Tech & Telecom Weekly Newsletter - November 23, 2020

Welcome to the Tech & Telecom Weekly, an e-newsletter keeping you apprised of the latest developments in the telecommunications and high-tech industries.

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FCC Policy

The next FCC Open Meeting is scheduled for December 10, 2020, at 10:30am ET. Five items are on the Tentative Agenda, including two national security matters and a Report and Order in the Securing the Communications Supply Chain docket. The last Open Meeting for this Administration is scheduled for January 13, 2021. For more information, please contact Stephanie Joyce.

The FCC has affirmed a forfeiture of almost $10 Million on telemarketer Kenneth Moser d/b/a Marketing Support Systems for making 47,610 spoofed robocalls. Moser spoofed a phone number assigned to HomeyTel Network to blast robocalls accusing a candidate for the California State Assembly of assault. He was hired by a relative of the candidate’s opponent. The fine must be paid by December 21, 2020. For more information, please contact Stephanie Joyce.

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Compliance Alerts

Voice service providers seeking an exemption from the FCC’s caller ID authentication rules must file their certifications by December 1, 2020, in WC Docket No. 20-68. The certification must demonstrate how the service provider meets the criteria for exemptions, as outlined in the TRACED Act, for its IP networks, its non-IP networks, or both. The Public Notice summarizing the specific requirements can be found here. (DA 20-1334)

The FCC has announced that the Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority (STI-GA) revised its guidelines such that an entity need not have direct access to telephone numbering resources in order to participate in the SHAKEN/STIR caller ID authentication framework, so long as the entity is listed in the FCC’s forthcoming Robocall Mitigation Database. This new policy will not go into effect until the FCC establishes its Robocall Mitigation Certification filing deadline, which is expected to occur on or after June 30, 2021. (DA 20-1374)

For more information about the SHAKEN/STIR caller ID authentication network, please contact Katherine Barker Marshall.

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Legislative Affairs

On November 19, 2020, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chairman of the Senate Communications Subcommittee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor in support of his new bill, S.2789 — the Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act (STAR), which would replace the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization Act (STELAR) upon its expiration on December 31 2020. The Senator noted that, “absent congressional action before the end of the year, the provisions included in STELAR that enable nearly 870,000 Americans to access broadcast TV signals will no longer be the law of the land.” He urged his colleagues to consider the bill, stating “now is the time for Senators to make their positions clear.” For more information, please contact Stephanie Joyce.

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Rural Broadband

On November 18, 2020, the budget cleared in Phase I of Auction 904, the FCC reverse auction offering Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support for up to 6 million locations that do not have access to broadband services. Bidding will continue until all areas eligible for support are assigned. Following Round 14 on November 20, 2020, there will be two rounds per day beginning on November 23, 2020. All areas for which bids were placed are expected to be assigned by November 25, 2020. For more information, please contact Doug Bonner.

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