The FCC has published the tentative agenda for its November 2023 Open Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for November 15, at 10:30 a.m. EDT and will be livestreamed at www.fcc.gov/live and available on the FCC’s YouTube channel. The agenda includes the following items:
Preventing Digital Discrimination (GN Docket No. 22-69) – The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish a framework to facilitate equal access to broadband internet access service by preventing digital discrimination of access and seek additional comment on matters pertaining to the Commission’s administration of Section 60506 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and our efforts to facilitate equal access.
Empowering Survivors of Domestic Violence (WC Docket Nos. 22-238, 11-42, 21-450) – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would adopt rules to implement the Safe Connections Act of 2022 to help survivors of domestic violence and similar crimes separate lines from shared mobile accounts that include their abusers, protect the privacy of calls made by survivors to domestic abuse hotlines, and support survivors who face financial hardship through the Commission’s affordability programs.
Understanding Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Robocalls and Robotexts (CG Docket No. 23-362) – The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry seeking to better understand the implications of Artificial Intelligence technologies as part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to protect consumers from unwanted and illegal telephone calls and text messages under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Protecting Consumers from SIM Swapping and Port-Out Fraud (WC Docket No. 21-341) – The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would adopt rules to protect consumers from SIM swap and port-out fraud, two fraudulent practices that bad actors use to take control of consumers’ cell phones, and would also seek comment on whether to harmonize the Commission’s existing requirements governing customer access to customer proprietary network information with the new SIM change authentication and protection measures in the Report and Order.
Amending Amateur Radio Rules for Greater Flexibility in Data Communications (WT Docket No. 16-239) – The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would eliminate the symbol rate (also known as baud rate) limitation and establish a bandwidth limitation that would provide flexibility to use modern digital emissions, thereby promoting innovation and experimentation in the amateur service. The item would also propose the removal of the baud rate limitation in several additional bands.
Reducing Regulatory Requirements for Rural Provider of Long-Distance Access Service (WC Docket No. 22-407) – The Commission will consider a Declaratory Ruling and Memorandum Opinion and Order that would grant the Minnesota Independent Equal Access Corporation (MIEAC) relief from dominant carrier regulation with respect to its provision of centralized equal access (CEA) service, and regulate MIEAC as a non-dominant competitive LEC for this service going forward. In light of declining demand, intervening exchange access service regulatory reforms, and technological changes in the voice services marketplace generally, dominant carrier regulation of MIEAC’s CEA service is no longer necessary to serve the public interest.
Enforcement Bureau Action – The Commission will consider three enforcement actions.
