Nov
16
2017

November 2017 Open Commission Meeting

10:30 am - 12:30 pm EST
Room TW-C305, 445 12th Street S.W., Washington, DC

The FCC held this Open Meeting on the subjects listed below:

Public Drafts of Meeting Items – The FCC is publicly releasing the draft text of each item expected to be considered at this Open Commission Meeting. One-page cover sheets are included in the public drafts to help summarize each item. Links to these materials are provided below.

  • Blocking Unlawful Robocalls
    The Commission considered a Report and Order that would expressly authorize voice service providers to block certain types of robocalls that falsely appear to be from telephone numbers that do not or cannot make outgoing calls. It also would prohibit voice service providers from blocking 911 calls under these rules, encourage voice service providers to provide a mechanism to allow subscribers whose legitimate calls are blocked in error to stop such blocking, and clarify that providers may exclude calls blocked under these rules from their call completion reports. (CG Docket No. 17-59)
  • Spectrum Bands Above 24 GHz
    The Commission considered a Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Memorandum Opinion and Order that would make available 1,700 MHz of additional high-frequency spectrum for flexible terrestrial wireless use; provide 4 gigahertz for core satellite use; and adopt, refine, or affirm a number of service rules to promote robust deployment in these bands, and a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on certain related earth station, buildout, and licensing issues. (GN Docket No. 14-177; IB Docket No. 15-256; WT Docket No. 10-112; IB Docket No. 97-95)
  • Replacement Utility Poles Report & Order
    The Commission considered a Report and Order to eliminate the requirement for historic preservation review where utility poles are replaced with substantially identical poles that can support antennas or other wireless communications equipment, and to consolidate the Commission's historic preservation review rules into a single rule. (WT Docket No. 17-79)
  • Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment
    The Commission considered a Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order that will revise and seek comment on further changes to the Commission's pole attachment rules, network change disclosure processes, and section 214(a) discontinuance processes to remove barriers to infrastructure investment and promote broadband deployment, and will seek comment on taking targeted actions to facilitate rebuilding and repairing broadband infrastructure after natural disasters. (WC Docket No. 17-84)
  • Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers
    The Commission considered a Fourth Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, Memorandum Opinion and Order, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Notice of Inquiry to adopt and propose measures to effectively and efficiently bridge the digital divide for Lifeline subscribers and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline program. (WC Docket No. 17-287)
  • Reconsideration of Broadcast Ownership Rules
    The Commission considered an Order on Reconsideration and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that updates the Commission's broadcast ownership and attribution rules to reflect the current media marketplace, denies various other requests for reconsideration, finds that the Commission will adopt an Incubator Program to promote ownership diversity, and seeks comment on how to structure and administer such a program. (MB Docket Nos. 14-50, 09-182, 07-294, 04-256, 17-289)
  • Modernizing Cable Data Collection
    The Commission considered a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on whether to eliminate Form 325, Annual Report of Cable Television Systems, or, in the alternative, on ways to modernize and streamline the form. (MB Docket Nos. 17-290, 17-105)
  • 'Next Generation' Broadcast Television Standard
    The Commission considered a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking authorizing television broadcasters to use the Next Generation television transmission standard (ATSC 3.0) on a voluntary, market-driven basis. (GN Docket No. 16-142)

Meeting Documents

FCC Adopts Rules to Help Block Illegal Robocalls

FCC Takes Next Steps to Facilitate Spectrum Frontiers

FCC Streamlines Requirements for Utility Pole Replacements

FCC Acts to Enable Investment in Next-Generation Networks

FCC Moves to Transform Lifeline Program for Low-Income Americans

FCC Modernizes Broadcast Ownership Rules

FCC Reexamines Need for Cable Data Collection Form

FCC Authorizes Next Gen TV Broadcast Standard

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