[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81137-81138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27583]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[DA 16-1230]


Consumer Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission announces renewal of charter, appointment of 
members, designation of chairperson, and next meeting date, time, and 
agenda of its Consumer Advisory Committee (hereinafter the Committee). 
The mission of the Committee is to make recommendations to the 
Commission regarding consumer issues within the jurisdiction of the 
Commission and to facilitate the participation of consumers (including 
underserved populations, such as Native Americans, persons living in 
rural areas, older persons, people with disabilities, and persons for 
whom English is not their primary language) in proceedings before the 
Commission.

DATES: January 27, 2017, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Commission Meeting Room 
TW-C305, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Marshall, Designated Federal 
Officer of the Committee at: 202-418-2809 (voice or relay) or 
[email protected] (email), or Beau Finley, Deputy Designated 
Federal Officer of the Committee at: 202-418-7835 (voice or relay) or 
[email protected] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
document DA 16-1230, released October 31, 2016 announcing the charter 
renewal, appointment of members, designation of chairperson, and the 
Agenda, Date, and Time of the Committee's first Meeting under its 
renewed charter.

Mission and Functions

    The mission of the Committee is to make recommendations to the 
Commission regarding consumer issues within the jurisdiction of the 
Commission and to facilitate the participation of consumers (including 
underserved populations, such as Native Americans, persons living in 
rural areas, older persons, people with disabilities, and persons for 
whom English is not their primary language) in proceedings before the 
Commission. The Committee may consider issues including, but not 
limited to, the following topics:
     Consumer protection and education;
     Implementation of Commission rules and consumer 
participation in the FCC rulemaking process; and,
     The impact of new and emerging communication technologies 
(including availability and affordability of broadband service and 
Universal Service programs).

The duties of the Committee will include providing guidance to the 
Commission, to gather data and information, and to perform those 
analyses that are necessary to respond to the questions or matters 
before it.

Background

    In November 2000, the Committee was initially established for a 
period of two (2) years from the original charter date. Following 
expiration of the original charter, the Committee was subsequently 
renewed several times. On October 14, 2016, the Committee held the 
final meeting of its most recent term, and thereafter, the Committee's 
charter, and all member appointments, terminated. The charter was 
renewed on October 21, 2016, for another two-year term, the ninth such 
renewal. This renewal is necessary and in the public interest. The 
Committee will operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (1988). Each meeting of the 
Committee will be open to the public. A notice of each meeting will be 
published in the Federal Register at least fifteen (15) days in advance 
of the meeting. Records will be maintained of each meeting and made 
available for public inspection.
    During the Committee's ninth term, it is anticipated that the 
Committee will meet in Washington, DC for a minimum of three (3) one-
day plenary meetings per year. In addition, as needed, working groups 
or subcommittees will be established to facilitate the Committee's work 
between meetings of the full Committee. Meetings will be fully 
accessible to individuals with disabilities.
    Members must be willing to commit to a two (2) year term of 
service, and should be willing and able to attend a minimum of three 
(3) one-day plenary committee meetings per year in Washington, DC. 
Committee members are also expected to participate in deliberations of 
at least one (1) working group or subcommittee.

Appointment of Members and Chairperson

    In anticipation of the renewal of the Committee's charter, by a 
Public Notice (DA 16-657) released June 14, 2016, the

[[Page 81138]]

Commission solicited applications for membership on the Committee for 
its ninth two-year term. The application deadline was July 25, 2016.
    After a review of the applications received, Chairman Tom Wheeler 
hereby appoints twenty-nine (29) members to the Committee. Of these, 
seventeen (17) represent interests of general consumers, two (2) 
represent interests of people with disabilities, six (6) represent 
interest of industry, one (1) represents minority interests, two (2) 
represent interests of quasi-government/regulators, and one (1) 
represents interests of seniors. The Committee's membership is designed 
to be representative of the Commission's many constituencies, and the 
diversity of the selected members will provide a balanced point of view 
as required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act. In addition, 
Chairman Wheeler designates Eduard Bartholme representing Call For 
Action as Chairperson of the Committee. All appointments and 
reappointments are effective October 21, 2016, and shall terminate 
October 21, 2018, or when the Committee is terminated, whichever is 
earlier.
    The Committee's roster by organization name and primary 
representative is as follows:

(1) AARP, Coralette Hannon, Senior Legislative Representative
(2) American Cable Association, Ross J. Lieberman, Senior Vice 
President, Governmental Affairs
(3) American Consumer Institute, Steve Pociask, President/CEO
(4) American Foundation for the Blind, Mark Richert, Director Public 
Policy and Senior Advisor Strategic Initiatives
(5) Americans for Tax Reform, Katie McAuliffe, Federal Affairs Manager
(6) Appalachian Regional Commission, Mark Defalco, Manager
(7) Benton Foundation, Ms. Amina Fazlullah, Director of Policy
(8) Call For Action, Eduard Bartholme, Executive Director
(9) Center for Media Justice/Media Action Grassroots Network (MAGNET), 
Paul Goodman, Legal Counsel, Greenlining Institute
(10) Competitive Carriers Association, Elizabeth Barket, Law and 
Regulatory Counsel
(11) Consumer Action, Ken McEldowney, Executive Director
(12) Consumer Federation of America, Irene E. Leech, Ph.D.
(13) Consumers Union, Jonathan Schwantes, Senior Counsel, 
Telecommunications Policy
(14) CTIA, Krista L. Witanowski, Assistant Vice President, Regulatory 
Affairs
(15) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network, Zainab 
Alkebsi, Policy Counsel, National Association of the Deaf
(16) Electronic Privacy Information Center, Claire Gartland, EPIC 
Consumer Protection Counsel
(17) Free Press, Dana Floberg, Research Fellow
(18) Mass. Department of Telecommunications & Cable, Joslyn Day, 
Director, Consumer Division
(19) National Association of Broadcasters, Larry Walke, Associate 
General Counsel, Legal and Regulatory Affairs
(20) National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, Kenneth 
Mallory, Esq., Assistant People's Counsel
(21) National Hispanic Media Coalition, Andy Lomeli, Policy Associate
(22) National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, 
Mitsuko R. Herrera, Tech Policy, Planning
(23) National Consumers League, Debra R. Berlyn, Board Member & Officer
(24) National Consumer Law Center, Olivia Wein, Lead Telecom Attorney
(25) National Cable and Telecommunications Association, Steven Morris, 
Vice President and Associate General Counsel
(26) National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Angela Siefer, Director
(27) New America Foundation, Open Technology Institute, Eric Null, 
Policy Counsel
(28) Public Knowledge, Dallas Harris, Policy Fellow
(29) USTelecom, B. Lynn Follansbee, Vice President Law & Policy

Meeting Agenda

    At its January 27, 2017, meeting, the Committee will consider 
administrative and procedural matters relating to its functions. The 
Committee may receive briefings from commission staff on issues of 
interest to the Committee. A limited amount of time will be available 
on the agenda for comments from the public. If time permits, the public 
may ask questions of presenters via the email address 
[email protected] or via Twitter using the hashtag #fcclive. 
Alternatively, members of the public may send written comments to: 
Scott Marshall, Designated Federal Officer of the Committee at the 
address provided below.
    The meeting is open to the public and the site is fully accessible 
to people using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Sign language 
interpreters, open captioning, assistive listening devices, and Braille 
copies of the agenda and committee roster will be provided on site. 
Meetings of the Committee are also broadcast live with open captioning 
over the Internet from the FCC Live Web page at www.fcc.gov/live/. In 
addition, the public may also follow the meeting on Twitter @fcc or via 
the Commission's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fcc.
    Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are 
available upon request. The request should include a detailed 
description of the accommodation needed and contact information. Please 
provide as much advance notice as possible; last minute requests will 
be accepted, but may not be possible to fill. To request an 
accommodation, send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 
(TTY).
    For further information contact the Designated Federal Officer of 
the Committee, Scott Marshall, at 202-418-2809 (voice or relay) or 
[email protected] (email), or the Deputy Designated Federal 
Officer of the Committee, Beau Finley, at 202-418-7835 (voice or relay) 
or [email protected] (email).

Federal Communications Commission.
D'wana R. Terry,
Acting Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2016-27583 Filed 11-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P