INCOMPAS News -- September 30, 2024

Vol. 20, No. 38

September 30, 2024

This Thursday at 2 p.m. ET:

Webinar on Critical Role of Digital Infrastructure Investments

Join INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering and DC BLOX General Counsel Alan Poole for webinar - Building Tomorrow’s Economy: The Critical Role of Digital Infrastructure Investments - this Thursday, October 3, at 2 p.m. ET.

The webinar will focus on the growing need for digital infrastructure investments throughout the world and the value of those investments to future economies. Continued public cloud expansion, an acceleration in digital transformation and the explosion of AI applications are driving a modern digital revolution. Similar to the past industrial revolution, economies will succeed depending upon their vision, investments and adoption of the infrastructure needed to drive this unprecedented opportunity.

During this webinar, discover the answers to these questions:

What is driving today’s rapidly growing need for digital infrastructure?
What kind of investments in data centers, new fiber networks, power infrastructure and green energy will be needed to address this growth?
How will these investments position a region for future economic success?
Who are the drivers of the necessary investments?
What should regional leaders be doing to encourage these investments in their respective areas?

Advanced registration required.

If you are unable to attend, please register so you can receive the link to the recording following the webinar.

Coming Soon! The 2024 INCOMPAS Show Mobile App

Soon you will be able to have everything you need for The 2024 INCOMPAS Show in the palm of your hand. Later this week, we'll be debuting our INCOMPAS Show Mobile App, available exclusively to registered attendees.

The Mobile App will enable you to:

Access the attendee list
Message other attendees to request meetings
Build your schedule for while you're onsite in Denver
Explore our agenda and see who is speaking
Find, and learn more about, our sponsors, exhibitors and meeting hosts

Register now so you can have access to this valuable resource when it launches. Then start planning your schedule and reaching out to set up important meetings in Denver, October 20-22.

FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for October 17 Open Meeting

The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its October 17 open meeting, where it will consider:

Implementation of the National Suicide Hotline Act of 2018 – A Third Report and Order and Third FNPRM that would adopt rules requiring wireless providers to implement a georouting solution for 988 calls to ensure that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can connect callers to geographically appropriate crisis centers based on the caller’s general location. The Third Further Notice would also propose and seek comment on requiring covered text providers to support georouting for covered 988 text messages.
Achieving 100% Wireless Handset Model Hearing Aid Compatibility – A a Report and Order adopting a 100% hearing aid compatibility requirement for all wireless handset models offered for sale or use in the United States and implementation provisions related to this requirement.

INCOMPAS President Speaks on AEI Broadband Policies Webinar

INCOMPAS President Angie Kronenberg last week spoke on a webinar, "Examining Federal Broadband Policies: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Reform," hosted by American Enterprise Institute (AEI). She was part of a panel that discussed the market approaches to incentivize constructing broadband deployment under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. They also examined how to balance the federal government’s directive to state planning processes, the constitutionality of FCC-delegated taxation powers, and why consumers have been waiting two years to see the BEAD program’s benefits. And finally, they suggested steps agencies might take to provide more Americans with cost-efficient internet.

View the webinar on-demand.

INCOMPAS CEO Pickering Speaks at The Connected World Live

Last week INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering joined Ben Edmond, CEO & Founder of Connectbase, for a discussion on "Shaping the Future of Connectivity" at The Connected World Live! The talk focused on the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping the telecom and connectivity ecosystem, including key topics critical to driving growth and innovation within the industry.

Application Window Open for E-Rate Cybersecurity Pilot Program

The application window for the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program is now open. During the 45-day application filing window, which will run to November 1, 2024, eligible schools and libraries can apply to participate in the three-year, $200 million pilot program.

Participants selected for the pilot program will receive support to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment, while providing the Commission with data to better understand whether and how universal service funds could be used to improve school and library defenses against increasing cyberattacks.

In related news, the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau announced the effective date for the information collection associated with the rules contained in the June 2024 report and order that provided up to $200 million in USF support for the Pilot Program. Effective September 20, the amendments are to to sections:

54.2004 (application for pilot program selection and reporting of information)
54.2005 (competitive bidding requirements)
54.2006 (requests for funding) and 54.2008 (requests for reimbursement)

Webinar on Mobile Challenge Process Set for October 24

The FCC announced that the Broadband Data Task Force will host a webinar on October 24, 2024, at 3 p.m.. The webinar will focus on how to challenge the mobile coverage data reflected on the National Broadband Map. Questions about the mobile challenge process may be submitted in advance of the workshop or during the workshop using the Q&A function.

The FCC also said later this fall, it will host several virtual office hours sessions for entities with questions about the mobile challenge process and submitting bulk mobile challenges.

Next-Gen 911 Report and Order Effective November 25

The report and order on expediting the transition to NG911 was published in the Federal Register and will become effective November 25, 2024. Compliance will not be required for sections 9.31(a) through (c) (valid requests for delivery of 911 traffic in Internet Protocol-based formats) and 9.34(a) and (b) (modification of NG911 requirements by mutual agreement) until a document is published in the Federal Register announcing a compliance date and revising or removing sections 9.31(d) and 9.34(c).

Oral Arguments Scheduled for Wi-Fi on School Buses Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit released an order announcing oral arguments are scheduled for November 4, 2024, in the case seeking review of the declaratory ruling that the use of Wi-Fi on school buses is eligible for E-Rate funding.

Bipartisan Chips Permitting Reform Bill Heads to President

The Senate Commerce Committee announced that Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) coauthored a bill to expedite semiconductor manufacturing plant construction dramatically and had passed the House of Representatives. The Kelly-Cruz bill, which removes burdensome hurdles to achieving environmental reviews and permits for microchip projects, passed the Senate unanimously and now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.

Native Entities Can Now Apply for Digital Equity Capacity Funding

The NTIA announced opening of the window for native entities to apply for funding from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. The window will close on Feb. 7, 2025. The program will provide about $45 million for native entities and carry out digital equity and inclusion activities consistent with the Digital Equity Act.

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