The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has released the tentative agenda for its August 2019 Open Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. EST. Open Meetings are streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live and can be followed on social media with #OpenMtgFCC. The agenda includes nine items:
Establishing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would propose to adopt a two-phase reverse auction framework, committing $20.4 billion, for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. (WC Docket Nos. 19-126, 10-90)
Digital Opportunity Data Collection – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would establish a new data collection to collect geospatial broadband coverage data from fixed providers. It would also make targeted changes to the existing Form 477 to reduce filing burdens. (WC Docket Nos. 19-195, 11-10)
Promoting Telehealth in Rural America – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would overhaul the Rural Health Care Program by streamlining and simplifying the way health care providers apply for and calculate universal service support amounts. (WC Docket No. 17-310)
Streamlining Licensing Procedures for Small Satellites – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would create an optional streamlined application process designed for “small satellites.” (IB Docket No. 18-86)
Kari’s Law/RAY BAUM’S Act – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would address calls to 911 made from multi-line telephone systems (Kari’s Law) and the conveyance of dispatchable location with 911 calls (RAY BAUM’S Act). (PS Docket Nos. 18-261, 17-239)
833 Toll-Free Number Auction – The Commission will consider a Public Notice that would adopt procedures for the auction of certain toll-free numbers in the 833 code. (AU Docket No. 19-101; WC Docket No. 17-192; CC Docket No. 95-155)
Improving Low Power FM Radio Service – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would modernize the LPFM technical rules to provide more regulatory flexibility for licensees. (MB Docket No. 19-193, 17-105)
Implementation of Section 621, Cable Franchising – The Commission will consider a Third Report and Order that would address issues raised by a remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit concerning how franchising authorities may regulate incumbent cable operators. (MB Docket No. 05-311)
Anti-Spoofing Rules – The Commission will consider a Second Report and Order that would amend its Truth in Caller ID rules to implement the anti-spoofing provisions of the RAY BAUM’S Act. (WC Docket Nos. 18-335 and 11-39)
The formal agenda will be released by the FCC one week prior to the meeting.