission adopted a Second Report
and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and
Order on Reconsideration that: (i)
Adopted a new test for obtaining
streamlined treatment when carriers
seek Commission authorization to
discontinue legacy services in favor of
services based on newer technologies;
(ii) set forth consumer education
requirements for carriers seeking to
discontinue legacy services in favor of
services based on newer technologies;
(iii) allowed notice to customers of
discontinuance applications by email;
(iv) required carriers to provide notice
of discontinuance applications to Tribal
entities; (v) made a technical rule
change to create a new title for copper
retirement notices and certifications;
and (vi) harmonized the timeline for
competitive LEC discontinuances
caused by incumbent LEC network
changes.
On August 2, 2018, the Commission
adopted a Third Report and Order and
Declaratory Ruling (Wireline
Infrastructure Third Report and Order)
establishing a new framework for the
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vast majority of pole attachments
governed by Federal law by instituting
a one-touch make-ready regime, in
which a new attacher may elect to
perform all simple work to prepare a
pole for new wireline attachments in the
communications space. This new
framework includes safeguards to
promote coordination among parties
and ensures that new attachers perform
work safely and reliably. The
Commission retained its multi-party
pole attachment process for attachments
that are complex or above the
communications space of a pole, but
made significant modifications to speed
deployment, promote accurate billing,
expand the use of self-help for new
attachers when attachment deadlines
are missed, and reduce the likelihood of
coordination failures that lead to
unwarranted delays. The Commission
also improved its pole attachment rules
by codifying and redefining
Commission precedent that requires
utilities to allow attachers to overlash
existing wires, thus maximizing the
usable space on the pole; eliminating
outdated disparities between the pole
attachment rates that incumbent carriers
must pay compared to other similarlysituated cable and telecommunications
attachers; and clarifying that the
Commission will preempt, on an
expedited case-by-case basis, State and
local laws that inhibit the rebuilding or
restoration of broadband infrastructure
after a disaster. The Commission also
adopted a Declaratory Ruling that
interpreted section 253(a) of the
Communications Act to prohibit State
and local express and de facto moratoria
on the deployment of
telecommunications services or
facilities and directed the Wireline
Competition and Wireless
Telecommunications Bureaus to act
promptly on petitions challenging
specific alleged moratoria. Numerous
parties filed appeals of the Wireline
Infrastructure Third Report and Order,
and the appeals were consolidated in
the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Ninth
Circuit. On August 12, 2020, the Ninth
Circuit issued an opinion upholding the
Wireline Infrastructure Third Report
and Order in all respects.
On August 8, 2018, Public Knowledge
filed a Petition for Reconsideration of
the Second Report and Order and
Motion to Hold in Abeyance. On
October 20, 2020, the Wireline
Competition Bureau (Bureau) adopted a
Declaratory Ruling, Order on
Reconsideration, and Order. In the
Declaratory Ruling, the Bureau clarified
that any carrier seeking to discontinue
legacy voice service to a community or
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part of a community that is the last
retail provider of such legacy TDM
service to that community or part of the
community is subject to the
Commission’s technology transition
discontinuance rules, including the
requirements to receive streamlined
treatment of its discontinuance
application. In the Order on
Reconsideration, the Bureau denied the
Public Knowledge Petition for
Reconsideration because all of Public
Knowledge’s arguments were fully
considered, and rejected, by the
Commission in the underlying
proceeding. It also dismissed as moot
the accompanying motion to have the
Commission hold that Order in
abeyance pending the outcome of the
appeal that the Ninth Circuit ultimately
denied.
In September 2019, CTIA filed a
Petition for Declaratory Ruling seeking
clarification of certain issues raised in
the 2018 Third Report and Order. On
July 29, 2020, the Wireline Competition
Bureau issued a Declaratory Ruling
clarifying that (1) the imposition of a
blanket ban’’ by a utility on attachments
to any portion of a utility pole is
inconsistent with the federal
requirement that a denial of access . . .
be specific’’ to a particular request; and
(2) while utilities and attachers have the
flexibility to negotiate terms in their
pole attachment agreements that differ
from the requirements in the
Commission’s rules, a utility cannot use
its significant negotiating leverage to
require an attacher to give up rights to
which the attacher is entitled under the
rules without the attacher obtaining a
corresponding benefit.
On July 20, 2020, the Wireline
Competition Bureau issued a Public
Notice seeking comment on a Petition
for Declaratory Ruling filed on July 16,
2020 by NCTA The Internet &
Television Association. NCTA asked the
Commission to declare that: (1) Pole
owners must share in the cost of pole
replacements in unserved areas
pursuant to section 224 of the
Communications Act, section 1.1408(b)
of the Commission’s rules, and
Commission precedent; (2) pole
attachment complaints arising in
unserved areas should be prioritized
through placement on the Accelerated
Docket under section 1.736 of the
Commission’s rules; and (3) section
1.1407(b) of the Commission’s rules
authorizes the Commission to order any
pole owner to complete a pole
replacement within a specified period of
time or designate an authorized
contractor to do so. Comments on the
NCTA Petition were due by September
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2, 2020, and reply comments by
September 17, 2020.
On July 23, 2021, the Wireline
Competition Bureau issued a Public
Notice seeking comment on a Petition
for Declaratory Ruling filed by the
Edison Electric Institute asking the
Commission to declare that: (1) When
the Commission determines that a pole
attachment rate, term, or condition is
unjust and unreasonable and orders a
refund pursuant to section 1.1407(a)(3)
of the Commission’s rules, the
applicable statute of limitations’’ is the
same as the two-year period prescribed
by section 415(b) of the Act; and (2)
refunds in pole attachment complaint
proceedings are not appropriate’’ for any
period preceding good-faith notice of a
dispute. Deadlines for filing comments
and reply comments were set for August
23, 2021, and September 10, 2021,
respectively.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
FNPRM ...............
R&O ....................
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
2nd R&O .............
NPRM ..................
01/06/15
02/05/15
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
FNPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
2nd R&O .............
3rd R&O ..............
NCTA Public Notice.
CTIA Declaratory
Ruling.
Order on Reconsideration.
EEI Public Notice
EEI Public Notice
Comment Period End.
EEI Public Notice
Reply Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
06/15/17
PO 00000
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FR Cite
80 FR 450
03/09/15
09/25/15
09/25/15
10/26/15
80 FR 57768
80 FR 57768
11/24/15
09/12/16
05/16/17
81 FR 62632
82 FR
224533
07/17/17
12/28/17
01/17/18
82 FR 61520
02/16/18
07/09/18
09/14/18
07/20/20
83 FR 31659
83 FR 46812
07/29/20
02/02/21
07/23/21
08/23/21
09/10/21
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
86 FR 8872
5365
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michele Berlove,
Special Counsel, Competition Policy
Div., WCB, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireline Competition
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418–1477, Email:
michele.berlove@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK32
528. Numbering Policies for Modern
Communications, WC Docket No. 13–97
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 153 to 154; 47 U.S.C. 201 to 205;
47 U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 303(r)
Abstract: This Order establishes a
process to authorize interconnected
VoIP providers to obtain North
American Numbering Plan (NANP)
telephone numbers directly from the
numbering administrators, rather than
through intermediaries. Section
52.15(g)(2)(i) of the Commission’s rules
limits access to telephone numbers to
entities that demonstrate they are
authorized to provide service in the area
for which the numbers are being
requested. The Commission has
interpreted this rule as requiring
evidence of either a State certificate of
public convenience and necessity
(CPCN) or a Commission license.
Neither authorization is typically
available in practice to interconnected
VoIP providers. Thus, as a practical
matter, generally only
telecommunications carriers are able to
provide the proof of authorization
required under our rules, and thus able
to obtain numbers directly from the
numbering administrators. This Order
establishes an authorization process to
enable interconnected VoIP providers
that choose direct access to request
numbers directly from the numbering
administrators. Next, the Order sets
forth several conditions designed to
minimize number exhaust and preserve
the integrity of the numbering system.
The Order requires interconnected
VoIP providers obtaining numbers to
comply with the same requirements
applicable to carriers seeking to obtain
numbers. These requirements include
any State requirements pursuant to
numbering authority delegated to the
States by the Commission, as well as
industry guidelines and practices,
among others. The Order also requires
interconnected VoIP providers to
comply with facilities readiness
requirements adapted to this context,
and with numbering utilization and
optimization requirements. As
conditions to requesting and obtaining
numbers directly from the numbering
administrators, interconnected VoIP
providers are also required to: (1)
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Provide the relevant State commissions
with regulatory and numbering contacts
when requesting numbers in those
states; (2) request numbers from the
numbering administrators under their
own unique OCN; (3) file any requests
for numbers with the relevant State
commissions at least 30 days prior to
requesting numbers from the numbering
administrators; and (4) provide
customers with the opportunity to
access all abbreviated dialing codes
(N11 numbers) in use in a geographic
area.
The Order also modifies
Commission’s rules in order to permit
VoIP Positioning Center (VPC) providers
to obtain pseudo-Automatic Number
Identification (p-ANI) codes directly
from the numbering administrators for
purposes of providing E911 services.
Based on experiences and review of
the direct access authorization process
established by the 2015 Order, the
Commission adopted a FNPRM which
proposes clarifications and revisions to
the Commission’s rules to better ensure
that interconnected VoIP providers that
obtain direct access authorization fo not
facilitate illegal robocalls, pose national
security risks, or evade or abuse
intercarrier compensation requirements.
The FNPRM proposes to require
additional certifications as part of the
direct access authorization applications
process, that would include certification
of compliance with anti-robocalling
obligations. The FNPRM also proposes
to clarify that applicants disclose
foreign ownership information on their
direct access application. It would also
propose to generally refer those
applications with 10% or greater foreign
ownership to the Executive Branch
agencies for their review, consistent
with the Commission’s referral of other
types of applications. The FNPRM also
propose to clarify that holders of a
direct access authorization must update
the Commission and applicable states
within 30 days of changes to ownership
information submitted to the
Commission. The FNPRM further
proposes to clarify that Commission
staff retain the authority to determine
when to accept filings as complete and
proposes to direct Commission staff to
reject an application if an applicant has
engaged in behavior contrary to the
public interest or has been found to
originate or transmit illegal robocalls.
Finally, the FNPRM seeks comment on
whether to expand the direct access
authorization to one-way VoIP providers
or other entities that use numbering
resources.
Timetable:
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Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
R&O ....................
FNPRM (release
date).
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
06/19/13
07/19/13
78 FR 36725
10/29/15
08/06/21
80 FR 66454
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michelle Sclater,
Attorney, Wireline Competition Bureau,
Federal Communications Commission,
Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0388, Email:
michelle.sclater@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK36
529. Implementation of the Universal
Service Portions of the 1996
Telecommunications Act
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.
Abstract: The Telecommunications
Act of 1996 expanded the traditional
goal of universal service to include
increased access to both
telecommunications and advanced
services such as high-speed internet for
all consumers at just, reasonable and
affordable rates. The Act established
principles for universal service that
specifically focused on increasing
access to evolving services for
consumers living in rural and insular
areas, and for consumers with lowincomes. Additional principles called
for increased access to high-speed
internet in the nation’s schools,
libraries, and rural healthcare facilities.
The FCC established four programs
within the Universal Service Fund to
implement the statute: Connect America
Fund (formally known as High-Cost
Support) for rural areas; Lifeline (for
low-income consumers), including
initiatives to expand phone service for
Native Americans; Schools and
Libraries (E-rate); and Rural Healthcare.
The Universal Service Fund is paid
for by contributions from
telecommunications carriers, including
wireline and wireless companies, and
interconnected Voice over internet
Protocol (VoIP) providers, including
cable companies that provide voice
service, based on an assessment on their
interstate and international end-user
revenues. The Universal Service
Administrative Company, or USAC,
administers the four programs and
collects monies for the Universal
Service Fund under the direction of the
FCC.
On February 7, 2020, the Commission
launched $20 Billion Rural Digital
Opportunity Fund.
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On April 2, 2020, the Commission
fought COVID–19 with $200M; Adopts
Long-Term Connected Care Study.
On July 17, 2020, the Commission
integrated provisions of the recently
enacted Secure and Trusted
Communications Networks Acts of 2019
into the existing supply chain
rulemaking.
On March 16, 2021, the Commission
sought comments on Emergency
Connectivity Fund for Educational
Connections and Devices to address the
homework gap during the pandemic.
On March 30, 2021, the Commission
moved forward with Round 2 of the
COVID–19 Telehealth Program.
On May 11, 2021, the Commission
launched $7.17 Billion Emergency
Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program.
On June 2, 2021, the Commission
offered further guidance on the
administration of the Connected Care
Pilot Program, including guidance on
eligible services, competitive bidding,
invoicing, and data reporting for
selected participants.
On July 22, 2021, the Commission
established June 30, 2022, as the ECF
service delivery date for equipment and
other non-recurring services funding
requests filed during the initial
application filing window and modifies
the certification language for section
54.1710(a)(1)(x).
Timetable:
Action
R&O and FNPRM
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
R&O and Order
on Recon.
Order on Recon ..
Order on Recon ..
Memorandum,
Opinion &
Order.
NPRM ..................
NPRM ..................
R&O and Order
on Recon.
Order on Recon ..
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
R&O ....................
Report & Order ...
Report & Order ...
Declaratory Ruling/2nd FNPRM.
Public Notice .......
Report & Order
on Recon.
R&O ....................
2nd R&O .............
Public Notice .......
Next Action Undetermined.
E:\FR\FM\31JAP23.SGM
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01/13/17
02/13/17
FR Cite
82 FR 4275
02/27/17
03/21/17
82 FR 14466
05/19/17
06/08/17
06/21/17
82 FR 22901
82 FR 26653
82 FR
228224
07/30/19
08/21/19
11/07/19
84 FR 36865
84 FR 43543
84 FR 59937
12/09/19
12/20/19
12/27/19
01/17/20
03/10/20
05/11/20
08/04/20
84
84
84
85
85
85
85
03/22/21
04/09/21
86 FR 15172
86 FR 18459
05/28/21
07/14/21
08/02/21
86 FR 29136
86 FR 37061
86 FR 41408
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FR
FR
FR
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Nakesha Woodward,
Program Analyst, Wireline Competition
Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireline Competition
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418–1502, Email:
kesha.woodward@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK57
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530. Toll Free Assignment
Modernization and Toll Free Service
Access Codes: WC Docket No. 17–192,
CC Docket No. 95–155
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201(b); 47 U.S.C.
251(e)(1)
Abstract: In this Report and Order
(Order), the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) initiates an auction
to distribute certain toll free numbers.
The numbers to be auctioned will be in
the new 833 toll free code for which
there have been multiple, competing
requests.
By using an auction, the FCC will
ensure that sought-after numbers are
awarded to the parties that value them
most. In addition, the FCC will reserve
certain 833 numbers for distribution to
government and non-profit entities that
request them for public health and
safety purposes. The FCC will study the
results of the auction to determine how
to best use the mechanism to distribute
toll-free numbers equitably and
efficiently in the future as well.
Revenues from the auction will be used
to defray the cost of toll-free numbering
administration, reducing the cost of
numbering for all users. The Order
establishing the toll-free number auction
will also authorize and accommodate
the use of a secondary market for
numbers awarded at auction to further
distribute these numbers to the entities
that value them most. The Order also
adopted several definitional and
technical updates to improve clarity and
flexibility in toll-free number
assignment.
The Commission sought comment and
then adopted auctions procedures and
deadlines on August 2, 2019. Bidding
for the auction occurred on December
17, 2019, and Somos issued an
announcement of the winning bidders
on December 20, 2019. On December 16,
2019, to facilitate the preparation of its
study of the auction, the Bureau charged
the North American Numbering
Council, via its Toll Free Access
Modernization Working Group, to issue
a report evaluating various aspects of
the 833 Auction, and recommending
improvements for any future toll free
number auctions.
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On January 16, 2020, Somos released
all of the 833 Auction data for public
review. On March 13, 2020, the Bureau
invited public comment on the 833
Auction in preparation for issuing a
report on the lessons learned from the
Auction. Comments were due on April
13, 2020. On July 14, 2020, the North
American Numbering Council approved
the Toll Free Assignment Modernization
Working Group’s report, Perspectives on
the December 2019 Auction of Numbers
in the 833 Numbering Plan Area.
On January 15, 2021, the Bureau
released a report that examined various
aspects of this toll free number
assignment experiment, including
lessons learned, examination of auction
outcomes, and recommendations for
future toll free number assignment. The
Bureau concluded that the 833 Auction
was a successful experiment that
provided invaluable experience and
data that can facilitate further
Commission efforts to continue to
modernize toll free number allocation in
the future.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Final Rule ............
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
10/13/17
11/13/17
82 FR 47669
10/23/18
83 FR 53377
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Matthew Collins,
Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
7141, Email: matthew.collins@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK91
531. Establishing the Digital
Opportunity Data Collection; WC
Docket Nos. 19–195 and 11–10
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 35 to 39; 47
U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 211; 47 U.S.C. 219;
47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C. 402(b)2(B);
Pub. L. 104–104; 47. U.S.C. 151–154; 47
U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 254;
47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C.
309; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47
U.S.C. 641 to 646; Pub. L 116–130; . . .
Abstract: In the Report and Order, the
Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), moving to better identify gaps in
broadband coverage across the nation,
initiated a new process for collecting
fixed broadband data to better pinpoint
where broadband service is lacking. The
Report and Order concluded that there
is a compelling and immediate need to
develop more granular broadband
deployment data to meet this goal and,
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5367
accordingly, created the new Digital
Opportunity Data Collection.
The Digital Opportunity Data
Collection will collect geospatial
broadband coverage maps from fixed
broadband internet service providers of
areas where they make fixed service
available. This geospatial data will
facilitate development of granular, highquality fixed broadband deployment
maps, which should improve the FCC’s
ability to target support for broadband
expansion through the agency’s
Universal Service Fund programs. The
Report and Order also adopts a process
to collect public input on the accuracy
of service providers’ broadband maps,
facilitated by a crowd-sourcing portal
that will gather input from consumers as
well as from state, local, and Tribal
governments.
The Second Further NPRM sought
comment on additional technical
standards for fixed broadband providers
that could ensure greater precision for
the Digital Opportunity Data Collection
deployment reporting and on ways the
Commission could incorporate
crowdsourced and location-specific
fixed broadband deployment data into
this new data collection. The Second
Further NPRM also sought comment on
incorporating the collection of accurate,
reliable mobile wireless voice and
broadband coverage data into the Digital
Opportunity Data Collection. In
addition, the Second Further NPRM
sought comment on sunsetting the Form
477 broadband deployment collection
following the creation of the Digital
Opportunity Data Collection.
The Second Report and Order
established requirements for: (1)
Collecting fixed broadband availability
and quality of service data; (2) collecting
mobile broadband deployment data,
including the submission of
standardized propagation maps,
propagation model details, and
infrastructure information; (3)
establishing a common dataset of all
locations in the United States where
fixed broadband service can be
installed; (4) verifying the accuracy of
broadband availability data; (5)
collecting crowdsourced data; (6)
enforcing the requirements of the
Broadband DATA Act; (7) creating
coverage maps from the data submitted;
and (8) ensuring the privacy,
confidentiality, and security of
information submitted by broadband
providers.
The Third Further NPRM sought
comment on a range of additional
measures to implement the
requirements of the Broadband DATA
Act, including additional processes for
verifying broadband availability data
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submitted by providers, the
development of a challenge process, and
FCC Form 477 reforms.
The Third Report and Order specified
which fixed and mobile broadband
internet access service providers are
required to report broadband
availability data and expanded the
reporting and certification requirements
for certain fixed and mobile broadband
filers in order to ensure that
Commission staff have the necessary
tools to assess the quality and accuracy
of its broadband coverage maps. The
Third Report and Order also adopted
standards for collecting verified
broadband data from State, local, and
Tribal entities and certain third parties
and adopted processes for submitting
challenges to fixed and mobile coverage
map data and data in the location
Fabric, along with processes for
providers to respond to such challenges.
In addition, the Third Report and Order
established standards for identifying
locations that will be included in the
broadband serviceable locations Fabric
and for enforcement of the requirements
associated with the Digital Opportunity
Data Collection.
On July 16, 2021, the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, Office of
Economics and Analytics, and Office of
Engineering and Technology released a
Public Notice seeking comment on the
technical requirements for the mobile
challenge, verification, and
crowdsourcing processes required under
the Broadband DATA Act for the new
Broadband Data Collection (formerly
known as the Digital Opportunity Data
Collection). Deadlines for filing
comments and reply comments have
been set for September 10, 2021, and
September 27, 2021, respectively.
Timetable:
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Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Report & Order ...
Second Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
Second Further
NPRM Comment Period
End.
2nd R&O .............
3rd FNPRM .........
3rd FNPRM Comment Period
End.
3rd R&O ..............
Public Notice .......
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
FR Cite
08/03/17
09/25/17
82 FR 40118
08/01/19
08/01/19
84 FR 43705
84 FR 43764
10/07/19
07/16/20
07/16/20
09/08/20
01/13/21
07/16/21
09/27/21
18:47 Jan 28, 2022
85 FR 50886
85 FR 50911
86 FR 40398
Jkt 256001
Action
Date
FR Cite
Next Action Undetermined.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michael Ray,
Attorney, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireline Competition
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418–0357, Email:
michael.ray@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AK93
532. Call Authentication Trust Anchor
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201; 47
U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C.
227b; 47 U.S.C. 503
Abstract: On June 6, 2019, the
Commission adopted a Declaratory
Ruling and Third Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (CG Docket No.
17–59, WC Docket No. 17–97) that
proposed and sought comment on
mandating implementation of STIR/
SHAKEN in the event that major voice
service providers did not voluntarily
implement the framework by the end of
2019.
On December 30, 2019, Congress
enacted the Pallone-Thune Telephone
Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement
and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. Along
with numerous other provisions
directed at addressing robocalls, the
TRACED Act directs the Commission to
require all voice service providers to
implement STIR/SHAKEN in the
internet Protocol (IP) portions of their
networks, and to implement an effective
caller ID authentication framework in
the non-IP portions of their networks.
The TRACED Act further creates
processes by which voice service
providers may be exempt from this
mandate if the Commission determines
they have achieved certain
implementation benchmarks, and by
which voice service providers may be
granted a delay in compliance based on
a finding of undue hardship because of
burdens or barriers to implementation
or based on a delay in development of
a caller ID authentication protocol for
calls delivered over non-IP networks.
On March 31, 2020, the Commission
adopted a Report and Order and Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (WC
Docket Nos. 17–97, 20–67). The Report
and Order mandated that all originating
and terminating voice service providers
implement the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID
authentication framework in the IP
portions of their networks by June 30,
2021. In the Further Notice the
Commission sought comment on
proposals to further promote caller ID
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Fmt 4701
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authentication and implement the
TRACED Act.
On September 29, 2020, the
Commission adopted a Second Report
and Order (WC Docket No. 17–97). The
Second Report and Order implemented
rules (1) granting extensions for
compliance with the STIR/SHAKEN
implementation mandate for small voice
service providers, voice service
providers that cannot obtain a SPC
token from the Governance Authority,
services scheduled for section 214
discontinuance, for those portions of a
voice service provider’s network that
rely on non-IP technology, and
establishing a process for individual
voice service providers to seek provider
specific extensions (2) requiring voice
service providers using non-IP
technology either to upgrade their
networks to IP to enable STIR/SHAKEN
implementation, or work to develop
non-IP caller ID authentication
technology and implement a robocall
mitigation program in the interim; (3)
establishing a process where by a voice
service provider may be exempt from
the STIR/SHAKEN implementation
mandate if the provider has achieved
certain implementation benchmarks; (4)
prohibiting voice service providers from
imposing line item charges on consumer
and small business subscribers for caller
ID authentication; and (5) requiring
intermediate providers to implement
STIR/SHAKEN. On May 20, 2021, the
Commissioned released a Third Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
proposing to shorten the small provider
extension from two years to one for a
subset of small voice service providers
that are at a heightened risk of
originating an especially large amount
of robocall traffic.
On January 13, 2021, the Commission
adopted a Second Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking proposing and
seeking comment on a limited role for
the Commission to oversee certificate
revocation decisions by the private
STIR/SHAKEN Governance Authority
that would have the effect of placing
providers in noncompliance with the
Commission’s rules. On August 5, 2021,
the Commission adopted a Third Report
and Order which adopted rules creating
this oversight role.
Timetable:
Action
NOI ......................
DR and 3rd
FNPRM.
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
E:\FR\FM\31JAP23.SGM
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Date
07/14/17
06/06/19
06/24/19
08/23/19
FR Cite
84 FR 29478
84 FR 29478
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda
Action
Date
3rd FNPRM Comment Period
End.
R&O and FNPRM
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
2nd R&O .............
2nd FNPRM ........
2nd FNPRM
Comment Period.
3rd FNPRM .........
3rd R&O ..............
3rd FNPRM Comment Period
End.
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
08/23/19
03/31/20
05/29/20
85 FR 22029
09/29/20
01/13/21
03/19/21
85 FR 73360
86 FR 9894
05/20/21
08/05/21
08/19/21
86 FR 30571
86 FR 48511
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Alexander
McMennamin Hobbs, Attorney–
Advisor, Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
7433, Email: alexander.hobbs@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL00
533. Implementation of the National
Suicide Improvement Act of 2018
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201; 47
U.S.C. 251
Abstract: On August 14, 2018,
Congress passed the National Suicide
Hotline Improvement Act (Act). Public
Law 115–233, 132 Stat. 2424 (2018). The
purpose of the Act was to study and
report on the feasibility of designating a
3-digit dialing code to be used for a
national suicide prevention and mental
health crisis hotline system by
considering each of the current N11
designations. The Act directed the
Commission to: (1) Conduct a study that
examines the feasibility of designating a
simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit
dialing code to be used for a national
suicide prevention and mental health
crisis hotline system; and (2) analyze
how well the current National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline is working to
address the needs of veterans. The Act
also directed the Commission to
coordinate with the Department of
Health and Human Services’ Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the
North American Numbering Council
(NANC) in conducting the study, and to
produce a report on the study by August
14, 2019.
On August 14, 2019, the Wireline
Competition Bureau and Office of
Economics and Analytics submitted its
report to Congress recommending that:
(1) A 3-digit dialing code be used for a
national suicide prevention and mental
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Jkt 256001
health crisis hotline system; and (2) the
Commission should initiate a
rulemaking proceeding to consider
designating 988 as the 3-digit code.
On December 12, 2019, the
Commission released a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing
to designate 988 as a new, nationwide,
3-digit dialing code for a suicide
prevention and mental health crisis
hotline. WC Docket No. 18–336. The
NPRM proposes that calls made to 988
be directed to the existing National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is
made up of an expansive network of
over 170 crisis centers located across the
United States, and to the Veterans Crisis
Line. The NPRM also proposes to
require all telecommunications carriers
and interconnected VoIP service
providers to make, within 18 months,
any changes necessary to ensure that
users can dial 988 to reach the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline and
Veterans Crisis Line.
On July 16, 2020, the Commission
adopted an Order designating 988 as the
3-digit number to reach the Lifeline and
Veterans Crisis Line (800–273–TALK or
800–273–8255) and requiring all
telecommunications carriers,
interconnected voice over internet
Protocol (VoIP) providers, and one-way
VoIP providers to make any network
changes necessary to ensure that users
can dial 988 to reach the Lifeline by July
16, 2022.
On October 16, 2020, the
Communications Equality Advocates
filed a petition for partial
reconsideration of the FCC’s July 16,
2020 Report and Order. In their petition,
Communications Equality Advocates
requested that the FCC revise the Order
to mandate text-to-988 and direct video
calling (DVC) requirements and to have
such requirements be implemented on
the same timeline as voice calls to 988,
by July 16, 2022.
On October 17, 2020, Congress
enacted the National Suicide Hotline
Designation Act of 2020 (2020 Act).
Public Law 116–172, 134 Stat. 832
(2020). The 2020 Act, among other
things, designates 988 as the universal
telephone number within the United
States for the purpose of the national
suicide prevention and mental health
crisis hotline system operating through
the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline,’’ with designation occurring
one year after enactment.
On November 9, 2020, pursuant to
2020 Act’s requirements that the
Commission submit a report on the
feasibility and cost of attaching an
automatic dispatchable location with
988 calls, the Commission issued a
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5369
Public Notice that sought comment on
these issues.
On April 22, 2021 the Commission
adopted a Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FNPRM) that proposes to
require text service providers support
text messages to 988 by routing texts to
the toll free number.
Timetable:
Action
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Report & Order ...
PFR .....................
Oppositions Due
Public Notice .......
Replies Due ........
Public Notice
Comment Period End.
FNPRM ...............
FNPRM Comment
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
01/15/20
03/16/20
07/16/20
10/16/20
12/02/20
12/08/20
12/14/20
01/11/21
06/11/21
08/10/21
FR Cite
85 FR 2359
85 FR 79014
86 FR 31404
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michelle Sclater,
Attorney, Wireline Competition Bureau,
Federal Communications Commission,
Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 202 418–0388, Email:
michelle.sclater@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL01
534. Modernizing Unbundling and
Resale Requirements in an Era of Next–
Generation Networks and Services
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 10; 47
U.S.C. 251
Abstract: On November 22, 2019, the
Commission adopted a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking
comment on proposals to update the
unbundling and avoided-cost resale
obligations stemming from the 1996 Act
and applicable only to incumbent LECs.
Many of these obligations appear to no
longer be necessary in many geographic
areas due to vigorous competition for
mass market broadband services in
urban areas and numerous intermodal
voice capabilities and services. But
recognizing that rural areas pose special
challenges for broadband deployment,
the NPRM did not propose any change
to unbundling requirements for
broadband-capable loops in rural areas.
The NPRM sought to promote the
Commission’s efforts to reduce
unnecessary and outdated regulatory
burdens that appear to discourage the
deployment of next-generation
networks, delay the IP transition,
unnecessarily burden incumbent LECs
with no similar obligations placed on
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their competitors, and no longer benefit
consumers or serve the purpose for
which they were intended.
On October 27, 2020, the Commission
adopted a Report and Order (1)
eliminating unbundling requirements,
subject to a reasonable transition period,
for enterprise-grade DS1 and DS3 loops
where there is evidence of actual and
potential competition, for broadbandcapable DS0 loops and associated
subloops in the most densely populated
areas, and for voice-grade narrowband
loops nationwide, but preserving
unbundling requirements for DS0 loops
in less densely populated areas and DS1
and DS3 loops in areas without
sufficient evidence of competition; (2)
eliminating unbundling requirements
for network interface devices and
multiunit premises subloops; (3)
eliminating unbundled dark fiber
transport provisioned from wire centers
within a half-mile of competitive fiber
networks, but providing an eight-year
transition period for existing circuits so
as to avoid stranding investment and
last-mile deployment by competitive
LECs that may harm consumers; (4)
eliminating unbundling requirements
for operations support systems, except
where carriers are continuing to manage
UNEs and for purposes of local
interconnection and local number
portability; and (5) eliminating
remaining avoided-cost resale
requirements. The Report and Order
ended unbundling and resale
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18:47 Jan 28, 2022
Jkt 256001
requirements where they stifle
technology transitions and broadband
deployment, but preserved unbundling
requirements where they are still
necessary to realize the 1996 Act’s goal
of robust intermodal competition
benefiting all Americans.
Timetable:
Action
Date
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
Report & Order ...
Next Action Undetermined.
FR Cite
01/06/20
03/06/20
85 FR 472
01/08/21
86 FR 1636
Action
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michele Berlove,
Special Counsel, Competition Policy
Div., WCB, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireline Competition
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418–1477, Email:
michele.berlove@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL02
535. Eliminating Ex Ante Pricing
Regulation and Tariffing of Telephone
Access Charges (WC Docket 20–71)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 160; 47 U.S.C.
201 to 203; 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 U.S.C. 225;
47 U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 254; 47 U.S.C.
303(r); 47 U.S.C. 616
Abstract: The NPRM proposes to
deregulate and detariff Telephone
PO 00000
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Fmt 4701
Access Charges, which represent the last
handful of interstate end-user charges
that remain subject to regulation. The
Notice also proposes to prohibit all
carriers from separately listing these
charges on customers’ bills given that
some Telephone Access Charges are
used to calculate contributions to the
Federal Universal Service Fund and
other federal programs as well as high
cost support this Notice also proposes
and seeks comment on ways to ensure
stability in funding these programs.
Timetable:
Sfmt 9990
NPRM ..................
NPRM Comment
Period End.
NPRM Reply
Comment Period End.
Next Action Undetermined.
Date
04/01/20
07/06/20
FR Cite
85 FR 30899
08/04/20
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Victoria Goldberg,
Attorney–Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–
7353, Email: victoria.goldberg@fcc.gov.
RIN: 3060–AL03
[FR Doc. 2021–28337 Filed 1–28–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2022)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 5340-5370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28337]
[[Page 5339]]
Vol. 87
Monday,
No. 20
January 31, 2022
Part XXIII
Federal Communications Commission
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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
Federal Register / Vol. 87 , No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA:
Reg Flex Agenda
[[Page 5340]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Ch. I
Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions--
Fall 2021
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Semiannual Regulatory Agenda.
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SUMMARY: Twice a year, in spring and fall, the Commission publishes in
the Federal Register a list in the Unified Agenda of those major items
and other significant proceedings under development or review that
pertain to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (U.S.C. 602). The Unified
Agenda also provides the Code of Federal Regulations citations and
legal authorities that govern these proceedings. The complete Unified
Agenda will be published on the internet in a searchable format at
www.reginfo.gov.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maura McGowan, Telecommunications
Policy Specialist, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street
SW, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0990.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Unified Agenda of Major and Other Significant Proceedings
The Commission encourages public participation in its rulemaking
process. To help keep the public informed of significant rulemaking
proceedings, the Commission has prepared a list of important
proceedings now in progress. The General Services Administration
publishes the Unified Agenda in the Federal Register in the spring and
fall of each year.
The following terms may clarify the status of the proceedings
included in this report:
Docket Number--assigned to a proceeding if the Commission has
issued either a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking or a Notice of Inquiry
concerning the matter under consideration. The Commission has used
docket numbers since January 1, 1978. Docket numbers consist of the
last two digits of the calendar year in which the docket was
established plus a sequential number that begins at 1 with the first
docket initiated during a calendar year (e.g., Docket No. 15-1 or
Docket No. 17-1). The abbreviation for the responsible bureau usually
precedes the docket number, as in ``MB Docket No. 17-289,'' which
indicates that the responsible bureau is the Media Bureau. A docket
number consisting of only five digits (e.g., Docket No. 29622)
indicates that the docket was established before January 1, 1978.
Notice of Inquiry (NOI)--issued by the Commission when it is
seeking information on a broad subject or trying to generate ideas on a
given topic. A comment period is specified during which all interested
parties may submit comments.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)--issued by the Commission when
it is proposing a specific change to Commission rules and regulations.
Before any changes are actually made, interested parties may submit
written comments on the proposed revisions.
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM)--issued by the
Commission when additional comment in the proceeding is sought.
Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O)--issued by the Commission to
deny a petition for rulemaking, conclude an inquiry, modify a decision,
or address a petition for reconsideration of a decision.
Rulemaking (RM) Number--assigned to a proceeding after the
appropriate bureau or office has reviewed a petition for rulemaking,
but before the Commission has acted on the petition.
Report and Order (R&O)--issued by the Commission to state a new or
amended rule or state that the Commission rules and regulations will
not be revised.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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472....................... Rules and Regulations 3060-AI14
Implementing the
Telephone Consumer
Protection Act (TCPA) of
1991 (CG Docket No. 02-
278).
473....................... Rules and Regulations 3060-AI15
Implementing Section 225
of the Communications Act
(Telecommunications Relay
Service) (CG Docket No.
03-123).
474....................... Structure and Practices of 3060-AJ42
the Video Relay Service
(VRS) Program (CG Docket
No. 10-51).
475....................... Implementation of the 3060-AJ84
Middle Class Tax Relief
and Job Creation Act of
2012/Establishment of a
Public Safety Answering
Point Do-Not-Call
Registry (CG Docket No.
12-129).
476....................... Misuse of Internet 3060-AK01
Protocol (IP) Captioned
Telephone Service;
Telecommunications Relay
Services and Speech-to-
Speech Services; CG
Docket No. 13-24.
477....................... Advanced Methods to Target 3060-AK62
and Eliminate Unlawful
Robocalls (CG Docket No.
17-59).
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Economics--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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478....................... Development of Nationwide 3060-AJ15
Broadband Data to
Evaluate Reasonable and
Timely Deployment of
Advanced Services to All
Americans.
479....................... Expanding the Economic and 3060-AJ82
Innovation Opportunities
of Spectrum Through
Incentive Auctions (GN
Docket No. 12-268).
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[[Page 5341]]
Office of Engineering and Technology--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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480....................... Encouraging the Provision 3060-AK80
of New Technologies and
Services to the Public
(GN Docket No. 18-22).
481....................... Spectrum Horizon (ET 3060-AK81
Docket No. 18-21).
482....................... Use of the 5.850-5.925 GHz 3060-AK96
Band (ET Docket No. 19-
138).
483....................... Allowing Earlier Equipment 3060-AL18
Marketing and Importation
Opportunities; Petition
to Expand Marketing
Opportunities for
Innovative Technologies
(ET Docket No. 20-382 &
RM-11857) NPRM, 86 FR
2337, January 1.
484....................... Unlicensed White Space 3060-AL22
Device Operations in the
Television Bands (ET
Docket No. 20-36).
485....................... Protecting Against 3060-AL23
National Security Threats
to the Communications
Supply Chain through the
Equipment Authorization
and Competitive Bidding
Programs; ET Docket No.
21-232, EA Docket No. 21-
233.
486....................... Wireless Microphones in 3060-AL27
the TV Bands, 600 MHz
Guard Band, 600 MHz
Duplex Gap, and the 941.5-
944 MHz, 944-952 MHz,
952.850-956.250 MHz,
956.45-959.85 MHz, 1435-
1525 MHz, 6875-6900 MHz
and 7100-7125 MHz.
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International Bureau--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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487....................... Update to Parts 2 and 25 3060-AK59
Concerning
NonGeostationary, Fixed-
Satellite Service
Systems, and Related
Matters: IB Docket No. I6-
408.
488....................... Amendment of Parts 2 and 3060-AK84
25 of the FCC Rules to
Facilitate the Use of
Earth Stations in Motion
Communicating With
Geostationary Orbit Space
Stations in FSS Bands: IB
Docket No. 17-95.
489....................... Further Streamlining Part 3060-AK87
25 Rules Governing
Satellite Services: IB
Docket No. 18-314.
490....................... Facilitating the 3060-AK89
Communications of Earth
Stations in Motion With
Non-Geostationary Orbit
Space Stations: IB Docket
No. 18-315.
491....................... Mitigation of Orbital 3060-AK90
Debris in the New Space
Age: IB Docket No. 18-313.
492....................... Process Reform for 3060-AL12
Executive Branch Review
of Certain FCC
Applications and
Petitions Involving
Foreign Ownership (IB
Docket No. 16-155).
493....................... Parts 2 and 25 to Enable 3060-AL28
GSO FSS in the 17.3-17.8
GHz Band, Modernize Rules
for 17/24 GHz BSS Space
Stations, and Establish
Off-Axis Uplink Power
Limits for Extended Ka-
Band FSS (IB Doc. No. 20-
330).
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Media Bureau--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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494....................... Revision of EEO Rules and 3060-AH95
Policies (MM Docket No.
98-204).
495....................... Establishment of Rules for 3060-AI38
Digital Low-Power
Television, Television
Translator, and
Television Booster
Stations (MB Docket No.
03-185).
496....................... Preserving Vacant Channels 3060-AK43
in the UHF Television
Band for Unlicensed Use;
(MB Docket No. 15-146).
497....................... Authorizing Permissive Use 3060-AK56
of the ``Next
Generation'' Broadcast
Television Standard (GN
Docket No. 16-142).
498....................... 2018 Quadrennial 3060-AK77
Regulatory Review of the
Commission's Broadcast
Ownership Rules (MB
Docket 18-349).
499....................... Equal Employment 3060-AK86
Opportunity Enforcement
(MB Docket 19-177).
500....................... Duplication of Programming 3060-AL19
on Commonly Owned Radio
Stations (MB Docket No.
19-310).
501....................... Sponsorship Identification 3060-AL20
Requirements for Foreign
Government-Provided
Programming (MB Docket
No. 20-299).
502....................... FM Broadcast Booster 3060-AL21
Stations (MB Docket 20-
401).
503....................... Revisions to Political 3060-AL25
Programming and Record-
Keeping Rules (MB Docket
No. 21-93).
504....................... Updating Broadcast Radio 3060-AL26
Technical Rules (MB
Docket 21-263).
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Office of Managing Director--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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505....................... Assessment and Collection 3060-AK64
of Regulatory Fees.
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Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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506....................... Wireless E911 Location 3060-AJ52
Accuracy Requirements: PS
Docket No. 07-114.
507....................... Improving Outage Reporting 3060-AK39
for Submarine Cables and
Enhancing Submarine Cable
Outage Data; GN Docket
No. 15-206.
[[Page 5342]]
508....................... Amendments to Part 4 of 3060-AK40
the Commission's Rules
Concerning Disruptions to
Communications: PS Docket
No. 15-80.
509....................... New Part 4 of the 3060-AK41
Commission's Rules
Concerning Disruptions to
Communications; ET Docket
No. 04-35.
510....................... Wireless Emergency Alerts 3060-AK54
(WEA): PS Docket No. 15-
91.
511....................... Blue Alert EAS Event Code. 3060-AK63
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Wireless Telecommunications Bureau--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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512....................... Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 3060-AJ87
22, 24, 27, 90, and 95 of
the Commission's Rules to
Improve Wireless Coverage
Through the Use of Signal
Boosters (WT Docket No.
10-4).
513....................... Promoting Technological 3060-AK06
Solutions to Combat
Wireless Contraband
Device Use in
Correctional Facilities;
GN Docket No. 13-111.
514....................... Promoting Investment in 3060-AK12
the 3550-3700 MHz Band;
GN Docket No. 17-258.
515....................... Use of Spectrum Bands 3060-AK44
Above 24 GHz for Mobile
Services--Spectrum
Frontiers: WT Docket 10-
112.
516....................... Transforming the 2.5 GHz 3060-AK75
Band, WT Docket No.18-120.
517....................... Expanding Flexible Use of 3060-AK76
the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band:
GN Docket No. 18-122.
518....................... Amendment of the 3060-AK92
Commission's Rules to
Promote Aviation Safety:
WT Docket No. 19-140.
519....................... Implementation of State 3060-AL29
and Local Governments'
Obligation to Approve
Certain Wireless Facility
Modification Requests
Under Section 6409(a) of
the Spectrum Act of 2012
(WT Docket No.19-250).
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Wireless Telecommunications Bureau--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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520....................... 800 MHz Cellular 3060-AK13
Telecommunications
Licensing Reform; Docket
No. 12-40.
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Wireline Competition Bureau--Long-Term Actions
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Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
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521....................... Local Telephone Networks 3060-AH44
That LECs Must Make
Available to Competitors.
522....................... Jurisdictional Separations 3060-AJ06
523....................... Rural Call Completion; WC 3060-AJ89
Docket No. 13-39.
524....................... Rates for Inmate Calling 3060-AK08
Services; WC Docket No.
12-375.
525....................... Comprehensive Review of 3060-AK20
the Part 32 Uniform
System of Accounts (WC
Docket No. 14-130).
526....................... Restoring Internet Freedom 3060-AK21
(WC Docket No. 17-108);
Protecting and Promoting
the Open Internet (GN
Docket No. 14-28).
527....................... Technology Transitions; GN 3060-AK32
Docket No 13-5, WC Docket
No. 05-25; Accelerating
Wireline Broadband
Deployment by Removing
Barriers to
Infrastructure
Investment; WC Docket No.
17-84.
528....................... Numbering Policies for 3060-AK36
Modern Communications, WC
Docket No. 13-97.
529....................... Implementation of the 3060-AK57
Universal Service
Portions of the 1996
Telecommunications Act.
530....................... Toll Free Assignment 3060-AK91
Modernization and Toll
Free Service Access
Codes: WC Docket No. 17-
192, CC Docket No. 95-155.
531....................... Establishing the Digital 3060-AK93
Opportunity Data
Collection; WC Docket
Nos. 19-195 and 11-10.
532....................... Call Authentication Trust 3060-AL00
Anchor.
533....................... Implementation of the 3060-AL01
National Suicide
Improvement Act of 2018.
534....................... Modernizing Unbundling and 3060-AL02
Resale Requirements in an
Era of Next-Generation
Networks and Services.
535....................... Eliminating Ex Ante 3060-AL03
Pricing Regulation and
Tariffing of Telephone
Access Charges (WC Docket
20-71).
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[[Page 5343]]
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Long-Term Actions
472. Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer
Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 (CG Docket No. 02-278)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 227
Abstract: In this docket, the Commission considers rules and
policies to implement the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991
(TCPA). The TCPA places requirements on robocalls (calls using an
automatic telephone dialing system, an autodialer, a prerecorded or, an
artificial voice), telemarketing calls, and unsolicited fax
advertisements.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 10/08/02 67 FR 62667
FNPRM............................... 04/03/03 68 FR 16250
Order............................... 07/25/03 68 FR 44144
Order Effective..................... 08/25/03 .......................
Order on Reconsideration............ 08/25/03 68 FR 50978
Order............................... 10/14/03 68 FR 59130
FNPRM............................... 03/31/04 69 FR 16873
Order............................... 10/08/04 69 FR 60311
Order............................... 10/28/04 69 FR 62816
Order on Reconsideration............ 04/13/05 70 FR 19330
Order............................... 06/30/05 70 FR 37705
NPRM................................ 12/19/05 70 FR 75102
Public Notice....................... 04/26/06 71 FR 24634
Order............................... 05/03/06 71 FR 25967
NPRM................................ 12/14/07 72 FR 71099
Declaratory Ruling.................. 02/01/08 73 FR 6041
R&O................................. 07/14/08 73 FR 40183
Order on Reconsideration............ 10/30/08 73 FR 64556
NPRM................................ 03/22/10 75 FR 13471
R&O................................. 06/11/12 77 FR 34233
Public Notice....................... 06/30/10 75 FR 34244
Public Notice (Reconsideration 10/03/12 77 FR 60343
Petitions Filed).
Announcement of Effective Date...... 10/16/12 77 FR 63240
Opposition End Date................. 10/18/12 .......................
Rule Corrections.................... 11/08/12 77 FR 66935
Declaratory Ruling (release date)... 11/29/12 .......................
Declaratory Ruling (release date)... 05/09/13 .......................
Declaratory Ruling and Order........ 10/09/15 80 FR 61129
NPRM................................ 05/20/16 81 FR 31889
Declaratory Ruling.................. 07/05/16 .......................
R&O................................. 11/16/16 81 FR 80594
Public Notice....................... 06/28/18 83 FR 26284
Public Notice....................... 10/03/18 .......................
Declaratory Ruling.................. 12/06/19 .......................
Declaratory Ruling.................. 12/09/19 .......................
Order............................... 03/17/20 .......................
Declaratory Ruling.................. 03/20/20 .......................
Declaratory Ruling.................. 06/25/20 .......................
Declaratory Ruling and Order........ 06/25/20 .......................
Order on Reconsideration............ 08/28/20 .......................
Declaratory Ruling.................. 09/04/20 .......................
Declaratory Ruling.................. 09/21/20 .......................
NPRM................................ 10/09/20 85 FR 64091
Public Notice....................... 12/17/20 .......................
Declaratory Ruling.................. 12/18/20 .......................
Declaratory Ruling.................. 01/15/21 .......................
Order on Recon...................... 02/12/21 86 FR 9299
R&O................................. 02/25/21 86 FR 11443
Public Notice (Reconsideration 04/12/21 86 FR 18934
Petitions Filed).
Next Action Undetermined............
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Kristi Thornton, Deputy Division Chief, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone:
202 418-2467, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AI14
473. Rules and Regulations Implementing Section 225 of the
Communications Act (Telecommunications Relay Service) (CG Docket No.
03-123)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225
Abstract: This proceeding continues the Commission's inquiry into
improving the quality of telecommunications relay service (TRS) and
furthering the goal of functional equivalency, consistent with
Congress' mandate that TRS regulations encourage the use of existing
technology and not discourage or impair the development of new
technology. In this docket, the Commission explores ways to improve
emergency preparedness for TRS facilities and services, new TRS
technologies, public access to information and outreach, and issues
related to payments from the Interstate TRS Fund.
Timetable:
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Action Date FR Cite
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NPRM................................ 08/25/03 68 FR 50993
R&O, Order on Reconsideration....... 09/01/04 69 FR 53346
FNPRM............................... 09/01/04 69 FR 53382
Public Notice....................... 02/17/05 70 FR 8034
Declaratory Ruling/Interpretation... 02/25/05 70 FR 9239
Public Notice....................... 03/07/05 70 FR 10930
Order............................... 03/23/05 70 FR 14568
Public Notice/Announcement of Date.. 04/06/05 70 FR 17334
Order............................... 07/01/05 70 FR 38134
Order on Reconsideration............ 08/31/05 70 FR 51643
R&O................................. 08/31/05 70 FR 51649
Order............................... 09/14/05 70 FR 54294
Order............................... 09/14/05 70 FR 54298
Public Notice....................... 10/12/05 70 FR 59346
R&O/Order on Reconsideration........ 12/23/05 70 FR 76208
Order............................... 12/28/05 70 FR 76712
Order............................... 12/29/05 70 FR 77052
NPRM................................ 02/01/06 71 FR 5221
Declaratory Ruling/Clarification.... 05/31/06 71 FR 30818
FNPRM............................... 05/31/06 71 FR 30848
FNPRM............................... 06/01/06 71 FR 31131
Declaratory Ruling/Dismissal of 06/21/06 71 FR 35553
Petition.
Clarification....................... 06/28/06 71 FR 36690
Declaratory Ruling on 07/06/06 71 FR 38268
Reconsideration.
Order on Reconsideration............ 08/16/06 71 FR 47141
MO&O................................ 08/16/06 71 FR 47145
Clarification....................... 08/23/06 71 FR 49380
FNPRM............................... 09/13/06 71 FR 54009
Final Rule; Clarification........... 02/14/07 72 FR 6960
Order............................... 03/14/07 72 FR 11789
R&O................................. 08/06/07 72 FR 43546
Public Notice....................... 08/16/07 72 FR 46060
Order............................... 11/01/07 72 FR 61813
Public Notice....................... 01/04/08 73 FR 863
R&O/Declaratory Ruling.............. 01/17/08 73 FR 3197
Order............................... 02/19/08 73 FR 9031
Order............................... 04/21/08 73 FR 21347
R&O................................. 04/21/08 73 FR 21252
Order............................... 04/23/08 73 FR 21843
Public Notice....................... 04/30/08 73 FR 23361
Order............................... 05/15/08 73 FR 28057
Declaratory Ruling.................. 07/08/08 73 FR 38928
FNPRM............................... 07/18/08 73 FR 41307
R&O................................. 07/18/08 73 FR 41286
Public Notice....................... 08/01/08 73 FR 45006
Public Notice....................... 08/05/08 73 FR 45354
Public Notice....................... 10/10/08 73 FR 60172
Order............................... 10/23/08 73 FR 63078
2nd R&O and Order on Reconsideration 12/30/08 73 FR 79683
Order............................... 05/06/09 74 FR 20892
Public Notice....................... 05/07/09 74 FR 21364
NPRM................................ 05/21/09 74 FR 23815
Public Notice....................... 05/21/09 74 FR 23859
Public Notice....................... 06/12/09 74 FR 28046
Order............................... 07/29/09 74 FR 37624
Public Notice....................... 08/07/09 74 FR 39699
Order............................... 09/18/09 74 FR 47894
Order............................... 10/26/09 74 FR 54913
Public Notice....................... 05/12/10 75 FR 26701
Order Denying Stay Motion (Release 07/09/10
Date).
Order............................... 08/13/10 75 FR 49491
Order............................... 09/03/10 75 FR 54040
NPRM................................ 11/02/10 75 FR 67333
NPRM................................ 05/02/11 76 FR 24442
Order............................... 07/25/11 76 FR 44326
Final Rule (Order).................. 09/27/11 76 FR 59551
Final Rule; Announcement of 11/22/11 76 FR 72124
Effective Date.
[[Page 5344]]
Proposed Rule (Public Notice)....... 02/28/12 77 FR 11997
Proposed Rule (FNPRM)............... 02/01/12 77 FR 4948
First R&O........................... 07/25/12 77 FR 43538
Public Notice....................... 10/29/12 77 FR 65526
Order on Reconsideration............ 12/26/12 77 FR 75894
Order............................... 02/05/13 78 FR 8030
Order (Interim Rule)................ 02/05/13 78 FR 8032
NPRM................................ 02/05/13 78 FR 8090
Announcement of Effective Date...... 03/07/13 78 FR 14701
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/13/13
FNPRM............................... 07/05/13 78 FR 40407
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 09/18/13
R&O................................. 07/05/13 78 FR 40582
R&O................................. 08/15/13 78 FR 49693
FNPRM............................... 08/15/13 78 FR 49717
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 09/30/13
R&O................................. 08/30/13 78 FR 53684
FNPRM............................... 09/03/13 78 FR 54201
NPRM................................ 10/23/13 78 FR 63152
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 11/18/13
Petiton for Reconsideration; Request 12/16/13 78 FR 76096
for Comment.
Petition for Reconsideration; 12/16/13 78 FR 76097
Request for Comment.
Request for Clarification; Request 12/30/13 78 FR 79362
for Comment; Correction.
Petition for Reconsideration Comment 01/10/14
Period End.
NPRM Comment Period End............. 01/21/14
Announcement of Effective Date...... 07/11/14 79 FR 40003
Announcement of Effective Date...... 08/28/14 79 FR 51446
Correction--Announcement of 08/28/14 79 FR 51450
Effective Date.
Technical Amendments................ 09/09/14 79 FR 53303
Public Notice....................... 09/15/14 79 FR 54979
R&O and Order....................... 10/21/14 79 FR 62875
FNPRM............................... 10/21/14 79 FR 62935
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 12/22/14
Final Action (Announcement of 10/30/14 79 FR 64515
Effective Date).
Final Rule Effective................ 10/30/14
FNPRM............................... 11/08/15 80 FR 72029
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 01/01/16
Public Notice....................... 01/20/16 81 FR 3085
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 02/16/16
R&O................................. 03/21/16 81 FR 14984
FNPRM............................... 08/24/16 81 FR 57851
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 09/14/16
NOI and FNPRM....................... 04/12/17 82 FR 17613
NOI and FNPRM Comment Period End.... 05/30/17
R&O................................. 04/13/17 82 FR 17754
R&O................................. 04/27/17 82 FR 19322
FNPRM............................... 04/27/17 82 FR 19347
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 07/11/17
R&O................................. 06/23/17 82 FR 28566
Public Notice....................... 07/21/17 82 FR 33856
Public Notice--Correction........... 07/25/17 82 FR 34471
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 07/31/17
Public Notice--Correction Comment 08/17/17
Period End.
R&O................................. 08/22/17 82 FR 39673
Announcement of Effective Date...... 10/17/17 82 FR 48203
Public Notice; Petition for 10/25/17 82 FR 49303
Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due Date................ 11/20/17
R&O and Declaratory Ruling.......... 06/27/18 83 FR 30082
FNPRM............................... 07/18/18 83 FR 33899
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 11/15/18
Public Notice....................... 08/23/18 83 FR 42630
Public Notice Opposition Period End. 09/17/18
Announcement of Effective Date...... 02/04/19 84 FR 1409
R&O................................. 03/08/19 84 FR 8457
FNPRM............................... 03/14/19 84 FR 9276
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 04/29/19
R&O................................. 06/06/19 84 FR 26364
FNPRM............................... 06/06/19 84 FR 26379
Petition for Recon Request for 06/18/19 84 FR 28264
Comment.
Petition for Recon Comment Period 07/15/19
End.
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 08/05/19 .......................
R&O................................. 01/06/20 85 FR 462
R&O................................. 01/09/20 85 FR 1125
NPRM................................ 01/09/20 85 FR 1134
NPRM Comment Period End............. 02/13/20
Announcement of Effective Date...... 02/19/20 85 FR 9392
Final Rule; removal of compliance 05/06/20 85 FR 26857
notices.
Report & Order...................... 05/08/20 85 FR 27309
Final Rule; correction.............. 08/26/20 85 FR 52489
R&O and Order on Recon.............. 10/14/20 85 FR 64971
Final Rule; announcement of 10/23/20 85 FR 67447
effective and compliance dates.
FNPRM............................... 02/01/21 86 FR 7681
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 04/02/21
Public Notice; Petition for 02/22/21 86 FR 10458
Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due Date................ 03/19/21
R&O................................. 02/23/21 86 FR 10844
NPRM................................ 03/19/21 86 FR 14859
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/03/21
NPRM................................ 06/04/21 86 FR 29969
NPRM Correction..................... 06/15/21 86 FR 31668
Order on Recon...................... 07/07/21 86 FR 35632
Public Notice....................... 07/15/21 86 FR 37328
NPRM Correction Comment Period End.. 07/30/21
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 08/09/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald, Deputy Chief, Disability Rights
Office, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington,
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2235, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AI15
474. Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service (VRS) Program
(CG Docket No. 10-51)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47
U.S.C. 303(r)
Abstract: The Commission takes a fresh look at its VRS rules to
ensure that it is available to and used by the full spectrum of
eligible users, encourages innovation, and is provided efficiently to
be less susceptible to the waste, fraud, and abuse that have plagued
the program and threatened its long-term viability. The Commission also
considers the most effective and efficient way to make VRS available
and to determine what is the most fair, efficient, and transparent
cost-recovery methodology. In addition, the Commission looks at various
ways to measure the quality of VRS so as to ensure a better consumer
experience.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Declaratory Ruling.................. 05/07/10 75 FR 25255
Declaratory Ruling.................. 07/13/10 75 FR 39945
Order............................... 07/13/10 75 FR 39859
[[Page 5345]]
Notice of Inquiry................... 07/19/10 75 FR 41863
NPRM................................ 08/23/10 75 FR 51735
Interim Final Rule.................. 02/15/11 76 FR 8659
Public Notice....................... 03/02/11 76 FR 11462
R&O................................. 05/02/11 76 FR 24393
FNPRM............................... 05/02/11 76 FR 24437
NPRM................................ 05/02/11 76 FR 24442
R&O (Correction).................... 05/27/11 76 FR 30841
Order............................... 07/25/11 76 FR 44326
2nd R&O............................. 08/05/11 76 FR 47469
Order (Interim Final Rule).......... 08/05/11 76 FR 47476
Final Rule; Announcement of 09/26/11 76 FR 59269
Effective Date.
Final Rule; Petition for 09/27/11 76 FR 59557
Reconsideration; Public Notice.
Oppositions Due Date................ 10/07/11 .......................
Final Rule; Clarification (MO&O).... 10/31/11 76 FR 67070
FNPRM............................... 10/31/11 76 FR 67118
Interim Final Rule; Announcement of 11/03/11 76 FR 68116
Effective Date.
Final Rule; Announcement of 11/04/11 76 FR 68328
Effective Date.
Final Rule; Announcement of 11/07/11 76 FR 68642
Effective Date.
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 12/30/11 .......................
FNPRM............................... 02/01/12 77 FR 4948
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 03/19/12 .......................
Final Rule; Correction.............. 03/27/12 77 FR 18106
Correcting Amendments............... 06/07/12 77 FR 33662
Order (Release Date)................ 07/25/12 .......................
Correcting Amendments............... 10/04/12 77 FR 60630
Public Notice....................... 10/29/12 77 FR 65526
Comment Period End.................. 11/29/12 .......................
FNPRM............................... 07/05/13 78 FR 40407
R&O................................. 07/05/13 78 FR 40582
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 09/18/13 .......................
Public Notice....................... 09/11/13 78 FR 55696
Public Notice....................... 09/15/14 79 FR 54979
Comment Period End.................. 10/10/14 .......................
Final Action (Announcement of 10/30/14 79 FR 64515
Effective Date).
Final Rule Effective................ 10/30/14 .......................
FNPRM............................... 11/18/15 80 FR 72029
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 02/01/16 .......................
R&O................................. 03/21/16 81 FR 14984
FNPRM............................... 08/24/16 81 FR 57851
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 09/14/16 .......................
NOI and FNPRM....................... 04/12/17 82 FR 17613
NOI and FNPRM Comment Period End.... 05/30/17 .......................
R&O................................. 04/13/17 82 FR 17754
R&O................................. 04/27/17 82 FR 19322
FNPRM............................... 04/27/17 82 FR 19347
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 07/01/17 .......................
Order............................... 06/23/17 82 FR 28566
Public Notice....................... 07/21/17 82 FR 33856
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 07/31/17 .......................
Public Notice Correction............ 07/25/17 82 FR 34471
Public Notice Correction Comment 08/17/17 .......................
Period End.
R&O and Order....................... 08/22/17 82 FR 39673
Announcement of Effective Date...... 10/17/17 82 FR 48203
Public Notice; Petition for 10/25/17 82 FR 49303
Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due Date................ 11/20/17 .......................
R&O................................. 06/06/19 84 FR 26364
FNPRM............................... 06/06/19 84 FR 26379
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 08/05/19 .......................
Report & Order...................... 05/08/20 85 FR 27309
R&O and Order on Recon.............. 10/14/20 85 FR 64971
Final rule; announcement of 10/23/20 85 FR 67447
effective and compliance dates.
FNPRM............................... 02/01/21 86 FR 7681
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 04/02/21 .......................
Public Notice; Petition for 02/22/21 86 FR 10458
Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due Date................ 03/19/21 .......................
NPRM................................ 03/19/21 86 FR 14859
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/03/21 .......................
NPRM................................ 06/04/21 86 FR 29969
NPRM Correction..................... 06/15/21 86 FR 31668
NPRM Correction Comment Period End.. 07/30/21 .......................
Order on Recon...................... 07/07/21 86 FR 35632
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald, Deputy Chief, Disability Rights
Office, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington,
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2235, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AJ42
475. Implementation of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act
of 2012/Establishment of a Public Safety Answering Point Do-Not-Call
Registry (CG Docket No. 12-129)
Legal Authority: Pub. L. 112-96, sec. 6507
Abstract: The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012
required the Commission to create a Do-Not-Call Registry for public
safety answering point (PSAP) telephone numbers and to prohibit the use
of automated dialing equipment to place calls to PSAP numbers on the
Registry. In this docket, the Commission adopted rules and policies
implementing these statutory requirements.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 06/21/12 77 FR 37362
R&O................................. 10/29/12 77 FR 71131
Correction Amendments............... 02/13/13 78 FR 10099
Announcement of Effective Date...... 03/26/13 78 FR 18246
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Richard D. Smith, Special Counsel, Consumer Policy
Division, Federal Communications Commission, Consumer and Governmental
Affairs Bureau, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 717
338-2797, Fax: 717 338-2574, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AJ84
476. Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service;
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services; CG
Docket No. 13-24
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225
Abstract: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiated
this proceeding in its effort to ensure that Internet-Protocol
Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) is provided effectively and in the
most efficient manner. In doing so, the FCC adopted rules to address
certain practices related to the provision and marketing of IP CTS, as
well as compensation of TRS providers. IP CTS is a form of relay
service designed to allow people with hearing loss to speak directly to
another party on a telephone call and to simultaneously listen to the
other party and read captions of what that party is saying over an IP-
enabled device. To ensure that IP CTS is provided efficiently to
persons who need to use
[[Page 5346]]
this service, the Commission adopted rules establishing several
requirements and issued an FNPRM to address additional issues.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 02/05/13 78 FR 8090
Order (Interim Rule)................ 02/05/13 78 FR 8032
Order............................... 02/05/13 78 FR 8030
Announcement of Effective Date...... 03/07/13 78 FR 14701
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/12/13 .......................
R&O................................. 08/30/13 78 FR 53684
FNPRM............................... 09/03/13 78 FR 54201
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 11/18/13 .......................
Petition for Reconsideration Request 12/16/13 78 FR 76097
for Comment.
Petition for Reconsideration Comment 01/10/14 .......................
Period End.
Announcement of Effective Date...... 07/11/14 79 FR 40003
Announcement of Effective Date...... 08/28/14 79 FR 51446
Correction--Announcement of 08/28/14 79 FR 51450
Effective Date.
Technical Amendments................ 09/09/14 79 FR 53303
R&O and Declaratory Ruling.......... 06/27/18 83 FR 30082
FNPRM............................... 07/18/18 83 FR 33899
Public Notice....................... 08/23/18 83 FR 42630
Public Notice Opposition Period End. 09/17/18 .......................
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 11/15/18 .......................
Announcement of Effective Date...... 02/04/19 84 FR 1409
R&O................................. 03/08/19 84 FR 8457
FNPRM............................... 03/14/19 84 FR 9276
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 04/29/19 .......................
Petition for Recon Request for 06/18/19 84 FR 28264
Comment.
Petition for Recon Comment Period 07/15/19 .......................
End.
R&O................................. 01/06/20 85 FR 462
Announcement of Effective Date...... 02/19/20 85 FR 9392
Final Rule; Removal of Compliance 05/06/20 85 FR 26857
Notes.
Final Rule; correction.............. 08/26/20 85 FR 52489
R&O and Order on Recon.............. 10/14/20 85 FR 64971
FNPRM............................... 02/01/21 86 FR 7681
Public Notice; Petition for 02/22/21 86 FR 10458
Reconsideration.
NPRM................................ 03/19/21 86 FR 14859
Oppositions Due Date................ 03/19/21 .......................
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 04/02/21 .......................
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/03/21 .......................
Public Notice....................... 07/15/21 86 FR 37328
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 08/09/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald, Deputy Chief, Disability Rights
Office, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington,
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2235, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK01
477. Advanced Methods To Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls (CG
Docket No. 17-59)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201 and 202; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C.
251(e)
Abstract: The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 restricts
the use of robocalls autodialed or prerecorded calls in certain
instances. In CG Docket No. 17-59, the Commission considers rules and
policies aimed at eliminating unlawful robocalling. Among the issues it
examines in this docket are whether to allow carriers to block calls
that purport to be from unallocated or unassigned phone numbers through
the use of spoofing, whether to allow carriers to block calls based on
their own analyses of which calls are likely to be unlawful and whether
to establish a database of reassigned phone numbers to help prevent
robocalls to consumers, who did not consent to such calls.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM/NOI............................ 05/17/17 82 FR 22625
2nd NOI............................. 07/13/17 .......................
NPRM Comment Period End............. 07/31/17 .......................
FNPRM............................... 01/08/18 83 FR 770
R&O................................. 01/12/18 83 FR 1566
2nd FNPRM........................... 04/23/18 83 FR 17631
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 06/07/18 .......................
2nd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End.. 07/09/18 .......................
2nd R&O............................. 03/26/19 84 FR 11226
3rd FNPRM........................... 06/24/19 84 FR 29478
Declaratory Ruling.................. 06/24/19 84 FR 29387
Public Notice Seeking Input on 12/30/19 .......................
Report.
Public Notice Seeking Comment on 01/24/20 .......................
Reassigned Numbers.
Public Notice Seeking Comment on RND 02/26/20 .......................
Cost/Fee Structure.
Public Notice Establishing 04/16/20 .......................
Guidelines for RND.
Report.............................. 06/25/20 .......................
3rd NPRM Comment Date............... 06/26/20 .......................
Announcement of Compliance Dates.... 06/26/20 85 FR 38334
3rd R&O, Order of Reconsideration, 07/31/20 85 FR 46063
4th FNPRM.
4th R&O (release date).............. 12/30/20 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Karen Schroeder, Associate Division Chief, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone:
202 418-0654, Email: [email protected].
Jerusha Burnett, Attorney Advisor, Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0526,
Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK62
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
Economics
Long-Term Actions
478. Development of Nationwide Broadband Data To Evaluate Reasonable
and Timely Deployment of Advanced Services to all Americans
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 252; 47 U.S.C. 257; 47
U.S.C. 271; 47 U.S.C. 1302; 47 U.S.C. 160(b); 47 U.S.C. 161(a)(2)
Abstract: The Report and Order streamlined and reformed the
Commission's Form 477 Data Program, which is the Commission's primary
tool to collect data on broadband and telephone services.
Timetable:
[[Page 5347]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 05/16/07 72 FR 27519
Order............................... 07/02/08 73 FR 37861
Order............................... 10/15/08 73 FR 60997
NPRM................................ 02/08/11 76 FR 10827
Order............................... 06/27/13 78 FR 49126
NPRM................................ 08/24/17 82 FR 40118
NPRM Comment Period End............. 09/25/17 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 10/10/17 .......................
R&O and FNPRM....................... 08/22/19 84 FR 43764
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Suzanne Mendez, Program Analyst, OEA, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone:
202 418-0941, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AJ15
479. Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum
Through Incentive Auctions (GN Docket No. 12-268)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(G); 47 U.S.C. 1452
Abstract: In February 2012, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
Creation Act was enacted (Pub. L. 112-96, 126 Stat. 156 (2012)). Title
VI of that statute, commonly known as the Spectrum Act, provides the
Commission with the authority to conduct incentive auctions to meet the
growing demand for wireless broadband. Pursuant to the Spectrum Act,
the Commission may conduct incentive auctions that will offer new
initial spectrum licenses subject to flexible-use service rules on
spectrum made available by licensees that voluntarily relinquish some
or all of their spectrum usage rights in exchange for a portion, based
on the value of the relinquished rights as determined by an auction, of
the proceeds of bidding for the new licenses. In addition to granting
the Commission general authority to conduct incentive auctions, the
Spectrum Act requires the Commission to conduct an incentive auction of
broadcast TV spectrum and sets forth special requirements for such an
auction.
The Spectrum Act requires that the BIA consist of a reverse auction
``to determine the amount of compensation that each broadcast
television licensee would accept in return for voluntarily
relinquishing some or all of its spectrum usage rights'' and a forward
auction of licenses in the reallocated spectrum for flexible-use
services, including mobile broadband. Broadcast television licensees
who elected to voluntarily participate in the auction had three bidding
options: Go off-the-air, share spectrum with another broadcast
television licensee, or move channels to the upper or lower VHS band in
exchange for receiving part of the proceeds from auctioning that
spectrum to wireless providers. The Spectrum Act also authorized the
Commission to reorganize the 600 MHz band following the BIA including,
as necessary, reassigning full power and Class A television stations to
new channels in order to clear the spectrum sold in the BIA. That post-
auction reorganization (known as the repack) is currently underway and
all of the stations who were assigned new channels are scheduled to
have vacated their pre-auction channels by July 3, 2020, pursuant to a
10-phase transition schedule adopted by the Commission.
In May 2014, the Commission adopted a Report and Order that laid
out the general framework for the BIA. The auction started on March 29,
2016, with the submission of initial commitments by eligible broadcast
licensees. The BIA ended on April 13, 2017, with the release of the
Auction Closing and Channel Reassignment Public Notice that also marked
the start of the 39-month transition period during which 987 of the
full power and Class A television stations remaining on-the-air will
transition their stations to their post-auction channel assignments in
the reorganized television band. Pursuant to the Spectrum Act, the
Commission will reimburse 957 of those full power and Class A stations
for the reasonable costs associated with relocating to their post-
auction channel assignments and will reimburse multichannel video
programming distributors for their costs associated with continuing to
carry the signals of those stations.
In March 2018, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 115-
141, at Div. E, Title V, 511, 132 Stat. 348 (2018), codified at 47
U.S.C. 1452(j)-(n)) (the Reimbursement Expansion Act or REA), extended
the deadline for reimbursement of eligible entities from April 2020 to
no later than July 3, 2023, and also expanded the universe of entities
eligible for reimbursement to include low-power television stations and
TV translator stations displaced by the BIA for their reasonably
incurred costs to relocate to a new channel, and FM broadcast stations
for their reasonably incurred costs for facilities necessary to
reasonably minimize disruption of service as a result of the post-
auction reorganization of the television band. On March 15, 2019, the
Commission adopted a Report and Order setting rules for the
reimbursement of eligible costs to those newly eligible entities.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 11/21/12 77 FR 69933
R&O................................. 08/15/14 79 FR 48441
Final Rule.......................... 10/11/17 82 FR 47155
NPRM................................ 08/27/18 83 FR 43613
R&O................................. 03/26/19 84 FR 11233
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jean L. Kiddoo, Chair, Incentive Auction Task
Force, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington,
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7757, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AJ82
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
Office of Engineering and Technology
Long-Term Actions
480. Encouraging the Provision of New Technologies and Services to the
Public (GN Docket No. 18-22)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(3)
Abstract: In this proceeding, the FCC seeks to establish rules
describing guidelines and procedures to implement the stated policy
goal of section 7 to encourage the provision of new technologies and
services to the public. Although the forces of competition and
technological growth work together to enable the development and
deployment of many new technologies and services to the public, the
Commission has at times been slow to identify and take action to ensure
that important new technologies or services are made available as
quickly as possible. The Commission has sought to overcome these
impediments by streamlining many of its processes but all too often
regulatory delays can adversely impact newly proposed technologies or
services.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 04/04/18 83 FR 14395
Comment Period End.................. 05/04/18 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
[[Page 5348]]
Agency Contact: Paul Murray, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Office of Engineering and Technology, 445
12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0688, Fax: 202
418-7447, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK80
481. Spectrum Horizon (ET Docket No. 18-21)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 152; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C.
157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47
U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 332; sec. 76 of 1996 Telecom Act,
as amended, 47 U.S.C. 302 and sec. 1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, the FCC seeks to implement a plan to
make the spectrum above 95 GHz more readily accessible for new
innovative services and technologies. Throughout its history, when the
Commission has expanded access to what was thought to be the upper
reaches of the usable spectrum, new technological advances have emerged
to push the boundary of usable spectrum even further. The frequencies
above 95 GHz are today's spectrum horizons. The Notice sought comment
on proposed rules to permit licensed fixed point-to-point operations in
a total of 102.2 gigahertz of spectrum; on making 15.2 gigahertz of
spectrum available for unlicensed use; and on creating a new category
of experimental licenses to increase opportunities for entities to
develop new services and technologies from 95 GHz to 3 THz with no
limits on geography or technology.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 04/02/18 83 FR 13888
ANPRM Comment Period End............ 05/02/18 .......................
R&O................................. 06/14/19 84 FR 25685
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michael Ha, Deputy Division Chief, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554,
Phone: 201 418-2099, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK81
482. Use of the 5.850-5.925 GHz Band (ET Docket No. 19-138)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 1; 47 U.S.C. 4(i); 47 U.S.C. 301; 47
U.S.C. 302; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 CFR 1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, we repurpose 45 megahertz of the
5.850-5.925 GHz band (the 5.9 GHz band) to allow for the expansion of
unlicensed mid-band spectrum operations, while continuing to dedicate
30 megahertz of spectrum for vital intelligent transportation system
(ITS) operations. In addition, to promote the most efficient and
effective use of this ITS spectrum, we are requiring the ITS service to
use cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) based technology at the end
of a transition period. By splitting the 5.9 GHz band between
unlicensed and ITS uses, today's decision puts the 5.9 GHz band in the
best position to serve the needs of the American public.
In the Further Notice, the Commission addresses issues remaining to
finalize the restructuring of the 5.9 GHz band. Specifically, the
Commission addresses: The transition of ITS operations in the 5.895-
5.925 GHz band from Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) based
technology to Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) based technology;
the codification of C-V2X technical parameters in the Commission's
rules; other transition considerations; and the transmitter power and
emissions limits, and other issues, related to full-power outdoor
unlicensed operations across the entire 5.850-5.895 GHz portion of the
5.9 GHz band. The Commission modified the Further Notice released on
November 20, 2020, with an Erratum released on December 11, 2020. The
Commission released a Second Erratum on February 9, 2021. The
corrections from these errata are included in this document.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 02/06/20 85 FR 6841
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/09/20 .......................
R&O & Order of Proposed Modification 05/03/21 86 FR 23281
FNPRM............................... 05/03/21 86 FR 23323
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Howard Griboff, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone:
202 418-0657, Fax: 202 418-2824, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK96
483. Allowing Earlier Equipment Marketing and Importation
Opportunities; Petition To Expand Marketing Opportunities for
Innovative Technologies (ET Docket No. 20-382 & RM-11857) NPRM, 86 FR
2337, January 1
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 301, 302a, 303(c), 303(f), and
303(r)
Abstract: In this document, the Commission recognize that our
equipment authorization rules have in some ways failed to keep pace
with developments in the modern device ecosystem. In particular, our
rules limit the ability of device manufacturers to market and import
radiofrequency devices in the most efficient and cost-effective ways
possible. We therefore take the opportunity here to propose specific
rule changes that would allow device manufacturers to take full
advantage of modern marketing and importation practices.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/12/21 86 FR 2337
NPRM Comment Period End............. 02/11/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Thomas Struble, Federal Communications Commission,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2470, Email:
[email protected].
Brian Butler, Attorney, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2702, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL18
484. Unlicensed White Space Device Operations in the Television Bands
(ET Docket No. 20-36)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 302a;
47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 1.407 and 1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission revises its rules to
provide additional opportunities for unlicensed white space devices
operating in the broadcast television bands (TV bands) to deliver
wireless broadband services in rural areas and applications associated
with the Internet of Things (IoT). This region of the spectrum has
excellent propagation characteristics that make it particularly
attractive for delivering communications services over long distances,
coping with variations in terrain, as well as providing coverage into
and within buildings. We offer
[[Page 5349]]
several proposals to spur continued growth of the white space device
ecosystem, especially for providing affordable broadband service to
rural and underserved communities that can help close the digital
divide.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 04/03/20 85 FR 18901
NPRM Comment Period End............. 04/03/20 .......................
R&O................................. 01/12/21 86 FR 2278
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Hugh Van Tuyl, Electronics Engineer, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone:
202 418-7506, Fax: 202 418-1944, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL22
485. Protecting Against National Security Threats to the
Communications Supply Chain Through the Equipment Authorization and
Competitive Bidding Programs; ET Docket No. 21-232, EA Docket No. 21-
233
Legal Authority: Secs. 4(i), 301, 302, 303, 309(j), 312, and 316 of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i),
301, 302a, 303, 309(j), 312, 316, and sec. 1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission proposes prohibiting
the authorization of any communications equipment on the list of
equipment and services (Covered List) that the Commission maintains
pursuant to the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019.
Such equipment has been found to pose an unacceptable risk to the
national security of the United States or the security and safety of
United States persons. We also seek comment on whether and under what
circumstances we should revoke any existing authorizations of such
``covered'' communications equipment. We invite comment on whether we
should require additional certifications relating to national security
from applicants who wish to participate in Commission auctions. In the
Notice of Inquiry, we seek comment on other actions the Commission
should consider taking to create incentives in its equipment
authorization processes for improved trust through the adoption of
cybersecurity best practices in consumer devices.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM and NOI........................ 08/19/21 86 FR 46644
NPRM Comment Period End............. 09/20/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jamie Coleman, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone:
202 418-2705, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL23
486. Wireless Microphones in the TV Bands, 600 MHz Guard Band,
600 MHz Duplex Gap, and the 941.5-944 MHz, 944-952 MHz, 952.850-956.250
MHz, 956.45-959.85 MHz, 1435-1525 MHz, 6875-6900 MHz and 7100-7125 MHz
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i), 201, 302a, 303, and secs.
1.407 and 1.411
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission seeks to enhance the
spectral efficiency of wireless microphones by permitting a recently
developed type of wireless microphone system, termed herein as a
Wireless Multi-Channel Audio System (WMAS), to operate in certain
frequency bands. This emerging technology would enable more wireless
microphones to operate in the spectrum available for wireless
microphone operations, and thus advances an important Commission goal
of promoting efficient spectrum use. The Commission proposes to revise
the applicable technical rules for operation of low-power auxiliary
station (LPAS) devices to permit WMAS to operate in the broadcast
television (TV) bands and other LPAS frequency bands on a licensed
basis. The Commission also proposes to update the existing LPAS and
wireless microphone rules to reflect the end of the post-Incentive
auction transition period and update references to international
wireless microphone standards.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 07/01/21 86 FR 35046
NPRM Comment Period End............. 08/02/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Hugh Van Tuyl, Electronics Engineer, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone:
202 418-7506, Fax: 202 418-1944, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL27
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
International Bureau
Long-Term Actions
487. Update to Parts 2 and 25 Concerning Nongeostationary, Fixed-
Satellite Service Systems, and Related Matters: IB Docket No. I6-408
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 316
Abstract: On January 11, 2017, the Commission began a rulemaking to
update its rules and policies concerning non-geostationary-satellite
orbit (NGSO), fixed-satellite service (FSS) systems and related
matters. The Commission proposed among other things, to provide for
more flexible use of the 17.8-20.2 GHz bands for FSS, promote shared
use of spectrum among NGSO FSS satellite systems, and remove
unnecessary design restrictions on NGSO FSS systems. The Commission
subsequently adopted a Report and Order establishing new sharing
criteria among NGSO FSS systems and providing additional flexibility
for FSS spectrum use. The Commission also released a Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking proposing to remove the domestic coverage
requirement for NGSO FSS systems and later adopted a Second Report and
Order removing this requirement.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/11/17 82 FR 3258
NPRM Comment Period End............. 04/10/17 .......................
FNPRM............................... 11/15/17 82 FR 52869
R&O................................. 12/18/17 82 FR 59972
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 01/02/18 .......................
2nd R&O............................. 02/21/21 86 FR 11642
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Clay DeCell, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0803, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK59
[[Page 5350]]
488. Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the FCC Rules To Facilitate the Use
of Earth Stations in Motion Communicating With Geostationary Orbit
Space Stations in FSS Bands: IB Docket No. 17-95
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 157(a); 47 U.S.C. 303;
47 U.S.C. 308(b); 47 U.S.C. 316
Abstract: In June 2017, the Commission began a rulemaking to
streamline, consolidate, and harmonize rules governing earth stations
in motion (ESIMs) used to provide satellite-based services on ships,
airplanes and vehicles communicating with geostationary-satellite orbit
(GSO), fixed-satellite service (FSS) satellite systems. In September
2018, the Commission adopted rules governing communications of ESIMs
with GSO satellites. These rules addressed communications in the
conventional C-, Ku-, and Ka-bands, as well as portions of the extended
Ku-band. At the same time, the Commission also released a Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that sought comment on allowing ESIMs to
operate in all of the frequency bands in which earth stations at fixed
locations operating in GSO FSS satellite networks can be blanket-
licensed. Specifically, comment was sought on expanding the frequencies
available for communications of ESIMs with GSO FSS satellites to
include the following frequency bands: 10.7-10.95 GHz, 11.2-11.45 GHz,
17.8-18.3 GHz, 18.8-19.3 GHz, 19.3-19.4 GHz, 19.6-19.7 GHz (space-to-
Earth); and 28.6-29.1 GHz (Earth-to-space).
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 06/16/17 82 FR 27652
NPRM Comment Period End............. 08/30/17 .......................
OMB-approval for Information 08/28/18 .......................
Collection of R&O Comment Period
End.
FNPRM............................... 07/24/20 85 FR 44818
R&O................................. 07/24/20 85 FR 44772
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 09/22/20 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Cindy Spiers, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1593, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK84
489. Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules Governing Satellite Services:
IB Docket No. 18-314
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 161; 47 U.S.C.
303; 47 U.S.C. 316
Abstract: Under the Commission's rules, satellite operators must
follow separate application and authorization processes for the
satellites and earth stations that make up their networks and have no
option for a single, unified network license. In a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, the FCC proposed to create a new, optional, unified license
to include both space stations and earth stations operating in a
geostationary-satellite orbit, fixed-satellite service (GSO FSS)
satellite network. In addition, the Commission proposed to repeal or
modify unnecessarily burdensome rules in Part 25 governing satellite
services, such as annual reporting requirements. These proposals would
greatly simplify the Commission's licensing and regulation of satellite
systems. In a subsequent Report and Order, the Commission streamlined
its rules governing satellite services by creating an optional
framework for the authorization of blanket-licensed earth stations and
space stations in a satellite system through a unified license. The
Commission also aligned the build-out requirements for earth stations
and space stations and eliminated unnecessary reporting rules.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/31/19 84 FR 638
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/18/19 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 04/16/19 .......................
Report & Order...................... 03/01/21 86 FR 11880
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Clay DeCell, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0803, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK87
490. Facilitating the Communications of Earth Stations in Motion With
Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Stations: IB Docket No. 18-315
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 157(a); 47 U.S.C. 303;
47 U.S.C. 308(b); 47 U.S.C. 316
Abstract: In November 2018, the Commission adopted a notice of
proposed rulemaking that proposed to expand the scope of the
Commission's rules governing ESIMs operations to cover communications
with NGSO FSS satellites. Comment was sought on establishing a
regulatory framework for communications of ESIMs with NGSO FSS
satellites that would be analogous to that which exists for ESIMs
communicating with GSO FSS satellites. In this context, comment was
sought on: (1) Allowing ESIMs to communicate in many of the same
conventional Ku-band, extended Ku-band, and Ka-band frequencies that
were allowed for communications of ESIMs with GSO FSS satellites (with
the exception of the 18.6-18.8 GHz and 29.25-29.5 GHz frequency bands);
(2) extending blanket licensing to ESIMs communicating with NGSO
satellites; and (3) revisions to specific provisions in the
Commission's rules to implement these changes. The specific frequency
bands for communications of ESIMs with NGOS FSS satellites on which
comment was sought are as follows: 10.7-11.7 GHz; 11.7-12.2 GHz; 14.0-
14.5 GHz; 17.8-18.3 GHz; 18.3-18.6 GHz; 18.8-19.3 GHz; 19.3-19.4 GHz;
19.6-19.7 GHz; 19.7-20.2 GHz; 28.35-28.6 GHz; 28.6-29.1 GHz; and 29.5-
30.0 GHz.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 12/28/18 83 FR 67180
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/13/19 .......................
R&O................................. 07/24/20 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Cindy Spiers, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1593, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK89
491. Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age: IB Docket No.
18-313
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 301; 47
U.S.C. 302; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 308; 47 U.S.C. 309;
47 U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 336; 47 U.S.C.
605; 47 U.S.C. 721
Abstract: The Commission's current orbital debris rules were first
adopted in 2004. Since then, significant changes have occurred in
satellite technologies and market conditions, particularly in Low Earth
Orbit, i.e., below 2,000 kilometers altitude. These changes
[[Page 5351]]
include the increasing use of lower cost small satellites and proposals
to deploy large constellations of non-geostationary satellite orbit
(NGSO) systems, some involving thousands of satellites.
The NPRM proposes changes to improve disclosure of debris
mitigation plans. The NPRM also makes proposals and seeks comment
related to satellite disposal reliability and methodology, appropriate
deployment altitudes in low-Earth-orbit, and on-orbit lifetime, with a
particular focus on large NGSO satellite constellations. Other aspects
of the NPRM include new rule proposals for geostationary orbit
satellite (GSO) license term extension requests, and consideration of
disclosure requirements related to several emerging technologies and
new types of commercial operations, including rendezvous and proximity
operations.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 02/19/19 84 FR 4742
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/06/19 .......................
R&O................................. 08/25/20 85 FR 52422
FNPRM............................... 08/25/20 85 FR 52455
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 10/09/20 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Merissa Velez, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0751, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK90
492. Process Reform for Executive Branch Review of Certain FCC
Applications and Petitions Involving Foreign Ownership (IB Docket No.
16-155)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C 154(l); 47 U.S.C . 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 214;
47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 413; 47 U.S.C.
34-39; E.O. 10530; 3 U.S.C. 301
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission considers rules and
procedures that streamline and improve the timeliness and transparency
of the process by which the Commission refers certain applications and
petitions for declaratory ruling to the Executive Branch agencies for
assessment of any national security, law enforcement, foreign policy or
trade policy issues related to foreign investment in the applicants and
petitioners.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 06/24/16 81 FR 46870
NPRM Comment Period End............. 09/02/16 .......................
Public Notice....................... 04/27/20 85 FR 29914
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 09/02/20 .......................
Report & Order...................... 10/01/20 85 FR 76360
Public Notice....................... 12/30/20 85 FR 12312
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 04/19/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Arthur T. Lechtman, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1465, Fax: 202 418-0175, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL12
493. Parts 2 and 25 To Enable GSO FSS in the 17.3-17.8 GHz
Band, Modernize Rules for 17/24 GHz BSS Space Stations, and Establish
Off-Axis Uplink Power Limits for Extended Ka-Band FSS (IB Doc. No. 20-
330)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 303(r); 47 U.S.C.
309(j)
Abstract: This item addresses the addition of an allocation in the
17.3-17.7 GHz and 17.7-17.8 GHz bands to the fixed-satellite service in
the space-to-Earth direction. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
proposes to add these allocations to the U.S. Table of Frequency
Allocations (non-Federal), and proposes modification of existing
technical rules to prevent harmful interference between services in
these bands.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 02/01/21 86 FR 7660
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/03/21 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 03/18/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Sean O'More, Attorney Advisor, International
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington,
DC 20554, Phone: 245 418-2453, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL28
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
Media Bureau
Long-Term Actions
494. Revision of EEO Rules and Policies (MM Docket No. 98-204)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 257; 47
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47 U.S.C. 334; 47
U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 554
Abstract: FCC authority to govern Equal Employment Opportunity
(EEO) responsibilities of cable television operators was codified in
the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984. This authority was
extended to television broadcast licensees and other multi-channel
video programming distributors in the Cable and Television Consumer
Protection Act of 1992. In the Second Report and Order, the FCC adopted
new EEO rules and policies. This action was in response to a decision
of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that
found prior EEO rules unconstitutional. The Third Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) requests comment as to the applicability of the EEO
rules to part-time employees. The Third Report and Order adopted
revised forms for broadcast station and MVPDs Annual Employment Report.
In the Fourth NPRM, comment was sought regarding public access to the
data contained in the forms.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/14/02 67 FR 1704
Second R&O and Third NPRM........... 01/07/03 68 FR 670
Correction.......................... 01/13/03 68 FR 1657
Fourth NPRM......................... 06/23/04 69 FR 34986
Third R&O........................... 06/23/04 69 FR 34950
FNPRM............................... 08/31/21 86 FR 48610
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 09/30/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Brendan Holland, Chief, Industry Analysis Division,
Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2486, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AH95
495. Establishment of Rules for Digital Low-Power Television,
Television Translator, and Television Booster Stations (MB Docket No.
03-185)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 336
[[Page 5352]]
Abstract: This proceeding initiated the digital television
conversion for low-power television (LPTV) and television translator
stations. The rules and policies adopted as a result of this proceeding
provide the framework for these stations' conversion from analog to
digital broadcasting.
The Report and Order adopts definitions and permissible use
provisions for digital TV translator and LPTV stations. The Second
Report and Order takes steps to resolve the remaining issues in order
to complete the low-power television digital transition. The third
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on a number of issues
related to the potential impact of the incentive auction and the
repacking process.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 09/26/03 68 FR 55566
NPRM Comment Period End............. 11/25/03 .......................
R&O................................. 11/29/04 69 FR 69325
FNPRM and MO&O...................... 10/18/10 75 FR 63766
2nd R&O............................. 07/07/11 76 FR 44821
3rd NPRM............................ 11/28/14 79 FR 70824
NPRM Comment Period End............. 12/29/14 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 01/12/15 .......................
3rd R&O............................. 02/01/16 81 FR 5041
4th NPRM............................ 02/01/16 81 FR 5086
Comment Period End.................. 02/22/16 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Shaun Maher, Attorney, Video Division, Federal
Communications Commission, Media Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-2324, Fax: 202 418-2827, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AI38
496. Preserving Vacant Channels in the UHF Television Band for
Unlicensed Use (MB Docket No. 15-146)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 308; 47 U.S.C. 309;
47 U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C.
336; 47 U.S.C. 403
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission considers proposals to
preserve vacant television channels in the UHF television band for
shared use by white space devices and wireless microphones following
the repacking of the band after the conclusion of the Incentive
Auction. In the 2015 NPRM, the Commission proposed preserving in each
area of the country at least one vacant television channel. In the 2021
Report and Order, the Commission declined to adopt rules proposed in
the 2015 NPRM. Petitions for reconsideration are pending.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 07/02/15 80 FR 38158
NPRM Comment Period End............. 08/03/15 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 08/31/15 .......................
Public Notice....................... 09/01/15 80 FR 52715
R&O................................. 02/12/21 86 FR 9297
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Shaun Maher, Attorney, Video Division, Federal
Communications Commission, Media Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-2324, Fax: 202 418-2827, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK43
497. Authorizing Permissive Use of the ``Next Generation'' Broadcast
Television Standard (GN Docket No. 16-142)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47
U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 325(b); 47 U.S.C. 336; 47 U.S.C. 399(b); 47
U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 534; 47 U.S.C. 535
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission seeks to authorize
television broadcasters to use the ``Next Generation'' ATSC 3.0
broadcast television transmission standard on a voluntary, market-
driven basis, while they continue to deliver current-generation digital
television broadcast service to their viewers. In the Report and Order,
the Commission adopted rules to afford broadcasters flexibility to
deploy ATSC 3.0-based transmissions, while minimizing the impact on,
and costs to, consumers and other industry stakeholders.
In the 2nd R&O, the Commission provided additional guidance to
broadcasters deploying Next Gen TV.
In 2021, the Commission made a technical modification to the rules
governing the use of a distribution transmission system by a television
station to account for deployment of ATSC 3.0.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 03/10/17 82 FR 13285
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/09/17 .......................
FNPRM............................... 12/20/17 82 FR 60350
R&O................................. 02/02/18 83 FR 4998
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 02/20/18 .......................
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End...... 03/20/18 .......................
NPRM................................ 05/13/20 85 FR 28586
2nd R&O Order on Recon.............. 07/17/20 85 FR 43478
Report & Order...................... 04/22/21 86 FR 21217
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Ty Bream, Attorney Advisor, Industry Analysis Div.,
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-0644, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK56
498. 2018 Quadrennial Regulatory Review of the Commission's Broadcast
Ownership Rules (MB Docket 18-349)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 152(a); 47 U.S.C. 154(i);
47 U.S.C. 257; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 309 and 310; 47
U.S.C. 403; sec. 202(h) of the Telecommunications Act
Abstract: Section 202(h) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
requires the Commission to review its broadcast ownership rules every 4
years and to determine whether any such rules are necessary in the
public interest as the result of competition. The rules subject to
review in the 2018 quadrennial review are the Local Radio Ownership
Rule, the Local Television Ownership Rule, and the Dual Network Rule.
The Commission also sought comment on potential pro-diversity proposals
including extending cable procurement requirements to broadcasters,
adopting formulas aimed at creating media ownership limits that promote
diversity, and developing a model for market-based, tradeable diversity
credits to serve as an alternative method for setting ownership limits.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 02/28/19 84 FR 6741
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Brendan Holland, Chief, Industry Analysis Division,
[[Page 5353]]
Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2486, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK77
499. Equal Employment Opportunity Enforcement (MB Docket 19-177)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(j);
47 U.S.C. 334; 47 U.S.C. 554
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission seeks comment on ways
in which it can make improvements to equal employment opportunity (EEO)
compliance and enforcement.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 07/22/19 84 FR 35063
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Radhika Karmarker, Attorney Advisor, IAD, Media
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington,
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1523, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK86
500. Duplication of Programming on Commonly Owned Radio Stations (MB
Docket No. 19-310)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151. 154(i), 154(j), and 303(r)
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission eliminated the radio
duplication rule. The rule bars same-service (AM or FM) commercial
radio stations from duplicating more than 25% of their total hours of
programming in an average broadcast week if the stations have 50% or
more contour overlap and are commonly owned or subject to a time
brokerage agreement. Petitions for reconsideration are pending.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 12/23/19 84 FR 70485
Report & Order...................... 10/22/20 85 FR 67303
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jamile Kadre, Industry Analysis Division, Media
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington,
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2245, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL19
501. Sponsorship Identification Requirements for Foreign Government-
Provided Programming (MB Docket No. 20-299)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151. 154, 155, 301, 303, 307, 309, 310,
334, 336, 339
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission modifies its rules to
require specific disclosure requirements for broadcast programming that
is paid for, or provided by a foreign government or its representative.
Petitions for reconsideration are pending.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 11/24/20 85 FR 74955
R&O................................. 06/17/21 86 FR 32221
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Radhika Karmarker, Attorney Advisor, IAD, Media
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington,
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1523, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL20
502. FM Broadcast Booster Stations (MB Docket 20-401)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 157, 301, 302, 303, 307, 308,
309, 316, 319, 324
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission proposes to amend its
rules to enable FM broadcasters to use FM booster stations to air geo-
targeted content (e.g., news, weather, and advertisements) independent
of the signals of its primary station within different portions of the
primary station's protected service contour for a limited period of
time during the broadcast hour.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/11/21 86 FR 1909
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Al Shuldiner, Chief, Audio Div., Media Bureau,
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-2700, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL21
503. Revisions to Political Programming and Record-Keeping
Rules (MB Docket No. 21-93)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C secs. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 303, 307, 312,
315, 335, and 403
Abstract: This proceeding was initiated to update the political
programming and recordkeeping rules for broadcast licensees, cable
television system operators, Direct Broadcast Satellite service
providers, and Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service licensees. Given
the substantial growth of such programming in recent years, the updates
under consideration in this proceeding are intended to conform the
Commission's rules with statutory amendments, increase transparency,
and account for modern campaign practices.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 09/01/21 86 FR 48942
NPRM Comment Period End............. 10/01/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Robert Baker, Assistant Division Chief, Policy
Division, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street
NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1417, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL25
504. Updating Broadcast Radio Technical Rules (MB Docket 21-
263)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 301, 303,
307, 308, 309, 316, and 319
Abstract: This proceeding was initiated to update the Commission's
rules for the broadcast radio services by eliminating or amending
outmoded or unnecessary regulations. This update will ensure that the
Commission's rules are accurate, reducing any potential confusion and
alleviating unnecessary burdens.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 07/12/21 86 FR 43145
NPRM Comment Period End............. 09/07/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Christine Goepp, Attorney Advisor, Media Bureau,
[[Page 5354]]
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-7834, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL26
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
Office of Managing Director
Long-Term Actions
505. Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 159
Abstract: Section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended
(47 U.S.C. 159), requires the Federal Communications Commission to
recover the cost of its activities by assessing and collecting annual
regulatory fees from beneficiaries of the activities.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 06/06/17 82 FR 26019
R&O................................. 09/22/17 82 FR 44322
NPRM................................ 06/14/18 83 FR 27846
NPRM Comment Period End............. 06/21/18
R&O................................. 09/18/18 83 FR 47079
NPRM................................ 06/05/19 84 FR 26234
NPRM Comment Period End............. 06/07/19
R&O................................. 09/26/19 84 FR 50890
NPRM................................ 05/08/20 85 FR 32256
R&O................................. 06/22/20 85 FR 37364
NPRM................................ 05/13/21 86 FR 26262
R&O................................. 05/17/21 86 FR 26677
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Roland Helvajian, Office of the Managing Director,
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-0444, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK64
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
Long-Term Actions
506. Wireless E911 Location Accuracy Requirements: PS Docket No. 07-114
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 332
Abstract: This rulemaking is related to the proceedings in which
the FCC previously acted to improve the quality of all emergency
services. Wireless carriers must provide specific automatic location
information in connection with 911 emergency calls to Public Safety
Answering Points (PSAPs). Wireless licensees must satisfy enhanced 911
location accuracy standards at either a county-based or a PSAP-based
geographic level.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 06/20/07 72 FR 33948
R&O................................. 02/14/08 73 FR 8617
Public Notice....................... 09/25/08 73 FR 55473
FNPRM; NOI.......................... 11/02/10 75 FR 67321
Public Notice....................... 11/18/09 74 FR 59539
2nd R&O............................. 11/18/10 75 FR 70604
Second NPRM......................... 08/04/11 76 FR 47114
Second NPRM Comment Period End...... 11/02/11
Final Rule.......................... 04/28/11 76 FR 23713
NPRM, 3rd R&O, and 2nd FNPRM........ 09/28/11 76 FR 59916
3rd FNPRM........................... 03/28/14 79 FR 17820
Order Extending Comment Period...... 06/10/14 79 FR 33163
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 07/14/14
Public Notice (Release Date)........ 11/20/14
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 12/17/14
4th R&O............................. 03/04/15 80 FR 11806
Final Rule.......................... 08/03/15 80 FR 45897
Order Granting Waiver............... 07/10/17
NPRM................................ 09/26/18 83 FR 54180
4th NPRM............................ 03/18/19 84 FR 13211
5th R&O............................. 01/16/20 85 FR 2660
5th NPRM............................ 01/16/20 85 FR 2683
5th NPRM Comment Period End......... 03/16/20
6th R&O and Order on Recon.......... 08/28/20 85 FR 53234
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Brenda Boykin, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2062, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AJ52
507. Improving Outage Reporting for Submarine Cables and Enhancing
Submarine Cable Outage Data; GN Docket No. 15-206
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 34 to 39;
47 U.S.C. 301
Abstract: This proceeding takes steps toward assuring the
reliability and resiliency of submarine cables, a critical piece of the
Nation's communications infrastructure, by proposing to require
submarine cable licensees to report to the Commission when outages
occur and communications are disrupted. The Commission's intent is to
enhance national security and emergency preparedness by these actions.
In December 2019, the Commission adopted an Order on Reconsideration
that modifies the requirement for submarine cable licensees to report
outages to the Commission.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM (Release Date)................. 09/18/15
R&O................................. 06/24/16 81 FR 52354
Petitions for Recon................. 09/08/16
Petitions for Recon--Public Comment. 10/17/16 81 FR 75368
Order on Recon...................... 12/20/19 84 FR 15733
PRA Approval for new collection..... 03/25/21
Public Notice re effective date..... 04/28/21
Compliance Date for New Rules....... 10/28/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Scott Cinnamon, Attorney-Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone:
202 418-2319, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK39
508. Amendments to Part 4 of the Commission's Rules Concerning
Disruptions to Communications: PS Docket No. 15-80
Legal Authority: Sec. 1, 4(i), 4(j), 4(o), 251(e)(3), 254, 301,
303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 307, 309(a), 309(j); 316, 332, 403, 615a-1, and
615c of Pub. L. 73-416, 4 Stat. 1064, as amended; and section 706 of
Pub. L. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56; 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i)-(j) & (o),
251(e)(3), 254, 301, 303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 307; 309(a), 309(j), 316,
332, 403, 615a-1, 615c, and 1302, unless otherwise noted
Abstract: The 2004 Report and Order (R&O) extended the Commission's
communication disruptions reporting rules to non-wireline carriers and
streamlined reporting through a new electronic template (see docket ET
Docket 04-35). In 2015, this proceeding, PS Docket 15-80, was opened to
amend the original communications disruption
[[Page 5355]]
reporting rules from 2004 in order to reflect technology transitions
observed throughout the telecommunications sector. The Commission seeks
to further study the possibility to share the reporting database
information and access with State and other Federal entities. In May
2016, the Commission released a Report and Order, FNPRM, and Order on
Reconsideration (see also Dockets 11-82 and 04-35). The R&O adopted
rules to update the part 4 requirements to reflect technology
transitions. The FNPRM sought comment on sharing information in the
reporting database. Comments and replies were received by the
Commission in August and September 2016.
In March 2020, the Commission adopted a Second Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking in PS Docket No. 15-80 that proposed a framework to
provide state and federal agencies with access to outage information to
improve their situational awareness while preserving the
confidentiality of this data, including proposals to: Provide direct,
read-only access to NORS and DIRS filings to qualified agencies of the
50 states, the District of Columbia, Tribal nations, territories, and
federal government; allow these agencies to share NORS and DIRS
information with other public safety officials that reasonably require
NORS and DIRS information to prepare for and respond to disasters;
allow participating agencies to publicly disclose NORS or DIRS filing
information that is aggregated and anonymized across at least four
service providers; condition a participating agency's direct access to
NORS and DIRS filings on their agreement to treat the filings as
confidential and not disclose them absent a finding by the Commission
that allows them to do so; and establish an application process that
would grant agencies access to NORS and DIRS after those agencies
certify to certain requirements related to maintaining confidentiality
of the data and the security of the databases. In March 2021, the
Commission adopted the proposed information sharing framework with some
modifications in a Second Report and Order. In April 2021, in a Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission proposed to codify a rule
adopted in 2016 that exempts satellite and terrestrial wireless
providers from reporting outages that potentially affect special
offices and facilities, as defined in Commission rules.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM, 2nd R&O, Order on Recon....... 06/16/15 80 FR 34321
NPRM Comment Period End............. 07/31/15
R&O................................. 07/12/16 81 FR 45055
FNPRM, 1 Part 4 R&O, Order on Recon. 08/11/16 81 FR 45059
Order Denying Reply Comment Deadline 09/08/16
Extension Request.
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 09/12/16
Announcement of Effective Date for 06/22/17 82 FR 28410
Rule Changes in R&O.
Announcement of Effective Date for 06/22/17 82 FR 28410
Rule Changes in R&O.
Second Further NPRM................. 02/28/20 85 FR 17818
Second Further NPRM Comment Period 06/01/20
End.
2nd R&O............................. 04/29/21 86 FR 22796
3rd NPRM............................ 06/30/21 86 FR 34679
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Robert Finley, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7835, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK40
509. New Part 4 of the Commission's Rules Concerning Disruptions to
Communications; ET Docket No. 04-35
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154 and 155; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C.
251; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 316
Abstract: The proceeding creates a new part 4 in title 47 and
amends part 63.100. The proceeding updates the Commission's
communication disruptions reporting rules for wireline providers
formerly in 47 CFR 63.100 and extends these rules to other non-wireline
providers. Through this proceeding, the Commission streamlines the
reporting process through an electronic template. The Report and Order
received several petitions for reconsideration, of which two were
eventually withdrawn. In 2015, seven were addressed in an Order on
Reconsideration and in 2016 another petition was addressed in an Order
on Reconsideration. One petition (CPUC Petition) remains pending
regarding NORS database sharing with States, which is addressed in a
separate proceeding, PS Docket 15-80. To the extent the communication
disruption rules cover VoIP, the Commission studies and addresses these
questions in a separate docket, PS Docket 11-82.
In May 2016, the Commission released a Report and Order, FNPRM, and
Order on Reconsideration (see Dockets 11-82 and 15-80). The Order on
Reconsideration addressed outage reporting for events at airports, and
the FNPRM sought comment on database sharing. The Commission received
comments and replies in August and September 2016.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 03/26/04 69 FR 15761
R&O................................. 11/26/04 69 FR 68859
Denial for Petition for Partial Stay 12/02/04
Seek Comment on Petition for Recon.. 02/02/10
Reply Period End.................... 03/19/10
Seek Comment on Broadband and 07/02/10
Interconnected VOIP Service
Providers.
Reply Period End.................... 08/16/12
2nd R&O, and Order on Recon, NPRM... 06/16/15 80 FR 34321
R&O................................. 07/12/16 81 FR 45055
FNPRM, 1 Part 4 R&O, Order on Recon. 08/11/16 81 FR 45095, 81 FR
45055
Order Denying Extension of Time to 09/08/16
File Reply Comments.
Announcement of Effective Date for 06/22/17 82 FR 28410
Rule Changes in R&O.
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Robert Finley, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7835, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK41
510. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): PS Docket No. 15-91
Legal Authority: Pub. L. 109-347, title VI; 47 U.S.C. 151; 47
U.S.C. 154(i)
[[Page 5356]]
Abstract: This proceeding was initiated to improve Wireless
Emergency Alerts (WEA) messaging, ensure that WEA alerts reach only
those individuals to whom they are relevant, and establish an end-to-
end testing program based on advancements in technology.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 11/19/15 80 FR 77289
NPRM Comment Period End............. 01/13/16
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 02/12/16
Order............................... 11/01/16 81 FR 75710
FNPRM............................... 11/08/16 81 FR 78539
Comment Period End.................. 12/08/16
Petition for Recon.................. 12/19/16 81 FR 91899
Order on Recon...................... 12/04/17 82 FR 57158
2nd R&O and 2nd Order on Recon...... 02/28/18 83 FR 8619
Public Notice....................... 04/26/18 83 FR 18257
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 05/29/18
Public Notice Reply Comment Period 06/11/18
End.
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: James Wiley, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1678, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK54
511. Blue Alert EAS Event Code
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and
154(o); 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303(r) and (v); 47 U.S.C. 307; 47
U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 335; 47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C.544(g); 47 U.S.C.
606 and 615
Abstract: In 2015, Congress adopted the Blue Alert Act to help the
States provide effective alerts to the public and law enforcement when
police and other law enforcement officers are killed or are in danger.
To ensure that these State plans are compatible and integrated
throughout the United States as envisioned by the Blue Alert Act, the
Blue Alert Coordinator made a series of recommendations in a 2016
Report to Congress. Among these recommendations, the Blue Alert
Coordinator identified the need for a dedicated EAS event code for Blue
Alerts, and noted the alignment of the EAS with the implementation of
the Blue Alert Act. On June 22, 2017, the FCC released an NPRM
proposing to revise the EAS rules to adopt a new event code, which
would allow transmission of Blue Alerts to the public over the EAS and
thus satisfy the stated need for a dedicated EAS event code. On
December 14, 2017, the Commission released an Order adopting a new Blue
Alert EAS Code-BLU. EAS participants must be able to implement the BLU
code by January 19, 2019. BLU alerts must be available to wireless
emergency alerts by July, 2019.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 06/30/17 82 FR 29811
NPRM Comment Period End............. 07/31/17
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 08/29/17
Order............................... 12/14/18 83 FR 2557
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Linda Pintro, Attorney Advisor, Policy and
Licensing Division, PSHSB, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7490, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK63
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Long-Term Actions
512. Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 22, 24, 27, 90, and 95 of the
Commission's Rules To Improve Wireless Coverage Through the Use of
Signal Boosters (WT Docket No. 10-4)
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79; 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47
U.S.C. 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 155; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C.
227; 47 U.S.C. 303(r)
Abstract: This action adopts new technical, operational, and
registration requirements for signal boosters. It creates two classes
of signal boosters--consumer and industrial--with distinct regulatory
requirements for each, thereby establishing a two-step transition
process for equipment certification for both consumer and industrial
signal boosters sold and marketed in the United States.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 05/10/11 76 FR 26983
R&O................................. 04/11/13 78 FR 21555
Petition for Reconsideration........ 06/06/13 78 FR 34015
Order on Reconsideration............ 11/08/14 79 FR 70790
FNPRM............................... 11/28/14 79 FR 70837
2nd R&O and 2nd FNPRM............... 03/23/18 83 FR 17131
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Jaclyn Rosen, Federal Communications Commission,
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-0154, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AJ87
513. Promoting Technological Solutions To Combat Wireless Contraband
Device Use in Correctional Facilities; GN Docket No. 13-111
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C.
154(j); 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303(a); 47 U.S.C. 303(b); 47 U.S.C.
307 to 310; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 302(a)
Abstract: In the 2017 Report and Order, 82 FR 22742, the Commission
addressed the problem of illegal use of contraband wireless devices by
inmates in correctional facilities by streamlining the process of
deploying contraband wireless device interdiction systems (CIS)--
systems that use radio communications signals requiring Commission
authorization--in correctional facilities. In particular, the
Commission eliminated certain filing requirements and provides for
immediate approval of the lease applications needed to operate these
systems. In the 2017 Further Notice, 82 FR 22780, the Commission sought
comment on a process for wireless providers to disable contraband
wireless devices once they have been identified. The Commission also
sought comment on additional methods and technologies that might prove
successful in combating contraband device use in correctional
facilities, and on various other proposals related to the authorization
process for CISs and their deployment.
In the Second Report and Order, the Commission takes further steps
to facilitate the deployment and viability of technological solutions
used to combat contraband wireless devices in correctional facilities.
The Second Report and Order adopts a framework requiring the disabling
of contraband wireless devices detected in correctional
[[Page 5357]]
facilities upon satisfaction of certain criteria, and the Commission
addresses issues involving oversight, wireless provider liability, and
treatment of 911 calls. The Second Report and Order further adopts
rules requiring advance notice of certain wireless provider network
changes to promote and maintain contraband interdiction system
effectiveness. In the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the
Commission takes further steps to facilitate the deployment and
viability of technological solutions used to combat contraband wireless
devices in correctional facilities. The Second Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking seeks further comment on the relative
effectiveness, viability, and cost of additional technological
solutions to combat contraband phone use in correctional facilities
previously identified in the record.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 06/18/13 78 FR 36469
NPRM Comment Period End............. 08/08/13
FNPRM............................... 05/18/17 82 FR 22780
R&O................................. 05/18/17 82 FR 22742
Final Rule Effective (Except for 06/19/17
Rules Requiring OMB Approval).
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 07/17/17
Final Rule Effective for 47 CFR 10/20/17 82 FR 48773
1.9020(n), 1.9030(m), 1.9035 (o),
and 20.23(a).
Final Rule Effective for 47 CFR 02/12/18
1.902(d)(8), 1.9035(d)(4),
20.18(a), and 20.18(r).
2nd FNPRM........................... 08/13/21 86 FR 44681
2nd FNPRM........................... 08/13/21 86 FR 44681
2nd R&O............................. 08/13/21 86 FR 44635
2nd R&O............................. 08/13/21 86 FR 44635
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 09/13/21
Final Rules Effective (except for 09/13/21
those requiring OMB approval).
Final Rules Effective (except for 09/13/21
those requiring OMB approval).
Reply Comment Period End............ 10/12/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Melissa Conway, Attorney Advisor, Mobility Div.,
Wireless Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2887, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK06
514. Promoting Investment in the 3550-3700 MHz Band; GN Docket No. 17-
258
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C.
154(j) ; 47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303 and 304; 47 U.S.C. 307(e); 47
U.S.C. 316
Abstract: The Report and Order and Second Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) adopted by the Commission established a new
Citizens Broadband Radio Service for shared wireless broadband use of
the 3550 to 3700 MHz band. The Citizens Broadband Radio Service is
governed by a three-tiered spectrum authorization framework to
accommodate a variety of commercial uses on a shared basis with
incumbent Federal and non-Federal users of the band. Access and
operations will be managed by a dynamic spectrum access system. The
three tiers are: Incumbent Access, Priority Access, and General
Authorized Access. Rules governing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service
are found in part 96 of the Commission's rules.
The Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order addressed
several Petitions for Reconsideration submitted in response to the
Report and Order and resolved the outstanding issues raised in the
Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
The 2017 NPRM sought comment on limited changes to the rules
governing Priority Access Licenses in the band, adjacent channel
emissions limits, and public release of base station registration
information.
The 2018 Report and Order addressed the issues raised in the 2017
NPRM and implemented changes rules governing Priority Access Licenses
in the band and public release of base station registration
information.
On July 2020, the Commission commenced an auction of Priority
Access Licenses in the band. ``Winning bidders were announced on
September 2, 2020''.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/08/13 78 FR 1188
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/19/13
FNPRM............................... 06/02/14 79 FR 31247
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 08/15/14
R&O and 2nd FNPRM................... 06/15/15 80 FR 34119
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 08/14/15
Order on Recon and 2nd R&O.......... 07/26/16 81 FR 49023
NPRM................................ 11/28/17 82 FR 56193
NPRM Comment Period End............. 01/29/18
R&O................................. 12/07/18 83 FR 6306
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Paul Powell, Assistant Chief, Mobility Division,
WTB, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1613,
Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK12
515. Use of Spectrum Bands Above 24 GHz for Mobile Services--Spectrum
Frontiers: WT Docket 10-112
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C.
160; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 301 and
302; 47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303 and 304; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C.
309 and 310; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C.
336; 47 U.S.C. 1302
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission adopted service rules
for licensing of mobile and other uses for millimeter wave (mmW) bands.
These high frequencies previously have been best suited for satellite
or fixed microwave applications; however, recent technological
breakthroughs have newly enabled advanced mobile services in these
bands, notably including very high speed and low latency services. This
action will help facilitate Fifth Generation mobile services and other
mobile services. In developing service rules for mmW bands, the
Commission will facilitate access to spectrum, develop a flexible
spectrum policy, and encourage wireless innovation.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/13/16 81 FR 1802
NPRM Comment Period End............. 02/26/16
FNPRM............................... 08/24/16 81 FR 58269
Comment Period End.................. 09/30/16
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End...... 10/31/16
[[Page 5358]]
R&O................................. 11/14/16 81 FR 79894
R&O................................. 01/02/18 83 FR 37
FNPRM............................... 01/02/18 83 FR 85
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 01/23/18
R&O................................. 07/20/18 83 FR 34478
FNPRM............................... 07/20/18 83 FR 34520
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 09/28/18
R&O................................. 02/05/19 84 FR 1618
R&O................................. 05/01/19 84 FR 18405
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: John Schauble, Deputy Chief, Broadband Division,
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-0797, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK44
516. Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band, WT Docket No. 18-120
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 153; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C.
157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301 and 302; 47 U.S.C. 304; 47 U.S.C. 307
to 310; 47 U.S.C. 1302
Abstract: The 2.5 GHz band (2496-2690 MHz) constitutes the single
largest band of contiguous spectrum below 3 GHz and has been identified
as prime spectrum for next generation mobile operations, including 5G
uses. Significant portions of this band, however, currently lie fallow
across approximately one-half of the United States, primarily in rural
areas. Moreover, access to the Educational Broadband Service (EBS) has
been strictly limited since 1995, and current licensees are subject to
a regulatory regime largely unchanged from the days when educational TV
was the only use envisioned for this spectrum. The Commission proposes
to allow more efficient and effective use of this spectrum band by
providing greater flexibility to current EBS licensees as well as
providing new opportunities for additional entities to obtain unused
2.5 GHz spectrum to facilitate improved access to next generation
wireless broadband, including 5G. The Commission also seeks comment on
additional approaches for transforming the 2.5 GHz band, including by
moving directly to an auction for some or all of the spectrum.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 06/07/18 83 FR 26396
NPRM Comment Period Extended........ 06/21/18 83 FR 31515
NPRM Comment Period End............. 09/07/18
Final Rule.......................... 10/25/19 84 FR 57343
Dismissal of Petitions for 02/23/21 86 FR 10839
Reconsideration.
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: John Schauble, Deputy Chief, Broadband Division,
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-0797, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK75
517. Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band: GN Docket No.
18-122
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C.151 to 153; 47 U.S.C.154(i); 47 U.S.C
157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301 to 304; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 310; 47
U.S.C. 1302; . . .
Abstract: In the 2020 Report and Order, the Commission adopted
rules to make 280 megahertz of mid-band spectrum available for flexible
use (plus a 20-megahertz guard band) throughout the contiguous United
States. Pursuant to the Report and Order, existing fixed satellite
service (FSS) and fixed services (FS) must relocate operations out of
the lower portion of the 3.7-4.0 GHz band. The Commission will issue
flexible use licenses in the 3.7-3.98 GHz portion of the band in the
contiguous United States via a system of competitive bidding. The
Commission established rules to govern the transition including
optional payments for satellite operators that choose to relocate on an
accelerated schedule and provide reimbursement to FSS operators and
their associated earth stations for reasonable expenses incurred to
facilitate the transition. The Report and Order also established
service and technical rules for the new flexible use licenses that will
be issued in the 3.7-3.98 GHz portion of the band. ``On December 8,
2020, the Commission began an auction of licenses in the 3.7-3.98 GHz
portion of the band. the winning bidders were announced on February 24,
2021''.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 08/29/18 83 FR 44128
NPRM Comment Period End............. 11/27/18
Public Notice....................... 05/20/19 84 FR 22733
Certifications and Data Filing 05/28/19
Deadline.
Public Notice....................... 06/03/19 84 FR 22514
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 07/03/19
Public Notice Reply Comment Period 07/18/19
End.
R&O................................. 04/23/20 85 FR 22804
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Paul Powell, Assistant Chief, Mobility Division,
WTB, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1613,
Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK76
518. Amendment of the Commission's Rules To Promote Aviation Safety: WT
Docket No. 19-140
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 303; 307(e)
Abstract: The Federal Communications Commission regulates the
Aviation Radio Service, a family of services using dedicated spectrum
to enhance the safety of aircraft in flight, facilitate the efficient
movement of aircraft both in the air and on the ground, and otherwise
ensure the reliability and effectiveness of aviation communications.
Recent technological advances have prompted the Commission to open this
new rulemaking proceeding to ensure the timely deployment and use of
today's state-of-the-art safety-enhancing technologies. With this
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission proposes changes to its
part 87 Aviation Radio Service rules to support the deployment of more
advanced avionics technology, increase the efficient use of limited
spectrum resources, and generally improve aviation safety.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 07/02/19 84 FR 31542
NPRM Comment Period End............. 09/03/19
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 09/30/19
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
[[Page 5359]]
Agency Contact: Jeff Tobias, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1617, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK92
519. Implementation of State and Local Governments' Obligation
To Approve Certain Wireless Facility Modification Requests Under
Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act of 2012 (WT Docket No. 19-250)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. chs. 2, 5, 9, 13; 28 U.S.C. 2461, unless
otherwise noted
Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission seeks to reduce
regulatory barriers to wireless infrastructure deployment by further
streamlining the state and local government review process for
modifications to existing wireless infrastructure under section 6409(a)
of the Spectrum Act of 2012.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 07/02/20 85 FR 39859
Declaratory Ruling.................. 07/27/20 85 FR 45126
NPRM Comment Period End............. 08/03/20
R&O................................. 12/03/20 85 FR 78005
Petition for Recon.................. 03/03/21 86 FR 12898
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Georgios Leris, Federal Communications Commission,
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-1994, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL29
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Completed Actions
520. 800 MHz Cellular Telecommunications Licensing Reform; Docket No.
12-40
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) to 154(j);
47 U.S.C. 301 to 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47 U.S.C. 332
Abstract: The proceeding was launched to revisit and update rules
governing the 800 MHz Cellular Radiotelephone Service (Cellular
Service). On November 10, 2014, the FCC released a Report and Order
(R&O) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM). In the R&O,
the FCC eliminated or streamlined numerous regulatory requirements; in
the FNPRM, the FCC sought comment on additional reforms of the Cellular
rules, including radiated power and other technical rules, to promote
flexibility and help foster deployment of new technologies such as LTE.
On March 24, 2017, the FCC released a Second Report and Order (2d R&O)
and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (2d FNPRM). In the 2d
R&O, the FCC revised the Cellular radiated power rules to permit
compliance with limits based on power spectral density as an option for
licensees deploying wideband technologies such as LTE, made conforming
revisions to related technical rules, and adopted additional licensing
reforms. In the 2d FNPRM, the FCC sought comment on other measures to
give Cellular and other part 22 commercial mobile radio service
licensees more flexibility and administrative relief, and on ways to
consolidate and simplify the rules for the Cellular Service and other
geographically licensed wireless services. On July 13, 2018, the FCC
released a Third Report and Order (3d R&O) in which it deleted certain
part 22 rules that imposed needless recordkeeping and reporting
obligations; it also deleted certain Cellular Service-specific and Part
22 rules that are duplicative of other rules and are thus no longer
necessary. These revisions reduce regulatory burdens for Cellular and
other Part 22 licensees and provide them with enhanced flexibility,
thereby freeing up more resources for investment in new technologies
and greater spectrum efficiency to meet increasing consumer demand for
advanced wireless services. On March 22, 2019, the FCC released an
Order on Reconsideration addressing a petition for reconsideration of a
rule deletion in the 3d R&O. The FCC denied the petition, thus
affirming its decision in the 3d R&O.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 03/16/12 77 FR 15665
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/15/12
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 06/14/12
R&O................................. 12/05/14 79 FR 72143
FNPRM............................... 12/22/14 79FR 76268
Final Rule Effective (With 3 01/05/15
Exceptions).
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 01/21/15
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End...... 02/20/15
2nd R&O............................. 04/12/17 82 FR 17570
2nd FNPRM........................... 04/14/17 82 FR 17959
Final Rule Effective (With 9 05/12/17
Exceptions).
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 05/15/17
2nd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End.. 06/14/17
3rd R&O............................. 08/02/18 83 FR 37760
Final Rule Effective (With 1 09/04/18
Exception).
Order on Reconsideration............ 04/09/19 84 FR 14080
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Nina Shafran, Attorney Advisor, Wireless Bureau,
Mobility Div., Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2781, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK13
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
Wireline Competition Bureau
Long-Term Actions
521. Local Telephone Networks That LECS Must Make Available to
Competitors
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 251
Abstract: The Commission adopted rules applicable to incumbent
local exchange carriers (LECs) to permit competitive carriers to access
portions of the incumbent LECs' networks on an unbundled basis.
Unbundling allows competitors to lease portions of the incumbent LECs'
network to provide telecommunications services. These rules, adopted in
dockets CC 96-98, WC 01-338, and WC 04-313, are intended to accelerate
the development of local exchange competition.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second FNPRM........................ 04/26/99 64 FR 20238
Fourth FNPRM........................ 01/14/00 65 FR 2367
Errata Third R&O and Fourth FNPRM... 01/18/00 65 FR 2542
Second Errata Third R&O and Fourth 01/18/00 65 FR 2542
FNPRM.
[[Page 5360]]
Supplemental Order.................. 01/18/00 65 FR 2542
Third R&O........................... 01/18/00 65 FR 2542
Correction.......................... 04/11/00 65 FR 19334
Supplemental Order Clarification.... 06/20/00 65 FR 38214
Public Notice....................... 02/01/01 66 FR 8555
Public Notice....................... 03/05/01 66 FR 18279
Public Notice....................... 04/10/01
Public Notice....................... 04/23/01
Public Notice....................... 05/14/01
NPRM................................ 01/15/02 67 FR 1947
Public Notice....................... 05/29/02
Public Notice....................... 08/01/02
Public Notice....................... 08/13/02
NPRM................................ 08/21/03 68 FR 52276
R&O and Order on Remand............. 08/21/03 68 FR 52276
Errata.............................. 09/17/03
Report.............................. 10/09/03 68 FR 60391
Order............................... 10/28/03
Order............................... 01/09/04
Public Notice....................... 01/09/04
Public Notice....................... 02/18/04
Order............................... 07/08/04
Second R&O.......................... 07/08/04 69 FR 43762
Order on Recon...................... 08/09/04 69 FR 54589
Interim Order....................... 08/20/04 69 FR 55111
NPRM................................ 08/20/04 69 FR 55128
Public Notice....................... 09/10/04
Public Notice....................... 09/13/04
Public Notice....................... 10/20/04
Order on Recon...................... 12/29/04 69 FR 77950
Order on Remand..................... 02/04/04
Public Notice....................... 04/25/05 70 FR 29313
Public Notice....................... 05/25/05 70 FR 34765
Declaratory Ruling.................. 05/26/11
NPRM................................ 01/06/20 85 FR 472
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/06/20
Report & Order...................... 01/08/21 86 FR 1636
-----------------------------------
Next Action Undetermined............ To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Edward Krachmer, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1525, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AH44
522. Jurisdictional Separations
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(j); 47
U.S.C. 205; 47 U.S.C. 221(c); 47 U.S.C. 254; 47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C.
410
Abstract: Jurisdictional separations is the process, pursuant to
part 36 of the Commission's rules, by which incumbent local exchange
carriers apportion regulated costs between the intrastate and
interstate jurisdictions. In 1997, the Commission initiated a
proceeding seeking comment on the extent to which legislative changes,
technological changes, and marketplace changes warrant comprehensive
reform of the separations process. In 2001, the Commission adopted the
Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations' Joint Board's
recommendation to impose an interim freeze on the part 36 category
relationships and jurisdictional cost allocation factors for a period
of 5 years, pending comprehensive reform of the part 36 separations
rules. In 2006, the Commission issued an Order and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking that extended the separations freeze for a period
of 3 years and sought comment on comprehensive reform. In 2009, the
Commission issued a Report and Order extending the separations freeze
an additional year to June 2010. In 2010, the Commission issued a
Report and Order extending the separations freeze for an additional
year to June 2011. In 2011, the Commission adopted a Report and Order
extending the separations freeze for an additional year to June 2012.
In 2012, the Commission issued a Report and Order extending the
separations freeze for an additional 2 years to June 2014. In 2014, the
Commission issued a Report and Order extending the separations freeze
for an additional 3 years to June 2017.
In 2016, the Commission issued a Report and Order extending the
separations freeze for an additional 18 months until January 1, 2018.
In 2017, the Joint Board issued a Recommended Decision recommending
changes to the part 36 rules designed to harmonize them with the
Commission's previous amendments to its part 32 accounting rules. In
February 2018, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
proposing amendments to part 36 consistent with the Joint Board's
recommendations. In October 2018, the Commission issued a Report and
Order adopting each of the Joint Board's recommendations and amending
the Part 36 consistent with those recommendations. In July 2018, the
Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to extend
the separations freeze for an additional 15 years and to provide rate-
of-return carriers that had elected to freeze their category
relationships a time limited opportunity to opt out of that freeze. In
December 2018, the Commission issued a Report and Order extending the
freeze for up to 6 years until December 31, 2024, and granting rate-of-
return carriers that had elected to freeze their category relationships
a one-time opportunity to opt out of that freeze.
On March 31, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the Commission's December 2018
Report and Order.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 11/05/97 62 FR 59842
NPRM Comment Period End............. 12/10/97 .......................
Order............................... 06/21/01 66 FR 33202
Order and FNPRM..................... 05/26/06 71 FR 29882
Order and FNPRM Comment Period End.. 08/22/06 .......................
R&O................................. 05/15/09 74 FR 23955
R&O................................. 05/25/10 75 FR 30301
R&O................................. 05/27/11 76 FR 30840
R&O................................. 05/23/12 77 FR 30410
R&O................................. 06/13/14 79 FR 36232
R&O................................. 06/02/17 82 FR 25535
Recommended Decision................ 10/27/17 .......................
NPRM................................ 03/13/18 83 FR 10817
NPRM Comment Period End............. 04/27/18 .......................
NPRM................................ 07/27/18 83 FR 35589
NPRM Comment Period End............. 09/10/18 .......................
R&O................................. 12/11/18 83 FR 63581
R&O................................. 02/15/19 84 FR 4351
Announcement of OMB Approval........ 03/01/19 84 FR 6977
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William A. Kehoe III, Senior Counsel, Policy &
Program Planning Division, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202
418-1580, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AJ06
523. Rural Call Completion; WC Docket No. 13-39
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 217; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47
U.S.C. 202; 47 U.S.C. 218; 47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C. 262; 47 U.S.C.
403(b)(2)(B); 47 U.S.C. 251(a); 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 620; 47 U.S.C.
251; 47 U.S.C. 251(e); 47 U.S.C. 254(k); 47 U.S.C. 616; 47 U.S.C. 226;
47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 228; 47 U.S.C. 1401-1473
Abstract: The Third RCC Order began implementation of the Improving
Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017 (RCC Act), by adopting
rules designed to ensure the integrity of our nation's telephone
network and prevent unjust or unreasonable discrimination among areas
of the United States in the delivery of telephone service. In
particular, the Third RCC Order adopted rules to establish a registry
for intermediate providers entities that transmit, but do not originate
or terminate, voice calls.
[[Page 5361]]
The Order requires intermediate providers to register with the
Commission before offering to transmit covered voice communications,
and requires covered providers entities that select the initial long-
distance route for a large number of lines to use only registered
intermediate providers to transmit covered voice communications.
The Fourth RCC Order completed the Commission's implementation of
the RCC Act by adopting service quality standards for intermediate
providers, as well as an exception to those standards for intermediate
providers that qualify for the covered provider safe harbor in our
existing rules. The Order also set forth procedures to enforce our
intermediate provider requirements. Finally, the Fourth RCC Order
adopted provisions to sunset the rural call completion data recording
and retention requirements adopted in the First RCC Order one year
after the effective date of the new intermediate provider service
quality standards.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 04/12/13 78 FR 21891
Public Notice....................... 05/07/13 78 FR 26572
NPRM Comment Period End............. 05/28/13 .......................
R&O and FNPRM....................... 12/17/13 78 FR 76218
PRA 60 Day Notice................... 12/30/13 78 FR 79448
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 02/18/14 .......................
PRA Comments Due.................... 03/11/14 .......................
Public Notice....................... 05/06/14 79 FR 25682
Order on Reconsideration............ 12/10/14 79 FR 73227
Erratum............................. 01/08/15 80 FR 1007
Public Notice....................... 03/04/15 80 FR 11593
2nd FNPRM........................... 07/27/17 82 FR 34911
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 08/28/17 .......................
Reply Comment Period End............ 09/25/17 .......................
2nd Order........................... 05/10/18 83 FR 21723
3rd FNPRM........................... 05/11/18 83 FR 21983
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 06/04/18 .......................
3rd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End.. 06/19/18 .......................
3rd Order........................... 08/13/18 83 FR 47296
4th Order........................... 03/15/19 84 FR 25692
PRA 60 Day Notice................... 05/22/18 83 FR 23681
PRA 60 Day Notice................... 09/18/18 83 FR 47153
Public Notice....................... 10/24/18 83 FR 53588
Public Notice....................... 04/15/19 84 FR 15124
PRA 60 Day Notice................... 05/17/21 86 FR 26722
PRA Comment Period End.............. 07/16/21 .......................
PRA 60 Day Notice................... 08/24/21 86 FR 47307
PRA Comment Period End.............. 10/25/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Connor Ferraro, Attorney Advisor, Competition
Policy Division, WCB, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street
NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1322, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AJ89
524. Rates for Inmate Calling Services; WC Docket No. 12-375
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and (j);
47 U.S.C. 201(b); 47 U.S.C. 218; 47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C. 276; 47
U.S.C. 403; 47 CFR 64
Abstract: In the Second Report and Order, the Federal
Communications Commission adopted rule changes to ensure that rates for
both interstate and intrastate inmate calling services (ICS) are fair,
just, and reasonable limits on ancillary service charges imposed by ICS
providers. In the Second Report and Order, the Commission set caps on
all interstate and intrastate calling rates for ICS, established a
tiered rate structure based on the size and type of facility being
served, limited the types of ancillary services that ICS providers may
charge for and capped the charges for permitted fees, banned flat-rate
calling, facilitated access to ICS by people with disabilities by
requiring providers to offer free or steeply discounted rates for calls
using TTY, and imposed reporting and certification requirements to
facilitate continued oversight of the ICS market. In the Third Further
Notice portion of the item, the Commission sought comment on ways to
promote competition for ICS, video visitation, and rates for
international calls, and considered an array of solutions to further
address areas of concern in the ICS industry. In an Order on
Reconsideration, the Commission amended its rate caps and the
definition of ``mandatory tax or mandatory fee.''
On June 13, 2017, the D.C. Circuit vacated the rate caps adopted in
the Second Report and Order, as well as reporting requirements related
to video visitation. The court held that the Commission lacked
jurisdiction over intrastate ICS calls and that the rate caps the
Commission adopted for interstate calls were arbitrary and capricious.
The court also remanded the Commission's caps on ancillary fees. On
September 26, 2017, the court denied a petition for rehearing en banc.
On December 21, 2017, the court issued two separate orders: One
vacating the 2016 Order on Reconsideration insofar as it purports to
set rate caps on inmate calling services, and one dismissing as moot
challenges to the Commission's First Report and Order on ICS.
On February 4, 2020, the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau
released a Public Notice seeking to refresh the record on ancillary
service charges imposed in connection with inmate calling services.
On August 6, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order on
Remand and a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking responding to
remands by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit and proposing to comprehensively reform rates and charges for
the inmate calling services within the Commission's jurisdiction. The
Report and Order on Remand found that the Commission's five permitted
ancillary service charges (1) automated payment fees; (2) fees for
single-call and related services; (3) live agent fees; (4) paper bill/
statement fees; and (5) third-party financial transaction fees
generally, cannot be practically segregated between interstate and
intrastate inmate telephone calls, except in a limited number of cases.
Accordingly, the Commission prohibited inmate calling services
providers from imposing ancillary service fees higher than the
Commission's caps,or imposing fees for additional ancillary services
unless imposed in connection with purely intrastate inmate telephone
service calls. The Order also reinstated a rule prohibiting providers
from marking up third-party fees for single-call services; reinstated
rule language that prohibits providers from marking up mandatory taxes
or fees that they pass on to inmate telephone service consumers; and
amended certain of the inmate calling services rules consistent with
the D.C. Circuit's mandates to reflect that the Commission's rate and
fee caps on inmate calling service apply only to interstate and
international inmate calling. The Fourth FNPRM proposes to
substantially reduce the interstate rate cap for inmate telephone calls
from the current interim rate caps of $0.21 per minute for debit or
prepaid calls and $0.25 per minute for collect calls for all types of
correctional facilities, to permanent rate caps of $0.14 per minute for
all interstate calls from prisons and $0.16 for all interstate calls
from jails. The Fourth FNPRM also proposes to adopt rate caps for
international inmate
[[Page 5362]]
calling services calls for the first time based on the proposed
interstate rate caps, plus the amount that the provider must pay its
underlying international service provider for an international call. It
also proposes a waiver process for providers that believe the
Commission's rate caps would not allow them to recover their costs of
serving a particular facility or contract. Finally, it seeks comment on
a further mandatory data collection to continue efforts to reform these
rates and fees.
On November 23, 2020, Global Tel*Link Corporation filed a petition
for reconsideration of the August 6, 2020 Order on Remand. On December
3, 2020, the Commission established the opposition and reply comment
dates for the petition.
On May 24, 2021 the Commission released the Third Report and Order,
Order on Reconsideration and Fifth Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking. In the Third Report and Order, the Commission: (1)
Substantially reduced the interim rate caps for interstate inmate
calling services from prisons and larger jails (those with 1,000 or
more incarcerated people) from $0.21 per minute for debit and prepaid
calls and $0.25 per minute for collect calls to new uniform interim
interstate caps of $0.12 per minute for prisons and $0.14 per minute
for larger jails; (2) maintained the current interim interstate rate
cap of $0.21 for jails with less than 1,000 incarcerated people because
of insufficient record evidence to determine providers' costs of
serving those facilities at this time; (3) eliminated separate
treatment of collect calls, resulting in a uniform interim interstate
rate cap for all types of calls at each facility, as proposed; (4)
reformed the treatment of site commission payments by specifying that
providers may pass through to consumers (without any markup) site
commission payments that are mandated by federal, state, or local law
and that providers may pass through to consumers no more than $ 0.02
per minute site commission payments resulting from contractual
obligations negotiated between providers and correctional officials;
(5) capped, for the first time, international calling rates at all
facilities at the applicable facility's total interstate rate cap, plus
the amount the inmate calling services provider pays to its underlying
wholesale carriers for completing international calls; (6) reformed the
ancillary service charge caps for third-party financial transaction
fees, including those related to calls that are billed on a per-call
basis; and (7) adopted a new mandatory data collection to obtain more
uniform cost data based on consistent, prescribed allocation
methodologies to determine fair, permanent cost-based rates for
facilities of all sizes.
In the Order on Reconsideration, the Commission denied GTL's
petition seeking reconsideration of a single sentence from the 2020
Remand Order, in which the Commission reminded providers that the
jurisdictional nature of a call, that is whether it is interstate or
intrastate, depends on the physical location of the endpoints of the
call and not on whether the area code or NXX prefix of the telephone
number associated with the account are associated with a particular
state. The Commission determined that the end-to-end analysis has been,
and remains, the generally applicable test for all telecommunications
carriers in determining the jurisdiction of their calls and the
Commission continues to use the traditional end-to-end jurisdictional
analysis in setting rates for calls placed by inmate calling services
consumers.
In the Fifth Further Notice, the Commission proposed to amend the
Commission's rules to require calling service providers to provide
access to all forms of Telecommunications Relay Services, including
internet-based services, to facilitate greater accessibility for
incarcerated people with hearing and speech disabilities. The
Commission also sought comment on: (1) The methodology the Commission
should use to set permanent per-minute rate caps for interstate and
international inmate calling services; (2) site commission costs for
facilities of all sizes and site commission reform generally; (3) the
costs of providing services to jails with average daily populations of
fewer than 1,000 incarcerated people; (4) whether and how the
Commission should reform the ancillary service charge caps and how the
Commission can curtail potentially abusive practices related to these
charges; (5) whether to institute a recurring periodic data collection;
and (6) whether some providers have market power in the bidding
process, thereby impacting the competitiveness of the bidding process.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/22/13 78 FR 4369
FNPRM............................... 11/13/13 78 FR 68005
R&O................................. 11/13/13 78 FR 67956
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 12/20/13 .......................
Announcement of Effective Date...... 06/20/14 79 FR 33709
2nd FNPRM........................... 11/21/14 79 FR 69682
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 01/15/15 .......................
2nd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End.. 01/20/15 .......................
3rd FNPRM........................... 12/18/15 80 FR 79020
2nd R&O............................. 12/18/15 80 FR 79136
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 01/19/16 .......................
3rd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End.. 02/08/16 .......................
Order on Reconsideration............ 09/12/16 81 FR 62818
Announcement of OMB Approval........ 03/01/17 82 FR 12182
Correction to Announcement of OMB 03/08/17 82 FR 12922
Approval.
Announcement of OMB Approval........ 02/06/20 85 FR 6947
Public Notice....................... 02/19/20 85 FR 9444
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 03/20/20 .......................
Public Notice Reply Comment Period 04/06/20 .......................
End.
Letter.............................. 07/15/20 .......................
R&O on Remand & 4th FNPRM........... 08/06/20 85 FR 67450; 85 FR
67480; 85 FR 73233
Order............................... 09/01/20 .......................
Public Notice....................... 09/24/20 85 FR 66512
Public Notice....................... 10/23/20 .......................
Letter.............................. 11/13/20 .......................
Public Notice....................... 12/03/20 85 FR 83000
Order............................... 12/17/20 .......................
Public Notice....................... 01/08/21 .......................
Public Notice....................... 03/03/21 .......................
Inactive per Maura McGowan.......... 03/31/21 .......................
5th FNPRM........................... 07/28/21 86 FR 40416
3rd R&O............................. 07/28/21 86 FR 40340
Order............................... 08/10/21 86 FR 48952
5th NPRM Comment Period End......... 09/27/21 .......................
5th NPRM Reply Comment Period End... 10/27/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William A. Kehoe III, Senior Counsel, Policy &
Program Planning Division, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202
418-1580, Email: [email protected].
Irina Asoskov, Assistant Division Chief, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street SW,
[[Page 5363]]
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7122, Fax: 202 418-1413, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK08
525. Comprehensive Review of the Part 32 Uniform System of Accounts (WC
Docket No. 14-130)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201(b);
47 U.S.C. 219 and 220
Abstract: The Commission initiates a rulemaking proceeding to
review the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA) to consider ways to
minimize the compliance burdens on incumbent local exchange carriers
while ensuring that the Agency retains access to the information it
needs to fulfill its regulatory duties. In light of the Commission's
actions in areas of price cap regulation, universal service reform, and
intercarrier compensation reform, the Commission stated that it is
likely appropriate to streamline the existing rules even though those
reforms may not have eliminated the need for accounting data for some
purposes. The Commission's analysis and proposals are divided into
three parts. First, the Commission proposes to streamline the USOA
accounting rules while preserving their existing structure. Second, the
Commission seeks more focused comment on the accounting requirements
needed for price cap carriers to address our statutory and regulatory
obligations. Third, the Commission seeks comment on several related
issues, including state requirements, rate effects, implementation,
continuing property records, and legal authority.
On February 23, 2017, the Commission adopted a Report and Order
that revised the part 32 USOA to substantially reduce accounting
burdens for both price cap and rate-of-return carriers. First, the
Order streamlines the USOA for all carriers. In addition, the USOA will
be aligned more closely with generally accepted accounting principles,
or GAAP. Second, the Order allows price cap carriers to use GAAP for
all regulatory accounting purposes as long as they comply with targeted
accounting rules, which are designed to mitigate any impact on pole
attachment rates. Alternatively, price cap carriers can elect to use
GAAP accounting for all purposes other than those associated with pole
attachment rates and continue to use the part 32 accounts for pole
attachment rates for up to 12 years. Third, the Order addresses several
miscellaneous issues, including referral to the Federal-State Joint
Board on Separations the issue of examining jurisdictional separations
rules in light of the reforms adopted to part 32.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 09/15/14 79 FR 54942
NPRM Comment Period End............. 11/14/14 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 12/15/14 .......................
R&O................................. 04/04/17 82 FR 20833
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Robin Cohn, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2747, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK20
526. Restoring Internet Freedom (WC Docket No. 17-108); Protecting and
Promoting the Open Internet (GN Docket No. 14-28)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and (j); 47 U.S.C.
201(b)
Abstract: In December 2017, the Commission adopted the Restoring
internet Freedom Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, and Order
(Restoring internet Freedom Order), which reclassified broadband
internet access service as an information service; reinstates the
determination that mobile broadband internet access service is not a
commercial mobile service and as a private mobile service; finds that
transparency, internet Service Providers (ISPs) economic incentives,
and antitrust and consumer protection laws will protect the openness of
the internet, and that title II regulation is unnecessary to do so; and
adopts a transparency rule similar to that in the 2010 Open internet
Order, requiring disclosure of network management practices,
performance characteristics, and commercial terms of service.
Additionally, the transparency rule requires ISPs to disclose any
blocking, throttling, paid prioritization, or affiliate prioritization,
and eliminates the internet conduct standard and the bright-line
conduct rules set forth in the 2015 Open internet Order.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 07/01/14 79 FR 37448
NPRM Comment Period End............. 07/18/14 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 09/15/14 .......................
R&O on Remand, Declaratory Ruling, 04/13/15 80 FR 19737
and Order.
NPRM................................ 06/02/17 82 FR 25568
NPRM Comment Period End............. 07/03/17 .......................
Declaratory Ruling, R&O, and Order.. 02/22/18 83 FR 7852
Order on Remand..................... 01/07/21 86 FR 994
Next Action Undetermined............ .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Melissa Kirkel, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7958, Fax: 202 418-1413, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK21
527. Technology Transitions; GN Docket No 13-5, WC Docket No. 05-25;
Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to
Infrastructure Investment; WC Docket No. 17-84
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 U.S.C. 251
Abstract: On April 20, 2017, the Commission adopted a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, Notice of Inquiry, and Request for Comment
(Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, NOl, and RFC) seeking input on a number
of actions designed to accelerate: (1) The deployment of next-
generation networks and services by removing barriers to infrastructure
investment at the Federal, State, and local level; (2) the transition
from legacy copper networks and services to next-generation fiber-based
networks and services; and (3) the reduction of Commission regulations
that raise costs and slow, rather than facilitate, broadband
deployment.
On November 16, 2017, the Commission adopted a Report and Order
(R&O), Declaratory Ruling, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(Wireline Infrastructure Order) that takes a number of actions and
seeks comment on further actions designed to accelerate the deployment
of next-generation networks and services through removing barriers to
infrastructure investment.
The Wireline Infrastructure Order took a number of actions. First,
the Report and Order revised the pole attachment rules to reduce costs
for attachers, reforms the pole access complaint procedures to settle
access disputes more swiftly, and increases access to infrastructure
for certain types
[[Page 5364]]
of broadband providers. Second, the Report and Order revised the
section 214(a) discontinuance rules and the network change notification
rules, including those applicable to copper retirements, to expedite
the process for carriers seeking to replace legacy network
infrastructure and legacy services with advanced broadband networks and
innovative new services. Third, the Report and Order reversed a 2015
ruling that discontinuance authority is required for solely wholesale
services to carrier-customers. Fourth, the Declaratory Ruling abandoned
the 2014 ``functional test'' interpretation of when section 214
discontinuance applications are required, bringing added clarity to the
section 214(a) discontinuance process for carriers and consumers alike.
Finally, the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking sought comment on
additional potential pole attachment reforms, reforms to the network
change disclosure and section 214(a) discontinuance processes, and ways
to facilitate rebuilding networks impacted by natural disasters.
Various parties filed a Petition for Review of the Wireline
Infrastructure Order in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit. The Ninth Circuit denied the Petition on January 23, 2020 on
the grounds that the parties lacked standing.
On June 7, 2018, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order
(Wireline Infrastructure Second Report and Order) taking further
actions designed to expedite the transition from legacy networks and
services to next generation networks and advanced services that benefit
the American public and to promote broadband deployment by further
streamlining the section 214(a) discontinuance rules, network change
disclosure processes, and part 68 customer notification process.
The Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, NOI, and RFC sought comment on
additional issues not addressed in the November Wireline Infrastructure
Order or the June Wireline Infrastructure Second Report and Order. It
sought comment on changes to the Commission's pole attachment rules to:
(1) Streamline the timeframe for gaining access to utility poles; (2)
reduce charges paid by attachers for work done to make a pole ready for
new attachments; and (3) establish a formula for computing the maximum
pole attachment rate that may be imposed on an incumbent LEC.
The Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, NOI, and RFC also sought comment
on whether the Commission should enact rules, consistent with its
authority under section 253 of the Act, to promote the deployment of
broadband infrastructure by preempting State and local laws that
inhibit broadband deployment. It also sought comment on whether there
are State laws governing the maintenance or retirement of copper
facilities that serve as a barrier to deploying next-generation
technologies and services that the Commission might seek to preempt.
Previously, in November 2014, the Commission adopted a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking and Declaratory Ruling that: (1) Proposed new
backup power rules; (2) proposed new or revised rules for copper
retirements and service discontinuances; and (3) adopted a functional
test in determining what constitutes a service for purposes of section
214(a) discontinuance review. In August 2015, the Commission adopted a
Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking that: (i) Lengthened and revised the copper
retirement process; (ii) determined that a carrier must obtain
Commission approval before discontinuing a service used as a wholesale
input if the carrier's actions will discontinue service to a carrier-
customer's retail end users; (iii) adopted an interim rule requiring
incumbent LECs that seek to discontinue certain TDM-based wholesale
services to commit to certain rates, terms, and conditions; (iv)
proposed further revisions to the copper retirement discontinuance
process; and (v) upheld the November 2014 Declaratory Ruling. In July
2016, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order, Declaratory
Ruling, and Order on Reconsideration that: (i) Adopted a new test for
obtaining streamlined treatment when carriers seek Commission
authorization to discontinue legacy services in favor of services based
on newer technologies; (ii) set forth consumer education requirements
for carriers seeking to discontinue legacy services in favor of
services based on newer technologies; (iii) allowed notice to customers
of discontinuance applications by email; (iv) required carriers to
provide notice of discontinuance applications to Tribal entities; (v)
made a technical rule change to create a new title for copper
retirement notices and certifications; and (vi) harmonized the timeline
for competitive LEC discontinuances caused by incumbent LEC network
changes.
On August 2, 2018, the Commission adopted a Third Report and Order
and Declaratory Ruling (Wireline Infrastructure Third Report and Order)
establishing a new framework for the vast majority of pole attachments
governed by Federal law by instituting a one-touch make-ready regime,
in which a new attacher may elect to perform all simple work to prepare
a pole for new wireline attachments in the communications space. This
new framework includes safeguards to promote coordination among parties
and ensures that new attachers perform work safely and reliably. The
Commission retained its multi-party pole attachment process for
attachments that are complex or above the communications space of a
pole, but made significant modifications to speed deployment, promote
accurate billing, expand the use of self-help for new attachers when
attachment deadlines are missed, and reduce the likelihood of
coordination failures that lead to unwarranted delays. The Commission
also improved its pole attachment rules by codifying and redefining
Commission precedent that requires utilities to allow attachers to
overlash existing wires, thus maximizing the usable space on the pole;
eliminating outdated disparities between the pole attachment rates that
incumbent carriers must pay compared to other similarly-situated cable
and telecommunications attachers; and clarifying that the Commission
will preempt, on an expedited case-by-case basis, State and local laws
that inhibit the rebuilding or restoration of broadband infrastructure
after a disaster. The Commission also adopted a Declaratory Ruling that
interpreted section 253(a) of the Communications Act to prohibit State
and local express and de facto moratoria on the deployment of
telecommunications services or facilities and directed the Wireline
Competition and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus to act promptly on
petitions challenging specific alleged moratoria. Numerous parties
filed appeals of the Wireline Infrastructure Third Report and Order,
and the appeals were consolidated in the U.S. Court of Appeals of the
Ninth Circuit. On August 12, 2020, the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion
upholding the Wireline Infrastructure Third Report and Order in all
respects.
On August 8, 2018, Public Knowledge filed a Petition for
Reconsideration of the Second Report and Order and Motion to Hold in
Abeyance. On October 20, 2020, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau)
adopted a Declaratory Ruling, Order on Reconsideration, and Order. In
the Declaratory Ruling, the Bureau clarified that any carrier seeking
to discontinue legacy voice service to a community or
[[Page 5365]]
part of a community that is the last retail provider of such legacy TDM
service to that community or part of the community is subject to the
Commission's technology transition discontinuance rules, including the
requirements to receive streamlined treatment of its discontinuance
application. In the Order on Reconsideration, the Bureau denied the
Public Knowledge Petition for Reconsideration because all of Public
Knowledge's arguments were fully considered, and rejected, by the
Commission in the underlying proceeding. It also dismissed as moot the
accompanying motion to have the Commission hold that Order in abeyance
pending the outcome of the appeal that the Ninth Circuit ultimately
denied.
In September 2019, CTIA filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling
seeking clarification of certain issues raised in the 2018 Third Report
and Order. On July 29, 2020, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a
Declaratory Ruling clarifying that (1) the imposition of a blanket
ban'' by a utility on attachments to any portion of a utility pole is
inconsistent with the federal requirement that a denial of access . . .
be specific'' to a particular request; and (2) while utilities and
attachers have the flexibility to negotiate terms in their pole
attachment agreements that differ from the requirements in the
Commission's rules, a utility cannot use its significant negotiating
leverage to require an attacher to give up rights to which the attacher
is entitled under the rules without the attacher obtaining a
corresponding benefit.
On July 20, 2020, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public
Notice seeking comment on a Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed on
July 16, 2020 by NCTA The Internet & Television Association. NCTA asked
the Commission to declare that: (1) Pole owners must share in the cost
of pole replacements in unserved areas pursuant to section 224 of the
Communications Act, section 1.1408(b) of the Commission's rules, and
Commission precedent; (2) pole attachment complaints arising in
unserved areas should be prioritized through placement on the
Accelerated Docket under section 1.736 of the Commission's rules; and
(3) section 1.1407(b) of the Commission's rules authorizes the
Commission to order any pole owner to complete a pole replacement
within a specified period of time or designate an authorized contractor
to do so. Comments on the NCTA Petition were due by September 2, 2020,
and reply comments by September 17, 2020.
On July 23, 2021, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public
Notice seeking comment on a Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed by
the Edison Electric Institute asking the Commission to declare that:
(1) When the Commission determines that a pole attachment rate, term,
or condition is unjust and unreasonable and orders a refund pursuant to
section 1.1407(a)(3) of the Commission's rules, the applicable statute
of limitations'' is the same as the two-year period prescribed by
section 415(b) of the Act; and (2) refunds in pole attachment complaint
proceedings are not appropriate'' for any period preceding good-faith
notice of a dispute. Deadlines for filing comments and reply comments
were set for August 23, 2021, and September 10, 2021, respectively.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/06/15 80 FR 450
NPRM Comment Period End............. 02/05/15 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 03/09/15 .......................
FNPRM............................... 09/25/15 80 FR 57768
R&O................................. 09/25/15 80 FR 57768
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 10/26/15 .......................
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End...... 11/24/15 .......................
2nd R&O............................. 09/12/16 81 FR 62632
NPRM................................ 05/16/17 82 FR 224533
NPRM Comment Period End............. 06/15/17 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 07/17/17 .......................
R&O................................. 12/28/17 82 FR 61520
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 01/17/18 .......................
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End...... 02/16/18 .......................
2nd R&O............................. 07/09/18 83 FR 31659
3rd R&O............................. 09/14/18 83 FR 46812
NCTA Public Notice.................. 07/20/20 .......................
CTIA Declaratory Ruling............. 07/29/20 .......................
Order on Reconsideration............ 02/02/21 86 FR 8872
EEI Public Notice................... 07/23/21 .......................
EEI Public Notice Comment Period End 08/23/21 .......................
EEI Public Notice Reply Comment 09/10/21 .......................
Period End.
Next Action Undetermined............ .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michele Berlove, Special Counsel, Competition
Policy Div., WCB, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202
418-1477, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK32
528. Numbering Policies for Modern Communications, WC Docket No. 13-97
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 153 to 154; 47 U.S.C. 201
to 205; 47 U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 303(r)
Abstract: This Order establishes a process to authorize
interconnected VoIP providers to obtain North American Numbering Plan
(NANP) telephone numbers directly from the numbering administrators,
rather than through intermediaries. Section 52.15(g)(2)(i) of the
Commission's rules limits access to telephone numbers to entities that
demonstrate they are authorized to provide service in the area for
which the numbers are being requested. The Commission has interpreted
this rule as requiring evidence of either a State certificate of public
convenience and necessity (CPCN) or a Commission license. Neither
authorization is typically available in practice to interconnected VoIP
providers. Thus, as a practical matter, generally only
telecommunications carriers are able to provide the proof of
authorization required under our rules, and thus able to obtain numbers
directly from the numbering administrators. This Order establishes an
authorization process to enable interconnected VoIP providers that
choose direct access to request numbers directly from the numbering
administrators. Next, the Order sets forth several conditions designed
to minimize number exhaust and preserve the integrity of the numbering
system.
The Order requires interconnected VoIP providers obtaining numbers
to comply with the same requirements applicable to carriers seeking to
obtain numbers. These requirements include any State requirements
pursuant to numbering authority delegated to the States by the
Commission, as well as industry guidelines and practices, among others.
The Order also requires interconnected VoIP providers to comply with
facilities readiness requirements adapted to this context, and with
numbering utilization and optimization requirements. As conditions to
requesting and obtaining numbers directly from the numbering
administrators, interconnected VoIP providers are also required to: (1)
[[Page 5366]]
Provide the relevant State commissions with regulatory and numbering
contacts when requesting numbers in those states; (2) request numbers
from the numbering administrators under their own unique OCN; (3) file
any requests for numbers with the relevant State commissions at least
30 days prior to requesting numbers from the numbering administrators;
and (4) provide customers with the opportunity to access all
abbreviated dialing codes (N11 numbers) in use in a geographic area.
The Order also modifies Commission's rules in order to permit VoIP
Positioning Center (VPC) providers to obtain pseudo-Automatic Number
Identification (p-ANI) codes directly from the numbering administrators
for purposes of providing E911 services.
Based on experiences and review of the direct access authorization
process established by the 2015 Order, the Commission adopted a FNPRM
which proposes clarifications and revisions to the Commission's rules
to better ensure that interconnected VoIP providers that obtain direct
access authorization fo not facilitate illegal robocalls, pose national
security risks, or evade or abuse intercarrier compensation
requirements. The FNPRM proposes to require additional certifications
as part of the direct access authorization applications process, that
would include certification of compliance with anti-robocalling
obligations. The FNPRM also proposes to clarify that applicants
disclose foreign ownership information on their direct access
application. It would also propose to generally refer those
applications with 10% or greater foreign ownership to the Executive
Branch agencies for their review, consistent with the Commission's
referral of other types of applications. The FNPRM also propose to
clarify that holders of a direct access authorization must update the
Commission and applicable states within 30 days of changes to ownership
information submitted to the Commission. The FNPRM further proposes to
clarify that Commission staff retain the authority to determine when to
accept filings as complete and proposes to direct Commission staff to
reject an application if an applicant has engaged in behavior contrary
to the public interest or has been found to originate or transmit
illegal robocalls. Finally, the FNPRM seeks comment on whether to
expand the direct access authorization to one-way VoIP providers or
other entities that use numbering resources.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 06/19/13 78 FR 36725
NPRM Comment Period End............. 07/19/13 .......................
R&O................................. 10/29/15 80 FR 66454
FNPRM (release date)................ 08/06/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............ .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michelle Sclater, Attorney, Wireline Competition
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0388, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK36
529. Implementation of the Universal Service Portions of the 1996
Telecommunications Act
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.
Abstract: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 expanded the
traditional goal of universal service to include increased access to
both telecommunications and advanced services such as high-speed
internet for all consumers at just, reasonable and affordable rates.
The Act established principles for universal service that specifically
focused on increasing access to evolving services for consumers living
in rural and insular areas, and for consumers with low-incomes.
Additional principles called for increased access to high-speed
internet in the nation's schools, libraries, and rural healthcare
facilities. The FCC established four programs within the Universal
Service Fund to implement the statute: Connect America Fund (formally
known as High-Cost Support) for rural areas; Lifeline (for low-income
consumers), including initiatives to expand phone service for Native
Americans; Schools and Libraries (E-rate); and Rural Healthcare.
The Universal Service Fund is paid for by contributions from
telecommunications carriers, including wireline and wireless companies,
and interconnected Voice over internet Protocol (VoIP) providers,
including cable companies that provide voice service, based on an
assessment on their interstate and international end-user revenues. The
Universal Service Administrative Company, or USAC, administers the four
programs and collects monies for the Universal Service Fund under the
direction of the FCC.
On February 7, 2020, the Commission launched $20 Billion Rural
Digital Opportunity Fund.
On April 2, 2020, the Commission fought COVID-19 with $200M; Adopts
Long-Term Connected Care Study.
On July 17, 2020, the Commission integrated provisions of the
recently enacted Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Acts of
2019 into the existing supply chain rulemaking.
On March 16, 2021, the Commission sought comments on Emergency
Connectivity Fund for Educational Connections and Devices to address
the homework gap during the pandemic.
On March 30, 2021, the Commission moved forward with Round 2 of the
COVID-19 Telehealth Program.
On May 11, 2021, the Commission launched $7.17 Billion Emergency
Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program.
On June 2, 2021, the Commission offered further guidance on the
administration of the Connected Care Pilot Program, including guidance
on eligible services, competitive bidding, invoicing, and data
reporting for selected participants.
On July 22, 2021, the Commission established June 30, 2022, as the
ECF service delivery date for equipment and other non-recurring
services funding requests filed during the initial application filing
window and modifies the certification language for section
54.1710(a)(1)(x).
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
R&O and FNPRM....................... 01/13/17 82 FR 4275
NPRM Comment Period End............. 02/13/17 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 02/27/17 .......................
R&O and Order on Recon.............. 03/21/17 82 FR 14466
Order on Recon...................... 05/19/17 82 FR 22901
Order on Recon...................... 06/08/17 82 FR 26653
Memorandum, Opinion & Order......... 06/21/17 82 FR 228224
NPRM................................ 07/30/19 84 FR 36865
NPRM................................ 08/21/19 84 FR 43543
R&O and Order on Recon.............. 11/07/19 84 FR 59937
Order on Recon...................... 12/09/19 84 FR 67220
R&O................................. 12/20/19 84 FR 70026
R&O................................. 12/27/19 84 FR 71308
R&O................................. 01/17/20 85 FR 3044
Report & Order...................... 03/10/20 85 FR 13773
Report & Order...................... 05/11/20 85 FR 19892
Declaratory Ruling/2nd FNPRM........ 08/04/20 85 FR 48134
Public Notice....................... 03/22/21 86 FR 15172
Report & Order on Recon............. 04/09/21 86 FR 18459
R&O................................. 05/28/21 86 FR 29136
2nd R&O............................. 07/14/21 86 FR 37061
Public Notice....................... 08/02/21 86 FR 41408
Next Action Undetermined............ .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 5367]]
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Nakesha Woodward, Program Analyst, Wireline
Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202
418-1502, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK57
530. Toll Free Assignment Modernization and Toll Free Service Access
Codes: WC Docket No. 17-192, CC Docket No. 95-155
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201(b);
47 U.S.C. 251(e)(1)
Abstract: In this Report and Order (Order), the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) initiates an auction to distribute
certain toll free numbers. The numbers to be auctioned will be in the
new 833 toll free code for which there have been multiple, competing
requests.
By using an auction, the FCC will ensure that sought-after numbers
are awarded to the parties that value them most. In addition, the FCC
will reserve certain 833 numbers for distribution to government and
non-profit entities that request them for public health and safety
purposes. The FCC will study the results of the auction to determine
how to best use the mechanism to distribute toll-free numbers equitably
and efficiently in the future as well. Revenues from the auction will
be used to defray the cost of toll-free numbering administration,
reducing the cost of numbering for all users. The Order establishing
the toll-free number auction will also authorize and accommodate the
use of a secondary market for numbers awarded at auction to further
distribute these numbers to the entities that value them most. The
Order also adopted several definitional and technical updates to
improve clarity and flexibility in toll-free number assignment.
The Commission sought comment and then adopted auctions procedures
and deadlines on August 2, 2019. Bidding for the auction occurred on
December 17, 2019, and Somos issued an announcement of the winning
bidders on December 20, 2019. On December 16, 2019, to facilitate the
preparation of its study of the auction, the Bureau charged the North
American Numbering Council, via its Toll Free Access Modernization
Working Group, to issue a report evaluating various aspects of the 833
Auction, and recommending improvements for any future toll free number
auctions.
On January 16, 2020, Somos released all of the 833 Auction data for
public review. On March 13, 2020, the Bureau invited public comment on
the 833 Auction in preparation for issuing a report on the lessons
learned from the Auction. Comments were due on April 13, 2020. On July
14, 2020, the North American Numbering Council approved the Toll Free
Assignment Modernization Working Group's report, Perspectives on the
December 2019 Auction of Numbers in the 833 Numbering Plan Area.
On January 15, 2021, the Bureau released a report that examined
various aspects of this toll free number assignment experiment,
including lessons learned, examination of auction outcomes, and
recommendations for future toll free number assignment. The Bureau
concluded that the 833 Auction was a successful experiment that
provided invaluable experience and data that can facilitate further
Commission efforts to continue to modernize toll free number allocation
in the future.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 10/13/17 82 FR 47669
NPRM Comment Period End............. 11/13/17 .......................
Final Rule.......................... 10/23/18 83 FR 53377
Next Action Undetermined............ .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Matthew Collins, Attorney Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7141, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK91
531. Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; WC Docket
Nos. 19-195 and 11-10
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 35 to 39; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 211;
47 U.S.C. 219; 47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C. 402(b)2(B); Pub. L. 104-104;
47. U.S.C. 151-154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 254; 47
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332;
47 U.S.C. 641 to 646; Pub. L 116-130; . . .
Abstract: In the Report and Order, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), moving to better identify gaps in broadband coverage
across the nation, initiated a new process for collecting fixed
broadband data to better pinpoint where broadband service is lacking.
The Report and Order concluded that there is a compelling and immediate
need to develop more granular broadband deployment data to meet this
goal and, accordingly, created the new Digital Opportunity Data
Collection.
The Digital Opportunity Data Collection will collect geospatial
broadband coverage maps from fixed broadband internet service providers
of areas where they make fixed service available. This geospatial data
will facilitate development of granular, high-quality fixed broadband
deployment maps, which should improve the FCC's ability to target
support for broadband expansion through the agency's Universal Service
Fund programs. The Report and Order also adopts a process to collect
public input on the accuracy of service providers' broadband maps,
facilitated by a crowd-sourcing portal that will gather input from
consumers as well as from state, local, and Tribal governments.
The Second Further NPRM sought comment on additional technical
standards for fixed broadband providers that could ensure greater
precision for the Digital Opportunity Data Collection deployment
reporting and on ways the Commission could incorporate crowdsourced and
location-specific fixed broadband deployment data into this new data
collection. The Second Further NPRM also sought comment on
incorporating the collection of accurate, reliable mobile wireless
voice and broadband coverage data into the Digital Opportunity Data
Collection. In addition, the Second Further NPRM sought comment on
sunsetting the Form 477 broadband deployment collection following the
creation of the Digital Opportunity Data Collection.
The Second Report and Order established requirements for: (1)
Collecting fixed broadband availability and quality of service data;
(2) collecting mobile broadband deployment data, including the
submission of standardized propagation maps, propagation model details,
and infrastructure information; (3) establishing a common dataset of
all locations in the United States where fixed broadband service can be
installed; (4) verifying the accuracy of broadband availability data;
(5) collecting crowdsourced data; (6) enforcing the requirements of the
Broadband DATA Act; (7) creating coverage maps from the data submitted;
and (8) ensuring the privacy, confidentiality, and security of
information submitted by broadband providers.
The Third Further NPRM sought comment on a range of additional
measures to implement the requirements of the Broadband DATA Act,
including additional processes for verifying broadband availability
data
[[Page 5368]]
submitted by providers, the development of a challenge process, and FCC
Form 477 reforms.
The Third Report and Order specified which fixed and mobile
broadband internet access service providers are required to report
broadband availability data and expanded the reporting and
certification requirements for certain fixed and mobile broadband
filers in order to ensure that Commission staff have the necessary
tools to assess the quality and accuracy of its broadband coverage
maps. The Third Report and Order also adopted standards for collecting
verified broadband data from State, local, and Tribal entities and
certain third parties and adopted processes for submitting challenges
to fixed and mobile coverage map data and data in the location Fabric,
along with processes for providers to respond to such challenges. In
addition, the Third Report and Order established standards for
identifying locations that will be included in the broadband
serviceable locations Fabric and for enforcement of the requirements
associated with the Digital Opportunity Data Collection.
On July 16, 2021, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Office of
Economics and Analytics, and Office of Engineering and Technology
released a Public Notice seeking comment on the technical requirements
for the mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsourcing processes
required under the Broadband DATA Act for the new Broadband Data
Collection (formerly known as the Digital Opportunity Data Collection).
Deadlines for filing comments and reply comments have been set for
September 10, 2021, and September 27, 2021, respectively.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 08/03/17 82 FR 40118
NPRM Comment Period End............. 09/25/17 .......................
Report & Order...................... 08/01/19 84 FR 43705
Second Further Notice of Proposed 08/01/19 84 FR 43764
Rulemaking.
Second Further NPRM Comment Period 10/07/19 .......................
End.
2nd R&O............................. 07/16/20 85 FR 50886
3rd FNPRM........................... 07/16/20 85 FR 50911
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 09/08/20 .......................
3rd R&O............................. 01/13/21 .......................
Public Notice....................... 07/16/21 86 FR 40398
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 09/27/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michael Ray, Attorney, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-0357, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AK93
532. Call Authentication Trust Anchor
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47
U.S.C. 227b; 47 U.S.C. 503
Abstract: On June 6, 2019, the Commission adopted a Declaratory
Ruling and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (CG Docket No.
17-59, WC Docket No. 17-97) that proposed and sought comment on
mandating implementation of STIR/SHAKEN in the event that major voice
service providers did not voluntarily implement the framework by the
end of 2019.
On December 30, 2019, Congress enacted the Pallone-Thune Telephone
Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. Along
with numerous other provisions directed at addressing robocalls, the
TRACED Act directs the Commission to require all voice service
providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN in the internet Protocol (IP)
portions of their networks, and to implement an effective caller ID
authentication framework in the non-IP portions of their networks. The
TRACED Act further creates processes by which voice service providers
may be exempt from this mandate if the Commission determines they have
achieved certain implementation benchmarks, and by which voice service
providers may be granted a delay in compliance based on a finding of
undue hardship because of burdens or barriers to implementation or
based on a delay in development of a caller ID authentication protocol
for calls delivered over non-IP networks.
On March 31, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (WC Docket Nos. 17-97, 20-67).
The Report and Order mandated that all originating and terminating
voice service providers implement the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID
authentication framework in the IP portions of their networks by June
30, 2021. In the Further Notice the Commission sought comment on
proposals to further promote caller ID authentication and implement the
TRACED Act.
On September 29, 2020, the Commission adopted a Second Report and
Order (WC Docket No. 17-97). The Second Report and Order implemented
rules (1) granting extensions for compliance with the STIR/SHAKEN
implementation mandate for small voice service providers, voice service
providers that cannot obtain a SPC token from the Governance Authority,
services scheduled for section 214 discontinuance, for those portions
of a voice service provider's network that rely on non-IP technology,
and establishing a process for individual voice service providers to
seek provider specific extensions (2) requiring voice service providers
using non-IP technology either to upgrade their networks to IP to
enable STIR/SHAKEN implementation, or work to develop non-IP caller ID
authentication technology and implement a robocall mitigation program
in the interim; (3) establishing a process where by a voice service
provider may be exempt from the STIR/SHAKEN implementation mandate if
the provider has achieved certain implementation benchmarks; (4)
prohibiting voice service providers from imposing line item charges on
consumer and small business subscribers for caller ID authentication;
and (5) requiring intermediate providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN. On
May 20, 2021, the Commissioned released a Third Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking proposing to shorten the small provider extension
from two years to one for a subset of small voice service providers
that are at a heightened risk of originating an especially large amount
of robocall traffic.
On January 13, 2021, the Commission adopted a Second Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking proposing and seeking comment on a limited role
for the Commission to oversee certificate revocation decisions by the
private STIR/SHAKEN Governance Authority that would have the effect of
placing providers in noncompliance with the Commission's rules. On
August 5, 2021, the Commission adopted a Third Report and Order which
adopted rules creating this oversight role.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOI................................. 07/14/17 .......................
DR and 3rd FNPRM.................... 06/06/19 84 FR 29478
NPRM................................ 06/24/19 84 FR 29478
NPRM Comment Period End............. 08/23/19 .......................
[[Page 5369]]
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 08/23/19 .......................
R&O and FNPRM....................... 03/31/20 85 FR 22029
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 05/29/20 .......................
2nd R&O............................. 09/29/20 85 FR 73360
2nd FNPRM........................... 01/13/21 86 FR 9894
2nd FNPRM Comment Period............ 03/19/21 .......................
3rd FNPRM........................... 05/20/21 86 FR 30571
3rd R&O............................. 08/05/21 86 FR 48511
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........ 08/19/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............ .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Alexander McMennamin Hobbs, Attorney-Advisor,
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554, Phone: 202 418-7433, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL00
533. Implementation of the National Suicide Improvement Act of 2018
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 251
Abstract: On August 14, 2018, Congress passed the National Suicide
Hotline Improvement Act (Act). Public Law 115-233, 132 Stat. 2424
(2018). The purpose of the Act was to study and report on the
feasibility of designating a 3-digit dialing code to be used for a
national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system by
considering each of the current N11 designations. The Act directed the
Commission to: (1) Conduct a study that examines the feasibility of
designating a simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code to be used
for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline
system; and (2) analyze how well the current National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline is working to address the needs of veterans. The
Act also directed the Commission to coordinate with the Department of
Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the
North American Numbering Council (NANC) in conducting the study, and to
produce a report on the study by August 14, 2019.
On August 14, 2019, the Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of
Economics and Analytics submitted its report to Congress recommending
that: (1) A 3-digit dialing code be used for a national suicide
prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; and (2) the
Commission should initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider
designating 988 as the 3-digit code.
On December 12, 2019, the Commission released a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to designate 988 as a new, nationwide, 3-
digit dialing code for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis
hotline. WC Docket No. 18-336. The NPRM proposes that calls made to 988
be directed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which
is made up of an expansive network of over 170 crisis centers located
across the United States, and to the Veterans Crisis Line. The NPRM
also proposes to require all telecommunications carriers and
interconnected VoIP service providers to make, within 18 months, any
changes necessary to ensure that users can dial 988 to reach the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line.
On July 16, 2020, the Commission adopted an Order designating 988
as the 3-digit number to reach the Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line
(800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255) and requiring all telecommunications
carriers, interconnected voice over internet Protocol (VoIP) providers,
and one-way VoIP providers to make any network changes necessary to
ensure that users can dial 988 to reach the Lifeline by July 16, 2022.
On October 16, 2020, the Communications Equality Advocates filed a
petition for partial reconsideration of the FCC's July 16, 2020 Report
and Order. In their petition, Communications Equality Advocates
requested that the FCC revise the Order to mandate text-to-988 and
direct video calling (DVC) requirements and to have such requirements
be implemented on the same timeline as voice calls to 988, by July 16,
2022.
On October 17, 2020, Congress enacted the National Suicide Hotline
Designation Act of 2020 (2020 Act). Public Law 116-172, 134 Stat. 832
(2020). The 2020 Act, among other things, designates 988 as the
universal telephone number within the United States for the purpose of
the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system
operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline,'' with
designation occurring one year after enactment.
On November 9, 2020, pursuant to 2020 Act's requirements that the
Commission submit a report on the feasibility and cost of attaching an
automatic dispatchable location with 988 calls, the Commission issued a
Public Notice that sought comment on these issues.
On April 22, 2021 the Commission adopted a Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that proposes to require text service
providers support text messages to 988 by routing texts to the toll
free number.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/15/20 85 FR 2359
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/16/20 .......................
Report & Order...................... 07/16/20 .......................
PFR................................. 10/16/20 .......................
Oppositions Due..................... 12/02/20 .......................
Public Notice....................... 12/08/20 85 FR 79014
Replies Due......................... 12/14/20 .......................
Public Notice Comment Period End.... 01/11/21 .......................
FNPRM............................... 06/11/21 86 FR 31404
FNPRM Comment Period End............ 08/10/21 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michelle Sclater, Attorney, Wireline Competition
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0388, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL01
534. Modernizing Unbundling and Resale Requirements in an Era of Next-
Generation Networks and Services
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 10; 47 U.S.C. 251
Abstract: On November 22, 2019, the Commission adopted a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on proposals to update the
unbundling and avoided-cost resale obligations stemming from the 1996
Act and applicable only to incumbent LECs. Many of these obligations
appear to no longer be necessary in many geographic areas due to
vigorous competition for mass market broadband services in urban areas
and numerous intermodal voice capabilities and services. But
recognizing that rural areas pose special challenges for broadband
deployment, the NPRM did not propose any change to unbundling
requirements for broadband-capable loops in rural areas. The NPRM
sought to promote the Commission's efforts to reduce unnecessary and
outdated regulatory burdens that appear to discourage the deployment of
next-generation networks, delay the IP transition, unnecessarily burden
incumbent LECs with no similar obligations placed on
[[Page 5370]]
their competitors, and no longer benefit consumers or serve the purpose
for which they were intended.
On October 27, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (1)
eliminating unbundling requirements, subject to a reasonable transition
period, for enterprise-grade DS1 and DS3 loops where there is evidence
of actual and potential competition, for broadband-capable DS0 loops
and associated subloops in the most densely populated areas, and for
voice-grade narrowband loops nationwide, but preserving unbundling
requirements for DS0 loops in less densely populated areas and DS1 and
DS3 loops in areas without sufficient evidence of competition; (2)
eliminating unbundling requirements for network interface devices and
multiunit premises subloops; (3) eliminating unbundled dark fiber
transport provisioned from wire centers within a half-mile of
competitive fiber networks, but providing an eight-year transition
period for existing circuits so as to avoid stranding investment and
last-mile deployment by competitive LECs that may harm consumers; (4)
eliminating unbundling requirements for operations support systems,
except where carriers are continuing to manage UNEs and for purposes of
local interconnection and local number portability; and (5) eliminating
remaining avoided-cost resale requirements. The Report and Order ended
unbundling and resale requirements where they stifle technology
transitions and broadband deployment, but preserved unbundling
requirements where they are still necessary to realize the 1996 Act's
goal of robust intermodal competition benefiting all Americans.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 01/06/20 85 FR 472
NPRM Comment Period End............. 03/06/20 .......................
Report & Order...................... 01/08/21 86 FR 1636
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Michele Berlove, Special Counsel, Competition
Policy Div., WCB, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202
418-1477, Email: [email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL02
535. Eliminating Ex Ante Pricing Regulation and Tariffing of Telephone
Access Charges (WC Docket 20-71)
Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 160; 47
U.S.C. 201 to 203; 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 251; 47
U.S.C. 254; 47 U.S.C. 303(r); 47 U.S.C. 616
Abstract: The NPRM proposes to deregulate and detariff Telephone
Access Charges, which represent the last handful of interstate end-user
charges that remain subject to regulation. The Notice also proposes to
prohibit all carriers from separately listing these charges on
customers' bills given that some Telephone Access Charges are used to
calculate contributions to the Federal Universal Service Fund and other
federal programs as well as high cost support this Notice also proposes
and seeks comment on ways to ensure stability in funding these
programs.
Timetable:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 04/01/20 85 FR 30899
NPRM Comment Period End............. 07/06/20 .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End....... 08/04/20 .......................
Next Action Undetermined............ .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Victoria Goldberg, Attorney-Advisor, Federal
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7353, Email:
[email protected].
RIN: 3060-AL03
[FR Doc. 2021-28337 Filed 1-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P