INCOMPAS News -- November 18, 2024

Vol. 20, No. 43

November 18, 2024

Now Available On Demand:

INCOMPAS Election Roundtable

Last Thursday, INCOMPAS hosted 2024 Post-Election Roundtable: Expected Impact on Communications Policy. The webinar is now available to watch on demand.

The webinar, moderated by INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering, featured a deep analysis from our industry experts on how the 2024 election outcome impacts the communications industry. A special thank you to our panelists below for an insightful look at what's to come in the new Administration:

Patricia Cave, Associate, Morgan Lewis
John Heitmann, Partner, Nelson Mullins
Hank Kelly, Partner, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Charles Mathias, Senior Counsel, Hogan Lovells
Robert M. McDowell, Partner, Cooley
Jeff Strenkowski, Partner, Troutman Pepper
Richard J. Ward, III, Senior Policy Advisor, Venable

INCOMPAS Congratulates Carr on FCC Chairman Appointment

Yesterday President-elect Trump announced Commissioner Brendan Carr as his nomination to serve as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

"Congratulations to Commissioner Carr on the well deserved appointment to FCC Chair. Commissioner Carr has worked tirelessly to promote policies that break down barriers to deployment so our members can build networks of the future to connect all Americans," said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. "He has also been a fierce champion to ensure our nation’s communications policies secure our position as a global leader. I look forward to continuing to work with him on important issues including streamlining permitting processes, getting much needed access to poles, and maximizing our finite spectrum resources."

Report Issued on AI to Protect Against Unwanted Robocalls

The FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee submitted a report and recommendations examining the uses of artificial intelligence to protect consumers from unwanted robocalls, robotexts and other harms, and enable people with disabilities to make calls.

The CAC said the report provides the FCC with 16 recommendations, including: greater coordination with other agencies on solutions to protect consumers; promoting innovative uses of AI to enhance call-blocking technologies; consideration of the privacy risks associated with the use of AI-based robocall identification and blocking tools; and integrating an AI robocall and robotext education campaign along with broadband access and literacy initiatives.

The INCOMPAS Policy Team, with the assistance of members, participated in the development of this report.

NARUC Passes Resolutions on Contributions and Numbering

The NARUC board of directors passed resolutions at its November 10, 2024 annual meeting. The telecommunications resolutions included:

Authorizing NARUC to file an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of the FCC, in Consumers’ Research v. FCC, on USF contributions;
Encouraging the FCC to investigate the sale and/or brokering of toll-free and non-toll-free telephone numbers to ensure number resource optimization
Supporting communication and coordination on underground infrastructure safety during broadband deployment

December 12 Effective Date for Wireless Providers to

Implement Georouting Solution for Calls to 988 Lifeline

The third report and order that requires wireless providers to implement a georouting solution for calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to facilitate access to critical local intervention services was published in the Federal Register on November 12, 2024.

The order also revised the FCC’s existing 988 voice and texting rules to permit routing to the 988 Lifeline without translation to a toll-free access number, giving wireless providers flexibility in implementing georouting solutions. The order is effective December 12, 2024. Compliance with the addition of Section 52.202 (georouting of wireless calls to the hotline) is required for nationwide CMRS providers by 30 days after December 12, 2024, and compliance is required for all CMRS providers by 24 months after December13, 2024.

FCC Receives 2,700+ Application for Cybersecurity Pilot Program

The FCC announced that it received 2,734 applications from schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries to participate in the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, representing $3.7 billion in requests to fund cybersecurity projects during the three-year program. The program will provide up to $200 million in funding to eligible schools and libraries selected to participate to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment.

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