INCOMPAS NEWS -- February 5, 2018

The Department of Technology of the City and County of San Francisco has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to pre-qualify firms to submit proposals pursuant to a subsequent RFP to design, build, finance, operate and maintain a citywide fiber to the premises network, lit fiber and Wi-Fi services project. RFQs are due at Noon PT on March 26, 2018.

FCC DEADLINES

February 2

Comments Due on Promoting Telehealth in Rural America NPRM

February 16

Reply Comments Due in Wireline Broadband Deployment FNPRM

February 21

Comments Due on Lifeline and Link Up Reform Modernization

February 22

Reply Comments Due on Eliminating Unlawful Robocalls FNPRM

March 5

Reply Comments Due on Promoting Telehealth in Rural America NPRM

March 23

Reply Comments Due on Lifeline and Link Up Reform Modernization

Net Neutrality Session Added to Wednesday's Policy Summit

This Wednesday, February 7, is The INCOMPAS 2018 Policy Summit at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Just added to the agenda: A look at the future of net neutrality:

Scales of Justice: Net Neutrality Heads to Court, Congress, and the States - The FCC's partisan vote to end net neutrality has already drawn a number of legal challenges. Congress is poised to disapprove the FCC's repeal through the Congressional Review Act, and states have begun to fill the gap with their own net neutrality requirements. What are the key questions the courts will ask? What evidence is in the FCC record that could impact the direction of the courts? When can we expect Congress to act, and will state actions make a difference? Hear from Markham Erickson, INCOMPAS' lead attorney in the challenge to the FCC's repeal, who will provide an in-depth look at the legal strategies and arguments ahead.

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH)
Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)
Marc Hudson, co-founder and CEO, Rocket Fiber

You'll also hear top industry executives cover a variety of topics, such as:

Stay and Network

After keynotes and panel sessions, stay and network with attendees during The Policy Summit happy hour.

To see the full agenda or register online today, visit The INCOMPAS Policy Summit website.

INCOMPAS Weighs in on FCC Broadband Deployment Report

Last week INCOMPAS met with FCC staff to discuss the comments it submitted in the Commission's 2018 Broadband Deployment Report docket.

INCOMPAS encouraged the Commission "to adopt certain proposals made in its wireline and wireless broadband deployment proceedings. For one, the Commission should adopt procedures that provide new attachers the option of using a one-touch make ready process for pole attachments." The association also discussed how access to multiple tenant environments (MTEs) has been challenging for competitive providers, and why the ability to access MTEs is a significant economic factor for firms and their ability to deliver competitive broadband networks to areas that are lacking competitive broadband choice.

FCC Announces Agenda for February 22 Open Meeting

The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its next Open Meeting, which is scheduled for February 22:

Spectrum Horizons - The FCC will consider an NPRM seeking comment on proposed rules that would apply to spectrum above 95 GHz for licensed services, unlicensed operations and a new class of experimental licenses.
Encouraging the Provision of New Technologies and Services - The FCC will consider an NPRM to provide guidelines and procedures to implement section 7 of the Communications Act, as amended, to improve FCC processes to promote the provision of new technologies and services to the public.
Mobility Fund Phase II Second Order on Reconsideration - The FCC will consider an Order addressing the remaining issues raised by parties in petitions for reconsideration of the Mobility Fund Phase II Report and Order and FNPRM.
Broadcast EEO Mid-Term Reports - The FCC will consider an NPRM that proposes to eliminate the requirement in Section 73.2080(f)(2) of the FCC's rules that certain broadcast television and radio stations file the Broadcast MidTerm Report (Form 397).
Maintenance of Copies of FCC Rules - The FCC will consider a Report and Order that would eliminate specific Part 74, 76, and 78 rules that require certain broadcast and cable entities to maintain paper copies of FCC rules, while retaining provisions that require the subject entities to be familiar with the rules governing their operations.
Part 64 Provision of Payphone Service - The FCC will consider a Report and Order to (1) eliminate all payphone call tracking system audit and associated reporting requirements, (2) permit a company official, including but not limited to the chief financial officer, to certify that a completing carrier's quarterly compensation payments are accurate and complete, and (3) eliminate expired payphone compensation rules.

The meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C.. Open meetings are streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live.