Intelligent Telecom Data Solutions
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) in Docket 22-339 released on October 27, 2022, the FCC proposed to “bolster the operational readiness and security of the nation’s public alert and warning systems, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts. These systems warn the public about emergencies through alerts on their televisions, radios, and wireless phones.”
While they disagree on many issues, the evenly divided FCC agrees on the importance of stopping illegal robocalls. Therefore, it requires voice providers to implement the caller ID authentication technology called STIR/SHAKEN on their Internet Protocol (IP) networks. STIR/SHAKEN combats robocalls by allowing voice carriers to verify that the caller ID information transmitted with a call matches the caller’s number.
On September 27, 2022, the FCC decided to act against scam text messaging. Unwanted texts cause similar problems as unwanted voice calls since they violate consumer privacy and can jump-start consumer fraud and identity theft.
In May 2021, in a Fifth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in Docket 12-375, the FCC sought industry comments on requiring inmate calling services providers to provide access to all eligible relay services for incarcerated people with communication disabilities.
The FCC released a Report and Order that phased out cost based ILEC unbundling requirements everywhere except in the most rural areas of the country.
On August 15, 2022, the FCC Released its Report on the Future of Universal Service (Report) as part of Docket 21-476. The Report is a requirement of the 2021 Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (Act).
Normally we concentrate on the FCC and the actions it takes that affect our industry. Today, however, we turn to the increasingly aggressive Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is now encroaching on ISPs more each day.
Industry comments are due on August 16, 2022, in a unique Petition for Declaratory Ruling (Petition) by the CLEC Midcontinent Communications (Midcontinent) filed on July 12, 2022, in Docket 22-277.
We have often pleaded with Congress to once and for all codify net neutrality rules, so we don’t continue to ping-pong between Republican and Democratic presidents. We envisioned that the two parties would compromise, forbidding blocking, throttling and paid prioritization of traffic, but rejecting utility like Title II regulation for ISPs.
On July 19, 2022, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent a letter to the top 15 mobile providers requesting information about their data retention and data privacy policies and general practices.