On March 2, the FCC released an Order finalizing the competitive bidding framework for the Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II auction. Under the Phase II auction the FCC will distribute nearly two billion dollars to...more
On Friday, the Federal Register published the FCC’s January 17th Public Notice of the fact that eleven Petitions for Reconsideration were filed in the Broadband Privacy proceeding (WC Docket No. 16-106). The Petitions...more
On January 26, 2017, the FCC issued an Order that makes available $170.4 million in Connect America Fund (“CAF”) Phase II support to applicants selected in New York’s state broadband grant program, the “New NY Broadband...more
On Thursday, December 16, the FCC announced that the Office of Management and Budget had approved the long-delayed “enhanced” Open Internet transparency requirements, which were originally approved in March 2015. As a result,...more
Today, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler confirmed that he will resign effective January 20, 2017, Inauguration Day. With Commissioner Rosenworcel unlikely to be confirmed for a new term, this would leave the FCC with two Republicans...more
The FCC’s new privacy rules were published in the Federal Register last Friday, December 2, 2016. The publication of these rules initiates the period in which broadband ISPs must come into compliance with the agency’s...more
Today, the FCC formally adopted on a 3-2 party-line vote an order that enacts a new privacy and security regime for Internet service providers (ISPs). While it may be several days before the official order and the text of...more
Continuing its efforts to enforce the Open Internet transparency rules, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau on Wednesday, Oct. 19, announced a settlement and consent decree with a mobile broadband ISP (T-Mobile) under which the...more
Orange is the new green –well that’s one way to think of the FCC’s latest announcement of areas eligible for support (subsidies) for providers delivering broadband to unserved areas in connection with the upcoming Connect...more
Broadband and voice providers interested in pursuing a piece of the roughly $2 billion in remaining Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II subsidies take note: the FCC has just released its road map for evaluating bids in the...more
On May 19, the FCC’s Chief Technologist, Office of General Counsel, and Enforcement Bureau (“Bureaus”) released new guidance addressing implementation of the enhanced transparency disclosure requirements required by the 2015...more
FCC Chairman Wheeler’s plan to extend a new rate regulation regime to so-called business data services (which provide point-to-point transmission of data at guaranteed speeds and service levels), formerly known as “special...more
As we have previously advised, the FCC’s proposed rulemaking to “protect the privacy of customers of broadband and other telecommunications services” (the “NPRM”) proposes sweeping changes to the ways that Internet Service...more
4/27/2016
/ Broadband ,
Cable Operators ,
Communications Act of 1934 ,
Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) ,
Data Security ,
FCC ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) ,
NPRM ,
Personally Identifiable Information ,
Section 222 ,
Telecommunications
On March 30, the FCC released an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing $2 billion annually in new financial support (subsidies) to rural incumbent telecommunications carriers (so-called rate of return carriers)...more
The FCC has released its safe harbor disclosure framework under the Open Internet transparency requirements for end user customer disclosures, which take the form of a broadband “label” –not unlike the form of labels used by...more
Late this afternoon the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing new rules governing the privacy practices of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) at its monthly open meeting, which was delayed several times...more
On Wednesday, the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau extended the ongoing exemption from applying the enhanced transparency requirements of the 2015 Open Internet Order to small providers. As a result, small...more
If you work for a broadband service provider and haven’t recently reviewed your FCC-mandated network management “transparency” disclosures posted on your website, we suggest you make that the next thing you do after reading...more
7/23/2015
/ AT&T Mobility ,
Breach of Contract ,
Broadband ,
Compliance ,
Data Plan ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
FCC ,
Fines ,
Misrepresentation ,
Mobile Devices ,
Open Internet Rules ,
Transparency ,
Unjust Enrichment
Although not yet in effect, broadband providers should begin to consider how best to implement the FCC’s “enhanced” transparency (disclosure) requirements. As explained in our recent advisory, the Order retains the FCC’s 2010...more
The FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability (“NAL”) to AT&T for alleged violations of the 2010 Open Internet “transparency rule.” The FCC contends that AT&T “willfully and repeatedly” violated the rule by: (1) using the...more
The Order does not formally modify the text of the existing “transparency” rule, which was upheld by the D.C. Circuit in Verizon v. FCC in 2014. However, the Order does prescribe numerous “enhancements” to the rule, which...more
The Order does not forbear from applying Section 222 of the Act to broadband Internet access service (BIAS) providers. It did, however, forbear from applying its existing rules implementing Section 222, in recognition that...more
On August 19, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau released a public notice establishing the process for applying for support under the Rural Broadband Experiments program. Applications under this program must be submitted...more
On July 14, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released its latest Connect America Fund Order, which sets forth the parameters of its planned “rural broadband experiments” program. As detailed below, the...more
On Friday, July 11, 2014 the FCC adopted an order implementing its planned “Rural Broadband Experiments”—a test-case program for disbursing subsidies to competitive providers that can deploy broadband to unserved areas. Our...more