[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5340-5370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28337]



[[Page 5339]]

Vol. 87

Monday,

No. 20

January 31, 2022

Part XXIII





Federal Communications Commission





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 87 , No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: 
Reg Flex Agenda  

[[Page 5340]]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Ch. I


Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions--
Fall 2021

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Semiannual Regulatory Agenda.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Twice a year, in spring and fall, the Commission publishes in 
the Federal Register a list in the Unified Agenda of those major items 
and other significant proceedings under development or review that 
pertain to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (U.S.C. 602). The Unified 
Agenda also provides the Code of Federal Regulations citations and 
legal authorities that govern these proceedings. The complete Unified 
Agenda will be published on the internet in a searchable format at 
www.reginfo.gov.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maura McGowan, Telecommunications 
Policy Specialist, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0990.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Unified Agenda of Major and Other Significant Proceedings

    The Commission encourages public participation in its rulemaking 
process. To help keep the public informed of significant rulemaking 
proceedings, the Commission has prepared a list of important 
proceedings now in progress. The General Services Administration 
publishes the Unified Agenda in the Federal Register in the spring and 
fall of each year.
    The following terms may clarify the status of the proceedings 
included in this report:
    Docket Number--assigned to a proceeding if the Commission has 
issued either a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking or a Notice of Inquiry 
concerning the matter under consideration. The Commission has used 
docket numbers since January 1, 1978. Docket numbers consist of the 
last two digits of the calendar year in which the docket was 
established plus a sequential number that begins at 1 with the first 
docket initiated during a calendar year (e.g., Docket No. 15-1 or 
Docket No. 17-1). The abbreviation for the responsible bureau usually 
precedes the docket number, as in ``MB Docket No. 17-289,'' which 
indicates that the responsible bureau is the Media Bureau. A docket 
number consisting of only five digits (e.g., Docket No. 29622) 
indicates that the docket was established before January 1, 1978.
    Notice of Inquiry (NOI)--issued by the Commission when it is 
seeking information on a broad subject or trying to generate ideas on a 
given topic. A comment period is specified during which all interested 
parties may submit comments.
    Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)--issued by the Commission when 
it is proposing a specific change to Commission rules and regulations. 
Before any changes are actually made, interested parties may submit 
written comments on the proposed revisions.
    Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM)--issued by the 
Commission when additional comment in the proceeding is sought.
    Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O)--issued by the Commission to 
deny a petition for rulemaking, conclude an inquiry, modify a decision, 
or address a petition for reconsideration of a decision.
    Rulemaking (RM) Number--assigned to a proceeding after the 
appropriate bureau or office has reviewed a petition for rulemaking, 
but before the Commission has acted on the petition.
    Report and Order (R&O)--issued by the Commission to state a new or 
amended rule or state that the Commission rules and regulations will 
not be revised.

Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

       Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
472.......................  Rules and Regulations              3060-AI14
                             Implementing the
                             Telephone Consumer
                             Protection Act (TCPA) of
                             1991 (CG Docket No. 02-
                             278).
473.......................  Rules and Regulations              3060-AI15
                             Implementing Section 225
                             of the Communications Act
                             (Telecommunications Relay
                             Service) (CG Docket No.
                             03-123).
474.......................  Structure and Practices of         3060-AJ42
                             the Video Relay Service
                             (VRS) Program (CG Docket
                             No. 10-51).
475.......................  Implementation of the              3060-AJ84
                             Middle Class Tax Relief
                             and Job Creation Act of
                             2012/Establishment of a
                             Public Safety Answering
                             Point Do-Not-Call
                             Registry (CG Docket No.
                             12-129).
476.......................  Misuse of Internet                 3060-AK01
                             Protocol (IP) Captioned
                             Telephone Service;
                             Telecommunications Relay
                             Services and Speech-to-
                             Speech Services; CG
                             Docket No. 13-24.
477.......................  Advanced Methods to Target         3060-AK62
                             and Eliminate Unlawful
                             Robocalls (CG Docket No.
                             17-59).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                      Economics--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
478.......................  Development of Nationwide          3060-AJ15
                             Broadband Data to
                             Evaluate Reasonable and
                             Timely Deployment of
                             Advanced Services to All
                             Americans.
479.......................  Expanding the Economic and         3060-AJ82
                             Innovation Opportunities
                             of Spectrum Through
                             Incentive Auctions (GN
                             Docket No. 12-268).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 5341]]


         Office of Engineering and Technology--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
480.......................  Encouraging the Provision          3060-AK80
                             of New Technologies and
                             Services to the Public
                             (GN Docket No. 18-22).
481.......................  Spectrum Horizon (ET               3060-AK81
                             Docket No. 18-21).
482.......................  Use of the 5.850-5.925 GHz         3060-AK96
                             Band (ET Docket No. 19-
                             138).
483.......................  Allowing Earlier Equipment         3060-AL18
                             Marketing and Importation
                             Opportunities; Petition
                             to Expand Marketing
                             Opportunities for
                             Innovative Technologies
                             (ET Docket No. 20-382 &
                             RM-11857) NPRM, 86 FR
                             2337, January 1.
484.......................  Unlicensed White Space             3060-AL22
                             Device Operations in the
                             Television Bands (ET
                             Docket No. 20-36).
485.......................  Protecting Against                 3060-AL23
                             National Security Threats
                             to the Communications
                             Supply Chain through the
                             Equipment Authorization
                             and Competitive Bidding
                             Programs; ET Docket No.
                             21-232, EA Docket No. 21-
                             233.
486.......................  Wireless Microphones in            3060-AL27
                             the TV Bands, 600 MHz
                             Guard Band, 600 MHz
                             Duplex Gap, and the 941.5-
                             944 MHz, 944-952 MHz,
                             952.850-956.250 MHz,
                             956.45-959.85 MHz, 1435-
                             1525 MHz, 6875-6900 MHz
                             and 7100-7125 MHz.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                 International Bureau--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
487.......................  Update to Parts 2 and 25           3060-AK59
                             Concerning
                             NonGeostationary, Fixed-
                             Satellite Service
                             Systems, and Related
                             Matters: IB Docket No. I6-
                             408.
488.......................  Amendment of Parts 2 and           3060-AK84
                             25 of the FCC Rules to
                             Facilitate the Use of
                             Earth Stations in Motion
                             Communicating With
                             Geostationary Orbit Space
                             Stations in FSS Bands: IB
                             Docket No. 17-95.
489.......................  Further Streamlining Part          3060-AK87
                             25 Rules Governing
                             Satellite Services: IB
                             Docket No. 18-314.
490.......................  Facilitating the                   3060-AK89
                             Communications of Earth
                             Stations in Motion With
                             Non-Geostationary Orbit
                             Space Stations: IB Docket
                             No. 18-315.
491.......................  Mitigation of Orbital              3060-AK90
                             Debris in the New Space
                             Age: IB Docket No. 18-313.
492.......................  Process Reform for                 3060-AL12
                             Executive Branch Review
                             of Certain FCC
                             Applications and
                             Petitions Involving
                             Foreign Ownership (IB
                             Docket No. 16-155).
493.......................  Parts 2 and 25 to Enable           3060-AL28
                             GSO FSS in the 17.3-17.8
                             GHz Band, Modernize Rules
                             for 17/24 GHz BSS Space
                             Stations, and Establish
                             Off-Axis Uplink Power
                             Limits for Extended Ka-
                             Band FSS (IB Doc. No. 20-
                             330).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                     Media Bureau--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
494.......................  Revision of EEO Rules and          3060-AH95
                             Policies (MM Docket No.
                             98-204).
495.......................  Establishment of Rules for         3060-AI38
                             Digital Low-Power
                             Television, Television
                             Translator, and
                             Television Booster
                             Stations (MB Docket No.
                             03-185).
496.......................  Preserving Vacant Channels         3060-AK43
                             in the UHF Television
                             Band for Unlicensed Use;
                             (MB Docket No. 15-146).
497.......................  Authorizing Permissive Use         3060-AK56
                             of the ``Next
                             Generation'' Broadcast
                             Television Standard (GN
                             Docket No. 16-142).
498.......................  2018 Quadrennial                   3060-AK77
                             Regulatory Review of the
                             Commission's Broadcast
                             Ownership Rules (MB
                             Docket 18-349).
499.......................  Equal Employment                   3060-AK86
                             Opportunity Enforcement
                             (MB Docket 19-177).
500.......................  Duplication of Programming         3060-AL19
                             on Commonly Owned Radio
                             Stations (MB Docket No.
                             19-310).
501.......................  Sponsorship Identification         3060-AL20
                             Requirements for Foreign
                             Government-Provided
                             Programming (MB Docket
                             No. 20-299).
502.......................  FM Broadcast Booster               3060-AL21
                             Stations (MB Docket 20-
                             401).
503.......................  Revisions to Political             3060-AL25
                             Programming and Record-
                             Keeping Rules (MB Docket
                             No. 21-93).
504.......................  Updating Broadcast Radio           3060-AL26
                             Technical Rules (MB
                             Docket 21-263).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


             Office of Managing Director--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
505.......................  Assessment and Collection          3060-AK64
                             of Regulatory Fees.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
506.......................  Wireless E911 Location             3060-AJ52
                             Accuracy Requirements: PS
                             Docket No. 07-114.
507.......................  Improving Outage Reporting         3060-AK39
                             for Submarine Cables and
                             Enhancing Submarine Cable
                             Outage Data; GN Docket
                             No. 15-206.

[[Page 5342]]

 
508.......................  Amendments to Part 4 of            3060-AK40
                             the Commission's Rules
                             Concerning Disruptions to
                             Communications: PS Docket
                             No. 15-80.
509.......................  New Part 4 of the                  3060-AK41
                             Commission's Rules
                             Concerning Disruptions to
                             Communications; ET Docket
                             No. 04-35.
510.......................  Wireless Emergency Alerts          3060-AK54
                             (WEA): PS Docket No. 15-
                             91.
511.......................  Blue Alert EAS Event Code.         3060-AK63
------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Wireless Telecommunications Bureau--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
512.......................  Amendment of Parts 1, 2,           3060-AJ87
                             22, 24, 27, 90, and 95 of
                             the Commission's Rules to
                             Improve Wireless Coverage
                             Through the Use of Signal
                             Boosters (WT Docket No.
                             10-4).
513.......................  Promoting Technological            3060-AK06
                             Solutions to Combat
                             Wireless Contraband
                             Device Use in
                             Correctional Facilities;
                             GN Docket No. 13-111.
514.......................  Promoting Investment in            3060-AK12
                             the 3550-3700 MHz Band;
                             GN Docket No. 17-258.
515.......................  Use of Spectrum Bands              3060-AK44
                             Above 24 GHz for Mobile
                             Services--Spectrum
                             Frontiers: WT Docket 10-
                             112.
516.......................  Transforming the 2.5 GHz           3060-AK75
                             Band, WT Docket No.18-120.
517.......................  Expanding Flexible Use of          3060-AK76
                             the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band:
                             GN Docket No. 18-122.
518.......................  Amendment of the                   3060-AK92
                             Commission's Rules to
                             Promote Aviation Safety:
                             WT Docket No. 19-140.
519.......................  Implementation of State            3060-AL29
                             and Local Governments'
                             Obligation to Approve
                             Certain Wireless Facility
                             Modification Requests
                             Under Section 6409(a) of
                             the Spectrum Act of 2012
                             (WT Docket No.19-250).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Wireless Telecommunications Bureau--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
520.......................  800 MHz Cellular                   3060-AK13
                             Telecommunications
                             Licensing Reform; Docket
                             No. 12-40.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


             Wireline Competition Bureau--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
521.......................  Local Telephone Networks           3060-AH44
                             That LECs Must Make
                             Available to Competitors.
522.......................  Jurisdictional Separations         3060-AJ06
523.......................  Rural Call Completion; WC          3060-AJ89
                             Docket No. 13-39.
524.......................  Rates for Inmate Calling           3060-AK08
                             Services; WC Docket No.
                             12-375.
525.......................  Comprehensive Review of            3060-AK20
                             the Part 32 Uniform
                             System of Accounts (WC
                             Docket No. 14-130).
526.......................  Restoring Internet Freedom         3060-AK21
                             (WC Docket No. 17-108);
                             Protecting and Promoting
                             the Open Internet (GN
                             Docket No. 14-28).
527.......................  Technology Transitions; GN         3060-AK32
                             Docket No 13-5, WC Docket
                             No. 05-25; Accelerating
                             Wireline Broadband
                             Deployment by Removing
                             Barriers to
                             Infrastructure
                             Investment; WC Docket No.
                             17-84.
528.......................  Numbering Policies for             3060-AK36
                             Modern Communications, WC
                             Docket No. 13-97.
529.......................  Implementation of the              3060-AK57
                             Universal Service
                             Portions of the 1996
                             Telecommunications Act.
530.......................  Toll Free Assignment               3060-AK91
                             Modernization and Toll
                             Free Service Access
                             Codes: WC Docket No. 17-
                             192, CC Docket No. 95-155.
531.......................  Establishing the Digital           3060-AK93
                             Opportunity Data
                             Collection; WC Docket
                             Nos. 19-195 and 11-10.
532.......................  Call Authentication Trust          3060-AL00
                             Anchor.
533.......................  Implementation of the              3060-AL01
                             National Suicide
                             Improvement Act of 2018.
534.......................  Modernizing Unbundling and         3060-AL02
                             Resale Requirements in an
                             Era of Next-Generation
                             Networks and Services.
535.......................  Eliminating Ex Ante                3060-AL03
                             Pricing Regulation and
                             Tariffing of Telephone
                             Access Charges (WC Docket
                             20-71).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 5343]]

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Long-Term Actions

472. Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer 
Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 (CG Docket No. 02-278)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 227
    Abstract: In this docket, the Commission considers rules and 
policies to implement the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 
(TCPA). The TCPA places requirements on robocalls (calls using an 
automatic telephone dialing system, an autodialer, a prerecorded or, an 
artificial voice), telemarketing calls, and unsolicited fax 
advertisements.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/08/02  67 FR 62667
FNPRM...............................   04/03/03  68 FR 16250
Order...............................   07/25/03  68 FR 44144
Order Effective.....................   08/25/03  .......................
Order on Reconsideration............   08/25/03  68 FR 50978
Order...............................   10/14/03  68 FR 59130
FNPRM...............................   03/31/04  69 FR 16873
Order...............................   10/08/04  69 FR 60311
Order...............................   10/28/04  69 FR 62816
Order on Reconsideration............   04/13/05  70 FR 19330
Order...............................   06/30/05  70 FR 37705
NPRM................................   12/19/05  70 FR 75102
Public Notice.......................   04/26/06  71 FR 24634
Order...............................   05/03/06  71 FR 25967
NPRM................................   12/14/07  72 FR 71099
Declaratory Ruling..................   02/01/08  73 FR 6041
R&O.................................   07/14/08  73 FR 40183
Order on Reconsideration............   10/30/08  73 FR 64556
NPRM................................   03/22/10  75 FR 13471
R&O.................................   06/11/12  77 FR 34233
Public Notice.......................   06/30/10  75 FR 34244
Public Notice (Reconsideration         10/03/12  77 FR 60343
 Petitions Filed).
Announcement of Effective Date......   10/16/12  77 FR 63240
Opposition End Date.................   10/18/12  .......................
Rule Corrections....................   11/08/12  77 FR 66935
Declaratory Ruling (release date)...   11/29/12  .......................
Declaratory Ruling (release date)...   05/09/13  .......................
Declaratory Ruling and Order........   10/09/15  80 FR 61129
NPRM................................   05/20/16  81 FR 31889
Declaratory Ruling..................   07/05/16  .......................
R&O.................................   11/16/16  81 FR 80594
Public Notice.......................   06/28/18  83 FR 26284
Public Notice.......................   10/03/18  .......................
Declaratory Ruling..................   12/06/19  .......................
Declaratory Ruling..................   12/09/19  .......................
Order...............................   03/17/20  .......................
Declaratory Ruling..................   03/20/20  .......................
Declaratory Ruling..................   06/25/20  .......................
Declaratory Ruling and Order........   06/25/20  .......................
Order on Reconsideration............   08/28/20  .......................
Declaratory Ruling..................   09/04/20  .......................
Declaratory Ruling..................   09/21/20  .......................
NPRM................................   10/09/20  85 FR 64091
Public Notice.......................   12/17/20  .......................
Declaratory Ruling..................   12/18/20  .......................
Declaratory Ruling..................   01/15/21  .......................
Order on Recon......................   02/12/21  86 FR 9299
R&O.................................   02/25/21  86 FR 11443
Public Notice (Reconsideration         04/12/21  86 FR 18934
 Petitions Filed).
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kristi Thornton, Deputy Division Chief, Federal 
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 
202 418-2467, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AI14

473. Rules and Regulations Implementing Section 225 of the 
Communications Act (Telecommunications Relay Service) (CG Docket No. 
03-123)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225
    Abstract: This proceeding continues the Commission's inquiry into 
improving the quality of telecommunications relay service (TRS) and 
furthering the goal of functional equivalency, consistent with 
Congress' mandate that TRS regulations encourage the use of existing 
technology and not discourage or impair the development of new 
technology. In this docket, the Commission explores ways to improve 
emergency preparedness for TRS facilities and services, new TRS 
technologies, public access to information and outreach, and issues 
related to payments from the Interstate TRS Fund.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/25/03  68 FR 50993
R&O, Order on Reconsideration.......   09/01/04  69 FR 53346
FNPRM...............................   09/01/04  69 FR 53382
Public Notice.......................   02/17/05  70 FR 8034
Declaratory Ruling/Interpretation...   02/25/05  70 FR 9239
Public Notice.......................   03/07/05  70 FR 10930
Order...............................   03/23/05  70 FR 14568
Public Notice/Announcement of Date..   04/06/05  70 FR 17334
Order...............................   07/01/05  70 FR 38134
Order on Reconsideration............   08/31/05  70 FR 51643
R&O.................................   08/31/05  70 FR 51649
Order...............................   09/14/05  70 FR 54294
Order...............................   09/14/05  70 FR 54298
Public Notice.......................   10/12/05  70 FR 59346
R&O/Order on Reconsideration........   12/23/05  70 FR 76208
Order...............................   12/28/05  70 FR 76712
Order...............................   12/29/05  70 FR 77052
NPRM................................   02/01/06  71 FR 5221
Declaratory Ruling/Clarification....   05/31/06  71 FR 30818
FNPRM...............................   05/31/06  71 FR 30848
FNPRM...............................   06/01/06  71 FR 31131
Declaratory Ruling/Dismissal of        06/21/06  71 FR 35553
 Petition.
Clarification.......................   06/28/06  71 FR 36690
Declaratory Ruling on                  07/06/06  71 FR 38268
 Reconsideration.
Order on Reconsideration............   08/16/06  71 FR 47141
MO&O................................   08/16/06  71 FR 47145
Clarification.......................   08/23/06  71 FR 49380
FNPRM...............................   09/13/06  71 FR 54009
Final Rule; Clarification...........   02/14/07  72 FR 6960
Order...............................   03/14/07  72 FR 11789
R&O.................................   08/06/07  72 FR 43546
Public Notice.......................   08/16/07  72 FR 46060
Order...............................   11/01/07  72 FR 61813
Public Notice.......................   01/04/08  73 FR 863
R&O/Declaratory Ruling..............   01/17/08  73 FR 3197
Order...............................   02/19/08  73 FR 9031
Order...............................   04/21/08  73 FR 21347
R&O.................................   04/21/08  73 FR 21252
Order...............................   04/23/08  73 FR 21843
Public Notice.......................   04/30/08  73 FR 23361
Order...............................   05/15/08  73 FR 28057
Declaratory Ruling..................   07/08/08  73 FR 38928
FNPRM...............................   07/18/08  73 FR 41307
R&O.................................   07/18/08  73 FR 41286
Public Notice.......................   08/01/08  73 FR 45006
Public Notice.......................   08/05/08  73 FR 45354
Public Notice.......................   10/10/08  73 FR 60172
Order...............................   10/23/08  73 FR 63078
2nd R&O and Order on Reconsideration   12/30/08  73 FR 79683
Order...............................   05/06/09  74 FR 20892
Public Notice.......................   05/07/09  74 FR 21364
NPRM................................   05/21/09  74 FR 23815
Public Notice.......................   05/21/09  74 FR 23859
Public Notice.......................   06/12/09  74 FR 28046
Order...............................   07/29/09  74 FR 37624
Public Notice.......................   08/07/09  74 FR 39699
Order...............................   09/18/09  74 FR 47894
Order...............................   10/26/09  74 FR 54913
Public Notice.......................   05/12/10  75 FR 26701
Order Denying Stay Motion (Release     07/09/10
 Date).
Order...............................   08/13/10  75 FR 49491
Order...............................   09/03/10  75 FR 54040
NPRM................................   11/02/10  75 FR 67333
NPRM................................   05/02/11  76 FR 24442
Order...............................   07/25/11  76 FR 44326
Final Rule (Order)..................   09/27/11  76 FR 59551
Final Rule; Announcement of            11/22/11  76 FR 72124
 Effective Date.

[[Page 5344]]

 
Proposed Rule (Public Notice).......   02/28/12  77 FR 11997
Proposed Rule (FNPRM)...............   02/01/12  77 FR 4948
First R&O...........................   07/25/12  77 FR 43538
Public Notice.......................   10/29/12  77 FR 65526
Order on Reconsideration............   12/26/12  77 FR 75894
Order...............................   02/05/13  78 FR 8030
Order (Interim Rule)................   02/05/13  78 FR 8032
NPRM................................   02/05/13  78 FR 8090
Announcement of Effective Date......   03/07/13  78 FR 14701
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/13/13
FNPRM...............................   07/05/13  78 FR 40407
FNPRM Comment Period End............   09/18/13
R&O.................................   07/05/13  78 FR 40582
R&O.................................   08/15/13  78 FR 49693
FNPRM...............................   08/15/13  78 FR 49717
FNPRM Comment Period End............   09/30/13
R&O.................................   08/30/13  78 FR 53684
FNPRM...............................   09/03/13  78 FR 54201
NPRM................................   10/23/13  78 FR 63152
FNPRM Comment Period End............   11/18/13
Petiton for Reconsideration; Request   12/16/13  78 FR 76096
 for Comment.
Petition for Reconsideration;          12/16/13  78 FR 76097
 Request for Comment.
Request for Clarification; Request     12/30/13  78 FR 79362
 for Comment; Correction.
Petition for Reconsideration Comment   01/10/14
 Period End.
NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/21/14
Announcement of Effective Date......   07/11/14  79 FR 40003
Announcement of Effective Date......   08/28/14  79 FR 51446
Correction--Announcement of            08/28/14  79 FR 51450
 Effective Date.
Technical Amendments................   09/09/14  79 FR 53303
Public Notice.......................   09/15/14  79 FR 54979
R&O and Order.......................   10/21/14  79 FR 62875
FNPRM...............................   10/21/14  79 FR 62935
FNPRM Comment Period End............   12/22/14
Final Action (Announcement of          10/30/14  79 FR 64515
 Effective Date).
Final Rule Effective................   10/30/14
FNPRM...............................   11/08/15  80 FR 72029
FNPRM Comment Period End............   01/01/16
Public Notice.......................   01/20/16  81 FR 3085
Public Notice Comment Period End....   02/16/16
R&O.................................   03/21/16  81 FR 14984
FNPRM...............................   08/24/16  81 FR 57851
FNPRM Comment Period End............   09/14/16
NOI and FNPRM.......................   04/12/17  82 FR 17613
NOI and FNPRM Comment Period End....   05/30/17
R&O.................................   04/13/17  82 FR 17754
R&O.................................   04/27/17  82 FR 19322
FNPRM...............................   04/27/17  82 FR 19347
FNPRM Comment Period End............   07/11/17
R&O.................................   06/23/17  82 FR 28566
Public Notice.......................   07/21/17  82 FR 33856
Public Notice--Correction...........   07/25/17  82 FR 34471
Public Notice Comment Period End....   07/31/17
Public Notice--Correction Comment      08/17/17
 Period End.
R&O.................................   08/22/17  82 FR 39673
Announcement of Effective Date......   10/17/17  82 FR 48203
Public Notice; Petition for            10/25/17  82 FR 49303
 Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due Date................   11/20/17
R&O and Declaratory Ruling..........   06/27/18  83 FR 30082
FNPRM...............................   07/18/18  83 FR 33899
FNPRM Comment Period End............   11/15/18
Public Notice.......................   08/23/18  83 FR 42630
Public Notice Opposition Period End.   09/17/18
Announcement of Effective Date......   02/04/19  84 FR 1409
R&O.................................   03/08/19  84 FR 8457
FNPRM...............................   03/14/19  84 FR 9276
FNPRM Comment Period End............   04/29/19
R&O.................................   06/06/19  84 FR 26364
FNPRM...............................   06/06/19  84 FR 26379
Petition for Recon Request for         06/18/19  84 FR 28264
 Comment.
Petition for Recon Comment Period      07/15/19
 End.
FNPRM Comment Period End............   08/05/19  .......................
R&O.................................   01/06/20  85 FR 462
R&O.................................   01/09/20  85 FR 1125
NPRM................................   01/09/20  85 FR 1134
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/13/20
Announcement of Effective Date......   02/19/20  85 FR 9392
Final Rule; removal of compliance      05/06/20  85 FR 26857
 notices.
Report & Order......................   05/08/20  85 FR 27309
Final Rule; correction..............   08/26/20  85 FR 52489
R&O and Order on Recon..............   10/14/20  85 FR 64971
Final Rule; announcement of            10/23/20  85 FR 67447
 effective and compliance dates.
FNPRM...............................   02/01/21  86 FR 7681
FNPRM Comment Period End............   04/02/21
Public Notice; Petition for            02/22/21  86 FR 10458
 Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due Date................   03/19/21
R&O.................................   02/23/21  86 FR 10844
NPRM................................   03/19/21  86 FR 14859
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/03/21
NPRM................................   06/04/21  86 FR 29969
NPRM Correction.....................   06/15/21  86 FR 31668
Order on Recon......................   07/07/21  86 FR 35632
Public Notice.......................   07/15/21  86 FR 37328
NPRM Correction Comment Period End..   07/30/21
Public Notice Comment Period End....   08/09/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald, Deputy Chief, Disability Rights 
Office, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2235, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AI15

474. Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service (VRS) Program 
(CG Docket No. 10-51)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 
U.S.C. 303(r)
    Abstract: The Commission takes a fresh look at its VRS rules to 
ensure that it is available to and used by the full spectrum of 
eligible users, encourages innovation, and is provided efficiently to 
be less susceptible to the waste, fraud, and abuse that have plagued 
the program and threatened its long-term viability. The Commission also 
considers the most effective and efficient way to make VRS available 
and to determine what is the most fair, efficient, and transparent 
cost-recovery methodology. In addition, the Commission looks at various 
ways to measure the quality of VRS so as to ensure a better consumer 
experience.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Declaratory Ruling..................   05/07/10  75 FR 25255
Declaratory Ruling..................   07/13/10  75 FR 39945
Order...............................   07/13/10  75 FR 39859

[[Page 5345]]

 
Notice of Inquiry...................   07/19/10  75 FR 41863
NPRM................................   08/23/10  75 FR 51735
Interim Final Rule..................   02/15/11  76 FR 8659
Public Notice.......................   03/02/11  76 FR 11462
R&O.................................   05/02/11  76 FR 24393
FNPRM...............................   05/02/11  76 FR 24437
NPRM................................   05/02/11  76 FR 24442
R&O (Correction)....................   05/27/11  76 FR 30841
Order...............................   07/25/11  76 FR 44326
2nd R&O.............................   08/05/11  76 FR 47469
Order (Interim Final Rule)..........   08/05/11  76 FR 47476
Final Rule; Announcement of            09/26/11  76 FR 59269
 Effective Date.
Final Rule; Petition for               09/27/11  76 FR 59557
 Reconsideration; Public Notice.
Oppositions Due Date................   10/07/11  .......................
Final Rule; Clarification (MO&O)....   10/31/11  76 FR 67070
FNPRM...............................   10/31/11  76 FR 67118
Interim Final Rule; Announcement of    11/03/11  76 FR 68116
 Effective Date.
Final Rule; Announcement of            11/04/11  76 FR 68328
 Effective Date.
Final Rule; Announcement of            11/07/11  76 FR 68642
 Effective Date.
FNPRM Comment Period End............   12/30/11  .......................
FNPRM...............................   02/01/12  77 FR 4948
FNPRM Comment Period End............   03/19/12  .......................
Final Rule; Correction..............   03/27/12  77 FR 18106
Correcting Amendments...............   06/07/12  77 FR 33662
Order (Release Date)................   07/25/12  .......................
Correcting Amendments...............   10/04/12  77 FR 60630
Public Notice.......................   10/29/12  77 FR 65526
Comment Period End..................   11/29/12  .......................
FNPRM...............................   07/05/13  78 FR 40407
R&O.................................   07/05/13  78 FR 40582
FNPRM Comment Period End............   09/18/13  .......................
Public Notice.......................   09/11/13  78 FR 55696
Public Notice.......................   09/15/14  79 FR 54979
Comment Period End..................   10/10/14  .......................
Final Action (Announcement of          10/30/14  79 FR 64515
 Effective Date).
Final Rule Effective................   10/30/14  .......................
FNPRM...............................   11/18/15  80 FR 72029
FNPRM Comment Period End............   02/01/16  .......................
R&O.................................   03/21/16  81 FR 14984
FNPRM...............................   08/24/16  81 FR 57851
FNPRM Comment Period End............   09/14/16  .......................
NOI and FNPRM.......................   04/12/17  82 FR 17613
NOI and FNPRM Comment Period End....   05/30/17  .......................
R&O.................................   04/13/17  82 FR 17754
R&O.................................   04/27/17  82 FR 19322
FNPRM...............................   04/27/17  82 FR 19347
FNPRM Comment Period End............   07/01/17  .......................
Order...............................   06/23/17  82 FR 28566
Public Notice.......................   07/21/17  82 FR 33856
Public Notice Comment Period End....   07/31/17  .......................
Public Notice Correction............   07/25/17  82 FR 34471
Public Notice Correction Comment       08/17/17  .......................
 Period End.
R&O and Order.......................   08/22/17  82 FR 39673
Announcement of Effective Date......   10/17/17  82 FR 48203
Public Notice; Petition for            10/25/17  82 FR 49303
 Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due Date................   11/20/17  .......................
R&O.................................   06/06/19  84 FR 26364
FNPRM...............................   06/06/19  84 FR 26379
FNPRM Comment Period End............   08/05/19  .......................
Report & Order......................   05/08/20  85 FR 27309
R&O and Order on Recon..............   10/14/20  85 FR 64971
Final rule; announcement of            10/23/20  85 FR 67447
 effective and compliance dates.
FNPRM...............................   02/01/21  86 FR 7681
FNPRM Comment Period End............   04/02/21  .......................
Public Notice; Petition for            02/22/21  86 FR 10458
 Reconsideration.
Oppositions Due Date................   03/19/21  .......................
NPRM................................   03/19/21  86 FR 14859
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/03/21  .......................
NPRM................................   06/04/21  86 FR 29969
NPRM Correction.....................   06/15/21  86 FR 31668
NPRM Correction Comment Period End..   07/30/21  .......................
Order on Recon......................   07/07/21  86 FR 35632
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald, Deputy Chief, Disability Rights 
Office, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2235, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AJ42

475. Implementation of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act 
of 2012/Establishment of a Public Safety Answering Point Do-Not-Call 
Registry (CG Docket No. 12-129)

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 112-96, sec. 6507
    Abstract: The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 
required the Commission to create a Do-Not-Call Registry for public 
safety answering point (PSAP) telephone numbers and to prohibit the use 
of automated dialing equipment to place calls to PSAP numbers on the 
Registry. In this docket, the Commission adopted rules and policies 
implementing these statutory requirements.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/21/12  77 FR 37362
R&O.................................   10/29/12  77 FR 71131
Correction Amendments...............   02/13/13  78 FR 10099
Announcement of Effective Date......   03/26/13  78 FR 18246
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Richard D. Smith, Special Counsel, Consumer Policy 
Division, Federal Communications Commission, Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 717 
338-2797, Fax: 717 338-2574, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AJ84

476. Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service; 
Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services; CG 
Docket No. 13-24

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225
    Abstract: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiated 
this proceeding in its effort to ensure that Internet-Protocol 
Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) is provided effectively and in the 
most efficient manner. In doing so, the FCC adopted rules to address 
certain practices related to the provision and marketing of IP CTS, as 
well as compensation of TRS providers. IP CTS is a form of relay 
service designed to allow people with hearing loss to speak directly to 
another party on a telephone call and to simultaneously listen to the 
other party and read captions of what that party is saying over an IP-
enabled device. To ensure that IP CTS is provided efficiently to 
persons who need to use

[[Page 5346]]

this service, the Commission adopted rules establishing several 
requirements and issued an FNPRM to address additional issues.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/05/13  78 FR 8090
Order (Interim Rule)................   02/05/13  78 FR 8032
Order...............................   02/05/13  78 FR 8030
Announcement of Effective Date......   03/07/13  78 FR 14701
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/12/13  .......................
R&O.................................   08/30/13  78 FR 53684
FNPRM...............................   09/03/13  78 FR 54201
FNPRM Comment Period End............   11/18/13  .......................
Petition for Reconsideration Request   12/16/13  78 FR 76097
 for Comment.
Petition for Reconsideration Comment   01/10/14  .......................
 Period End.
Announcement of Effective Date......   07/11/14  79 FR 40003
Announcement of Effective Date......   08/28/14  79 FR 51446
Correction--Announcement of            08/28/14  79 FR 51450
 Effective Date.
Technical Amendments................   09/09/14  79 FR 53303
R&O and Declaratory Ruling..........   06/27/18  83 FR 30082
FNPRM...............................   07/18/18  83 FR 33899
Public Notice.......................   08/23/18  83 FR 42630
Public Notice Opposition Period End.   09/17/18  .......................
FNPRM Comment Period End............   11/15/18  .......................
Announcement of Effective Date......   02/04/19  84 FR 1409
R&O.................................   03/08/19  84 FR 8457
FNPRM...............................   03/14/19  84 FR 9276
FNPRM Comment Period End............   04/29/19  .......................
Petition for Recon Request for         06/18/19  84 FR 28264
 Comment.
Petition for Recon Comment Period      07/15/19  .......................
 End.
R&O.................................   01/06/20  85 FR 462
Announcement of Effective Date......   02/19/20  85 FR 9392
Final Rule; Removal of Compliance      05/06/20  85 FR 26857
 Notes.
Final Rule; correction..............   08/26/20  85 FR 52489
R&O and Order on Recon..............   10/14/20  85 FR 64971
FNPRM...............................   02/01/21  86 FR 7681
Public Notice; Petition for            02/22/21  86 FR 10458
 Reconsideration.
NPRM................................   03/19/21  86 FR 14859
Oppositions Due Date................   03/19/21  .......................
FNPRM Comment Period End............   04/02/21  .......................
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/03/21  .......................
Public Notice.......................   07/15/21  86 FR 37328
Public Notice Comment Period End....   08/09/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald, Deputy Chief, Disability Rights 
Office, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2235, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK01

477. Advanced Methods To Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls (CG 
Docket No. 17-59)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201 and 202; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 
251(e)
    Abstract: The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 restricts 
the use of robocalls autodialed or prerecorded calls in certain 
instances. In CG Docket No. 17-59, the Commission considers rules and 
policies aimed at eliminating unlawful robocalling. Among the issues it 
examines in this docket are whether to allow carriers to block calls 
that purport to be from unallocated or unassigned phone numbers through 
the use of spoofing, whether to allow carriers to block calls based on 
their own analyses of which calls are likely to be unlawful and whether 
to establish a database of reassigned phone numbers to help prevent 
robocalls to consumers, who did not consent to such calls.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM/NOI............................   05/17/17  82 FR 22625
2nd NOI.............................   07/13/17  .......................
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/31/17  .......................
FNPRM...............................   01/08/18  83 FR 770
R&O.................................   01/12/18  83 FR 1566
2nd FNPRM...........................   04/23/18  83 FR 17631
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........   06/07/18  .......................
2nd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End..   07/09/18  .......................
2nd R&O.............................   03/26/19  84 FR 11226
3rd FNPRM...........................   06/24/19  84 FR 29478
Declaratory Ruling..................   06/24/19  84 FR 29387
Public Notice Seeking Input on         12/30/19  .......................
 Report.
Public Notice Seeking Comment on       01/24/20  .......................
 Reassigned Numbers.
Public Notice Seeking Comment on RND   02/26/20  .......................
 Cost/Fee Structure.
Public Notice Establishing             04/16/20  .......................
 Guidelines for RND.
Report..............................   06/25/20  .......................
3rd NPRM Comment Date...............   06/26/20  .......................
Announcement of Compliance Dates....   06/26/20  85 FR 38334
3rd R&O, Order of Reconsideration,     07/31/20  85 FR 46063
 4th FNPRM.
4th R&O (release date)..............   12/30/20  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Karen Schroeder, Associate Division Chief, Federal 
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 
202 418-0654, Email: [email protected].
    Jerusha Burnett, Attorney Advisor, Federal Communications 
Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0526, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK62

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

Economics

Long-Term Actions

478. Development of Nationwide Broadband Data To Evaluate Reasonable 
and Timely Deployment of Advanced Services to all Americans

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 252; 47 U.S.C. 257; 47 
U.S.C. 271; 47 U.S.C. 1302; 47 U.S.C. 160(b); 47 U.S.C. 161(a)(2)
    Abstract: The Report and Order streamlined and reformed the 
Commission's Form 477 Data Program, which is the Commission's primary 
tool to collect data on broadband and telephone services.
    Timetable:

[[Page 5347]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/16/07  72 FR 27519
Order...............................   07/02/08  73 FR 37861
Order...............................   10/15/08  73 FR 60997
NPRM................................   02/08/11  76 FR 10827
Order...............................   06/27/13  78 FR 49126
NPRM................................   08/24/17  82 FR 40118
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/25/17  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   10/10/17  .......................
R&O and FNPRM.......................   08/22/19  84 FR 43764
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Suzanne Mendez, Program Analyst, OEA, Federal 
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 
202 418-0941, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AJ15

479. Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum 
Through Incentive Auctions (GN Docket No. 12-268)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(G); 47 U.S.C. 1452
    Abstract: In February 2012, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job 
Creation Act was enacted (Pub. L. 112-96, 126 Stat. 156 (2012)). Title 
VI of that statute, commonly known as the Spectrum Act, provides the 
Commission with the authority to conduct incentive auctions to meet the 
growing demand for wireless broadband. Pursuant to the Spectrum Act, 
the Commission may conduct incentive auctions that will offer new 
initial spectrum licenses subject to flexible-use service rules on 
spectrum made available by licensees that voluntarily relinquish some 
or all of their spectrum usage rights in exchange for a portion, based 
on the value of the relinquished rights as determined by an auction, of 
the proceeds of bidding for the new licenses. In addition to granting 
the Commission general authority to conduct incentive auctions, the 
Spectrum Act requires the Commission to conduct an incentive auction of 
broadcast TV spectrum and sets forth special requirements for such an 
auction.
    The Spectrum Act requires that the BIA consist of a reverse auction 
``to determine the amount of compensation that each broadcast 
television licensee would accept in return for voluntarily 
relinquishing some or all of its spectrum usage rights'' and a forward 
auction of licenses in the reallocated spectrum for flexible-use 
services, including mobile broadband. Broadcast television licensees 
who elected to voluntarily participate in the auction had three bidding 
options: Go off-the-air, share spectrum with another broadcast 
television licensee, or move channels to the upper or lower VHS band in 
exchange for receiving part of the proceeds from auctioning that 
spectrum to wireless providers. The Spectrum Act also authorized the 
Commission to reorganize the 600 MHz band following the BIA including, 
as necessary, reassigning full power and Class A television stations to 
new channels in order to clear the spectrum sold in the BIA. That post-
auction reorganization (known as the repack) is currently underway and 
all of the stations who were assigned new channels are scheduled to 
have vacated their pre-auction channels by July 3, 2020, pursuant to a 
10-phase transition schedule adopted by the Commission.
    In May 2014, the Commission adopted a Report and Order that laid 
out the general framework for the BIA. The auction started on March 29, 
2016, with the submission of initial commitments by eligible broadcast 
licensees. The BIA ended on April 13, 2017, with the release of the 
Auction Closing and Channel Reassignment Public Notice that also marked 
the start of the 39-month transition period during which 987 of the 
full power and Class A television stations remaining on-the-air will 
transition their stations to their post-auction channel assignments in 
the reorganized television band. Pursuant to the Spectrum Act, the 
Commission will reimburse 957 of those full power and Class A stations 
for the reasonable costs associated with relocating to their post-
auction channel assignments and will reimburse multichannel video 
programming distributors for their costs associated with continuing to 
carry the signals of those stations.
    In March 2018, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 115-
141, at Div. E, Title V, 511, 132 Stat. 348 (2018), codified at 47 
U.S.C. 1452(j)-(n)) (the Reimbursement Expansion Act or REA), extended 
the deadline for reimbursement of eligible entities from April 2020 to 
no later than July 3, 2023, and also expanded the universe of entities 
eligible for reimbursement to include low-power television stations and 
TV translator stations displaced by the BIA for their reasonably 
incurred costs to relocate to a new channel, and FM broadcast stations 
for their reasonably incurred costs for facilities necessary to 
reasonably minimize disruption of service as a result of the post-
auction reorganization of the television band. On March 15, 2019, the 
Commission adopted a Report and Order setting rules for the 
reimbursement of eligible costs to those newly eligible entities.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/21/12  77 FR 69933
R&O.................................   08/15/14  79 FR 48441
Final Rule..........................   10/11/17  82 FR 47155
NPRM................................   08/27/18  83 FR 43613
R&O.................................   03/26/19  84 FR 11233
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Jean L. Kiddoo, Chair, Incentive Auction Task 
Force, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7757, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AJ82

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

Office of Engineering and Technology

Long-Term Actions

480. Encouraging the Provision of New Technologies and Services to the 
Public (GN Docket No. 18-22)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(3)
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the FCC seeks to establish rules 
describing guidelines and procedures to implement the stated policy 
goal of section 7 to encourage the provision of new technologies and 
services to the public. Although the forces of competition and 
technological growth work together to enable the development and 
deployment of many new technologies and services to the public, the 
Commission has at times been slow to identify and take action to ensure 
that important new technologies or services are made available as 
quickly as possible. The Commission has sought to overcome these 
impediments by streamlining many of its processes but all too often 
regulatory delays can adversely impact newly proposed technologies or 
services.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   04/04/18  83 FR 14395
Comment Period End..................   05/04/18  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

[[Page 5348]]

    Agency Contact: Paul Murray, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, Office of Engineering and Technology, 445 
12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0688, Fax: 202 
418-7447, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK80

481. Spectrum Horizon (ET Docket No. 18-21)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 152; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 
157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 
U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 332; sec. 76 of 1996 Telecom Act, 
as amended, 47 U.S.C. 302 and sec. 1.411
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the FCC seeks to implement a plan to 
make the spectrum above 95 GHz more readily accessible for new 
innovative services and technologies. Throughout its history, when the 
Commission has expanded access to what was thought to be the upper 
reaches of the usable spectrum, new technological advances have emerged 
to push the boundary of usable spectrum even further. The frequencies 
above 95 GHz are today's spectrum horizons. The Notice sought comment 
on proposed rules to permit licensed fixed point-to-point operations in 
a total of 102.2 gigahertz of spectrum; on making 15.2 gigahertz of 
spectrum available for unlicensed use; and on creating a new category 
of experimental licenses to increase opportunities for entities to 
develop new services and technologies from 95 GHz to 3 THz with no 
limits on geography or technology.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   04/02/18  83 FR 13888
ANPRM Comment Period End............   05/02/18  .......................
R&O.................................   06/14/19  84 FR 25685
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Ha, Deputy Division Chief, Federal 
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, 
Phone: 201 418-2099, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK81

482. Use of the 5.850-5.925 GHz Band (ET Docket No. 19-138)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 1; 47 U.S.C. 4(i); 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 
U.S.C. 302; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 CFR 1.411
    Abstract: In this proceeding, we repurpose 45 megahertz of the 
5.850-5.925 GHz band (the 5.9 GHz band) to allow for the expansion of 
unlicensed mid-band spectrum operations, while continuing to dedicate 
30 megahertz of spectrum for vital intelligent transportation system 
(ITS) operations. In addition, to promote the most efficient and 
effective use of this ITS spectrum, we are requiring the ITS service to 
use cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) based technology at the end 
of a transition period. By splitting the 5.9 GHz band between 
unlicensed and ITS uses, today's decision puts the 5.9 GHz band in the 
best position to serve the needs of the American public.
    In the Further Notice, the Commission addresses issues remaining to 
finalize the restructuring of the 5.9 GHz band. Specifically, the 
Commission addresses: The transition of ITS operations in the 5.895-
5.925 GHz band from Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) based 
technology to Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) based technology; 
the codification of C-V2X technical parameters in the Commission's 
rules; other transition considerations; and the transmitter power and 
emissions limits, and other issues, related to full-power outdoor 
unlicensed operations across the entire 5.850-5.895 GHz portion of the 
5.9 GHz band. The Commission modified the Further Notice released on 
November 20, 2020, with an Erratum released on December 11, 2020. The 
Commission released a Second Erratum on February 9, 2021. The 
corrections from these errata are included in this document.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/06/20  85 FR 6841
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/09/20  .......................
R&O & Order of Proposed Modification   05/03/21  86 FR 23281
FNPRM...............................   05/03/21  86 FR 23323
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Howard Griboff, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 
202 418-0657, Fax: 202 418-2824, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK96

483. Allowing Earlier Equipment Marketing and Importation 
Opportunities; Petition To Expand Marketing Opportunities for 
Innovative Technologies (ET Docket No. 20-382 & RM-11857) NPRM, 86 FR 
2337, January 1

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 301, 302a, 303(c), 303(f), and 
303(r)
    Abstract: In this document, the Commission recognize that our 
equipment authorization rules have in some ways failed to keep pace 
with developments in the modern device ecosystem. In particular, our 
rules limit the ability of device manufacturers to market and import 
radiofrequency devices in the most efficient and cost-effective ways 
possible. We therefore take the opportunity here to propose specific 
rule changes that would allow device manufacturers to take full 
advantage of modern marketing and importation practices.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/12/21  86 FR 2337
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/11/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Thomas Struble, Federal Communications Commission, 
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2470, Email: 
[email protected].
    Brian Butler, Attorney, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2702, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL18

484. Unlicensed White Space Device Operations in the Television Bands 
(ET Docket No. 20-36)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 302a; 
47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 1.407 and 1.411
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission revises its rules to 
provide additional opportunities for unlicensed white space devices 
operating in the broadcast television bands (TV bands) to deliver 
wireless broadband services in rural areas and applications associated 
with the Internet of Things (IoT). This region of the spectrum has 
excellent propagation characteristics that make it particularly 
attractive for delivering communications services over long distances, 
coping with variations in terrain, as well as providing coverage into 
and within buildings. We offer

[[Page 5349]]

several proposals to spur continued growth of the white space device 
ecosystem, especially for providing affordable broadband service to 
rural and underserved communities that can help close the digital 
divide.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   04/03/20  85 FR 18901
NPRM Comment Period End.............   04/03/20  .......................
R&O.................................   01/12/21  86 FR 2278
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Hugh Van Tuyl, Electronics Engineer, Federal 
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 
202 418-7506, Fax: 202 418-1944, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL22

485.  Protecting Against National Security Threats to the 
Communications Supply Chain Through the Equipment Authorization and 
Competitive Bidding Programs; ET Docket No. 21-232, EA Docket No. 21-
233

    Legal Authority: Secs. 4(i), 301, 302, 303, 309(j), 312, and 316 of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i), 
301, 302a, 303, 309(j), 312, 316, and sec. 1.411
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission proposes prohibiting 
the authorization of any communications equipment on the list of 
equipment and services (Covered List) that the Commission maintains 
pursuant to the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. 
Such equipment has been found to pose an unacceptable risk to the 
national security of the United States or the security and safety of 
United States persons. We also seek comment on whether and under what 
circumstances we should revoke any existing authorizations of such 
``covered'' communications equipment. We invite comment on whether we 
should require additional certifications relating to national security 
from applicants who wish to participate in Commission auctions. In the 
Notice of Inquiry, we seek comment on other actions the Commission 
should consider taking to create incentives in its equipment 
authorization processes for improved trust through the adoption of 
cybersecurity best practices in consumer devices.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM and NOI........................   08/19/21  86 FR 46644
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/20/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Jamie Coleman, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 
202 418-2705, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL23

486.  Wireless Microphones in the TV Bands, 600 MHz Guard Band, 
600 MHz Duplex Gap, and the 941.5-944 MHz, 944-952 MHz, 952.850-956.250 
MHz, 956.45-959.85 MHz, 1435-1525 MHz, 6875-6900 MHz and 7100-7125 MHz

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i), 201, 302a, 303, and secs. 
1.407 and 1.411
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission seeks to enhance the 
spectral efficiency of wireless microphones by permitting a recently 
developed type of wireless microphone system, termed herein as a 
Wireless Multi-Channel Audio System (WMAS), to operate in certain 
frequency bands. This emerging technology would enable more wireless 
microphones to operate in the spectrum available for wireless 
microphone operations, and thus advances an important Commission goal 
of promoting efficient spectrum use. The Commission proposes to revise 
the applicable technical rules for operation of low-power auxiliary 
station (LPAS) devices to permit WMAS to operate in the broadcast 
television (TV) bands and other LPAS frequency bands on a licensed 
basis. The Commission also proposes to update the existing LPAS and 
wireless microphone rules to reflect the end of the post-Incentive 
auction transition period and update references to international 
wireless microphone standards.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/01/21  86 FR 35046
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/02/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Hugh Van Tuyl, Electronics Engineer, Federal 
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 
202 418-7506, Fax: 202 418-1944, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL27

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

International Bureau

Long-Term Actions

487. Update to Parts 2 and 25 Concerning Nongeostationary, Fixed-
Satellite Service Systems, and Related Matters: IB Docket No. I6-408

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 316
    Abstract: On January 11, 2017, the Commission began a rulemaking to 
update its rules and policies concerning non-geostationary-satellite 
orbit (NGSO), fixed-satellite service (FSS) systems and related 
matters. The Commission proposed among other things, to provide for 
more flexible use of the 17.8-20.2 GHz bands for FSS, promote shared 
use of spectrum among NGSO FSS satellite systems, and remove 
unnecessary design restrictions on NGSO FSS systems. The Commission 
subsequently adopted a Report and Order establishing new sharing 
criteria among NGSO FSS systems and providing additional flexibility 
for FSS spectrum use. The Commission also released a Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking proposing to remove the domestic coverage 
requirement for NGSO FSS systems and later adopted a Second Report and 
Order removing this requirement.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/11/17  82 FR 3258
NPRM Comment Period End.............   04/10/17  .......................
FNPRM...............................   11/15/17  82 FR 52869
R&O.................................   12/18/17  82 FR 59972
FNPRM Comment Period End............   01/02/18  .......................
2nd R&O.............................   02/21/21  86 FR 11642
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Clay DeCell, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0803, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK59

[[Page 5350]]

488. Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the FCC Rules To Facilitate the Use 
of Earth Stations in Motion Communicating With Geostationary Orbit 
Space Stations in FSS Bands: IB Docket No. 17-95

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 157(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 
47 U.S.C. 308(b); 47 U.S.C. 316
    Abstract: In June 2017, the Commission began a rulemaking to 
streamline, consolidate, and harmonize rules governing earth stations 
in motion (ESIMs) used to provide satellite-based services on ships, 
airplanes and vehicles communicating with geostationary-satellite orbit 
(GSO), fixed-satellite service (FSS) satellite systems. In September 
2018, the Commission adopted rules governing communications of ESIMs 
with GSO satellites. These rules addressed communications in the 
conventional C-, Ku-, and Ka-bands, as well as portions of the extended 
Ku-band. At the same time, the Commission also released a Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that sought comment on allowing ESIMs to 
operate in all of the frequency bands in which earth stations at fixed 
locations operating in GSO FSS satellite networks can be blanket-
licensed. Specifically, comment was sought on expanding the frequencies 
available for communications of ESIMs with GSO FSS satellites to 
include the following frequency bands: 10.7-10.95 GHz, 11.2-11.45 GHz, 
17.8-18.3 GHz, 18.8-19.3 GHz, 19.3-19.4 GHz, 19.6-19.7 GHz (space-to-
Earth); and 28.6-29.1 GHz (Earth-to-space).
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/16/17  82 FR 27652
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/30/17  .......................
OMB-approval for Information           08/28/18  .......................
 Collection of R&O Comment Period
 End.
FNPRM...............................   07/24/20  85 FR 44818
R&O.................................   07/24/20  85 FR 44772
FNPRM Comment Period End............   09/22/20  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Cindy Spiers, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1593, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK84

489. Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules Governing Satellite Services: 
IB Docket No. 18-314

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 161; 47 U.S.C. 
303; 47 U.S.C. 316
    Abstract: Under the Commission's rules, satellite operators must 
follow separate application and authorization processes for the 
satellites and earth stations that make up their networks and have no 
option for a single, unified network license. In a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, the FCC proposed to create a new, optional, unified license 
to include both space stations and earth stations operating in a 
geostationary-satellite orbit, fixed-satellite service (GSO FSS) 
satellite network. In addition, the Commission proposed to repeal or 
modify unnecessarily burdensome rules in Part 25 governing satellite 
services, such as annual reporting requirements. These proposals would 
greatly simplify the Commission's licensing and regulation of satellite 
systems. In a subsequent Report and Order, the Commission streamlined 
its rules governing satellite services by creating an optional 
framework for the authorization of blanket-licensed earth stations and 
space stations in a satellite system through a unified license. The 
Commission also aligned the build-out requirements for earth stations 
and space stations and eliminated unnecessary reporting rules.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/31/19  84 FR 638
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/18/19  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   04/16/19  .......................
Report & Order......................   03/01/21  86 FR 11880
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Clay DeCell, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0803, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK87

490. Facilitating the Communications of Earth Stations in Motion With 
Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Stations: IB Docket No. 18-315

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 157(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 
47 U.S.C. 308(b); 47 U.S.C. 316
    Abstract: In November 2018, the Commission adopted a notice of 
proposed rulemaking that proposed to expand the scope of the 
Commission's rules governing ESIMs operations to cover communications 
with NGSO FSS satellites. Comment was sought on establishing a 
regulatory framework for communications of ESIMs with NGSO FSS 
satellites that would be analogous to that which exists for ESIMs 
communicating with GSO FSS satellites. In this context, comment was 
sought on: (1) Allowing ESIMs to communicate in many of the same 
conventional Ku-band, extended Ku-band, and Ka-band frequencies that 
were allowed for communications of ESIMs with GSO FSS satellites (with 
the exception of the 18.6-18.8 GHz and 29.25-29.5 GHz frequency bands); 
(2) extending blanket licensing to ESIMs communicating with NGSO 
satellites; and (3) revisions to specific provisions in the 
Commission's rules to implement these changes. The specific frequency 
bands for communications of ESIMs with NGOS FSS satellites on which 
comment was sought are as follows: 10.7-11.7 GHz; 11.7-12.2 GHz; 14.0-
14.5 GHz; 17.8-18.3 GHz; 18.3-18.6 GHz; 18.8-19.3 GHz; 19.3-19.4 GHz; 
19.6-19.7 GHz; 19.7-20.2 GHz; 28.35-28.6 GHz; 28.6-29.1 GHz; and 29.5-
30.0 GHz.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/28/18  83 FR 67180
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/13/19  .......................
R&O.................................   07/24/20  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Cindy Spiers, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1593, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK89

491. Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age: IB Docket No. 
18-313

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 
U.S.C. 302; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 308; 47 U.S.C. 309; 
47 U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 336; 47 U.S.C. 
605; 47 U.S.C. 721
    Abstract: The Commission's current orbital debris rules were first 
adopted in 2004. Since then, significant changes have occurred in 
satellite technologies and market conditions, particularly in Low Earth 
Orbit, i.e., below 2,000 kilometers altitude. These changes

[[Page 5351]]

include the increasing use of lower cost small satellites and proposals 
to deploy large constellations of non-geostationary satellite orbit 
(NGSO) systems, some involving thousands of satellites.
    The NPRM proposes changes to improve disclosure of debris 
mitigation plans. The NPRM also makes proposals and seeks comment 
related to satellite disposal reliability and methodology, appropriate 
deployment altitudes in low-Earth-orbit, and on-orbit lifetime, with a 
particular focus on large NGSO satellite constellations. Other aspects 
of the NPRM include new rule proposals for geostationary orbit 
satellite (GSO) license term extension requests, and consideration of 
disclosure requirements related to several emerging technologies and 
new types of commercial operations, including rendezvous and proximity 
operations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/19/19  84 FR 4742
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/06/19  .......................
R&O.................................   08/25/20  85 FR 52422
FNPRM...............................   08/25/20  85 FR 52455
FNPRM Comment Period End............   10/09/20  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Merissa Velez, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0751, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK90

492. Process Reform for Executive Branch Review of Certain FCC 
Applications and Petitions Involving Foreign Ownership (IB Docket No. 
16-155)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C 154(l); 47 U.S.C . 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 214; 
47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 413; 47 U.S.C. 
34-39; E.O. 10530; 3 U.S.C. 301
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission considers rules and 
procedures that streamline and improve the timeliness and transparency 
of the process by which the Commission refers certain applications and 
petitions for declaratory ruling to the Executive Branch agencies for 
assessment of any national security, law enforcement, foreign policy or 
trade policy issues related to foreign investment in the applicants and 
petitioners.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/24/16  81 FR 46870
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/02/16  .......................
Public Notice.......................   04/27/20  85 FR 29914
Public Notice Comment Period End....   09/02/20  .......................
Report & Order......................   10/01/20  85 FR 76360
Public Notice.......................   12/30/20  85 FR 12312
Public Notice Comment Period End....   04/19/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Arthur T. Lechtman, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1465, Fax: 202 418-0175, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL12

493.  Parts 2 and 25 To Enable GSO FSS in the 17.3-17.8 GHz 
Band, Modernize Rules for 17/24 GHz BSS Space Stations, and Establish 
Off-Axis Uplink Power Limits for Extended Ka-Band FSS (IB Doc. No. 20-
330)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 303(r); 47 U.S.C. 
309(j)
    Abstract: This item addresses the addition of an allocation in the 
17.3-17.7 GHz and 17.7-17.8 GHz bands to the fixed-satellite service in 
the space-to-Earth direction. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
proposes to add these allocations to the U.S. Table of Frequency 
Allocations (non-Federal), and proposes modification of existing 
technical rules to prevent harmful interference between services in 
these bands.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/01/21  86 FR 7660
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/03/21  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   03/18/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Sean O'More, Attorney Advisor, International 
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20554, Phone: 245 418-2453, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL28

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

Media Bureau

Long-Term Actions

494. Revision of EEO Rules and Policies (MM Docket No. 98-204)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 257; 47 
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47 U.S.C. 334; 47 
U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 554
    Abstract: FCC authority to govern Equal Employment Opportunity 
(EEO) responsibilities of cable television operators was codified in 
the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984. This authority was 
extended to television broadcast licensees and other multi-channel 
video programming distributors in the Cable and Television Consumer 
Protection Act of 1992. In the Second Report and Order, the FCC adopted 
new EEO rules and policies. This action was in response to a decision 
of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that 
found prior EEO rules unconstitutional. The Third Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) requests comment as to the applicability of the EEO 
rules to part-time employees. The Third Report and Order adopted 
revised forms for broadcast station and MVPDs Annual Employment Report. 
In the Fourth NPRM, comment was sought regarding public access to the 
data contained in the forms.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/14/02  67 FR 1704
Second R&O and Third NPRM...........   01/07/03  68 FR 670
Correction..........................   01/13/03  68 FR 1657
Fourth NPRM.........................   06/23/04  69 FR 34986
Third R&O...........................   06/23/04  69 FR 34950
FNPRM...............................   08/31/21  86 FR 48610
FNPRM Comment Period End............   09/30/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brendan Holland, Chief, Industry Analysis Division, 
Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2486, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AH95

495. Establishment of Rules for Digital Low-Power Television, 
Television Translator, and Television Booster Stations (MB Docket No. 
03-185)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 336

[[Page 5352]]

    Abstract: This proceeding initiated the digital television 
conversion for low-power television (LPTV) and television translator 
stations. The rules and policies adopted as a result of this proceeding 
provide the framework for these stations' conversion from analog to 
digital broadcasting.
    The Report and Order adopts definitions and permissible use 
provisions for digital TV translator and LPTV stations. The Second 
Report and Order takes steps to resolve the remaining issues in order 
to complete the low-power television digital transition. The third 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on a number of issues 
related to the potential impact of the incentive auction and the 
repacking process.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/26/03  68 FR 55566
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/25/03  .......................
R&O.................................   11/29/04  69 FR 69325
FNPRM and MO&O......................   10/18/10  75 FR 63766
2nd R&O.............................   07/07/11  76 FR 44821
3rd NPRM............................   11/28/14  79 FR 70824
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/29/14  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   01/12/15  .......................
3rd R&O.............................   02/01/16  81 FR 5041
4th NPRM............................   02/01/16  81 FR 5086
Comment Period End..................   02/22/16  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Shaun Maher, Attorney, Video Division, Federal 
Communications Commission, Media Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-2324, Fax: 202 418-2827, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AI38

496. Preserving Vacant Channels in the UHF Television Band for 
Unlicensed Use (MB Docket No. 15-146)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 308; 47 U.S.C. 309; 
47 U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 
336; 47 U.S.C. 403
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission considers proposals to 
preserve vacant television channels in the UHF television band for 
shared use by white space devices and wireless microphones following 
the repacking of the band after the conclusion of the Incentive 
Auction. In the 2015 NPRM, the Commission proposed preserving in each 
area of the country at least one vacant television channel. In the 2021 
Report and Order, the Commission declined to adopt rules proposed in 
the 2015 NPRM. Petitions for reconsideration are pending.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/02/15  80 FR 38158
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/03/15  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   08/31/15  .......................
Public Notice.......................   09/01/15  80 FR 52715
R&O.................................   02/12/21  86 FR 9297
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Shaun Maher, Attorney, Video Division, Federal 
Communications Commission, Media Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-2324, Fax: 202 418-2827, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK43

497. Authorizing Permissive Use of the ``Next Generation'' Broadcast 
Television Standard (GN Docket No. 16-142)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 
U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 325(b); 47 U.S.C. 336; 47 U.S.C. 399(b); 47 
U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 534; 47 U.S.C. 535
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission seeks to authorize 
television broadcasters to use the ``Next Generation'' ATSC 3.0 
broadcast television transmission standard on a voluntary, market-
driven basis, while they continue to deliver current-generation digital 
television broadcast service to their viewers. In the Report and Order, 
the Commission adopted rules to afford broadcasters flexibility to 
deploy ATSC 3.0-based transmissions, while minimizing the impact on, 
and costs to, consumers and other industry stakeholders.
    In the 2nd R&O, the Commission provided additional guidance to 
broadcasters deploying Next Gen TV.
    In 2021, the Commission made a technical modification to the rules 
governing the use of a distribution transmission system by a television 
station to account for deployment of ATSC 3.0.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   03/10/17  82 FR 13285
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/09/17  .......................
FNPRM...............................   12/20/17  82 FR 60350
R&O.................................   02/02/18  83 FR 4998
FNPRM Comment Period End............   02/20/18  .......................
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End......   03/20/18  .......................
NPRM................................   05/13/20  85 FR 28586
2nd R&O Order on Recon..............   07/17/20  85 FR 43478
Report & Order......................   04/22/21  86 FR 21217
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Ty Bream, Attorney Advisor, Industry Analysis Div., 
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-0644, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK56

498. 2018 Quadrennial Regulatory Review of the Commission's Broadcast 
Ownership Rules (MB Docket 18-349)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 152(a); 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 
47 U.S.C. 257; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 309 and 310; 47 
U.S.C. 403; sec. 202(h) of the Telecommunications Act
    Abstract: Section 202(h) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 
requires the Commission to review its broadcast ownership rules every 4 
years and to determine whether any such rules are necessary in the 
public interest as the result of competition. The rules subject to 
review in the 2018 quadrennial review are the Local Radio Ownership 
Rule, the Local Television Ownership Rule, and the Dual Network Rule. 
The Commission also sought comment on potential pro-diversity proposals 
including extending cable procurement requirements to broadcasters, 
adopting formulas aimed at creating media ownership limits that promote 
diversity, and developing a model for market-based, tradeable diversity 
credits to serve as an alternative method for setting ownership limits.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/28/19  84 FR 6741
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brendan Holland, Chief, Industry Analysis Division,

[[Page 5353]]

Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2486, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK77

499. Equal Employment Opportunity Enforcement (MB Docket 19-177)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(j); 
47 U.S.C. 334; 47 U.S.C. 554
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission seeks comment on ways 
in which it can make improvements to equal employment opportunity (EEO) 
compliance and enforcement.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/22/19  84 FR 35063
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Radhika Karmarker, Attorney Advisor, IAD, Media 
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1523, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK86

500. Duplication of Programming on Commonly Owned Radio Stations (MB 
Docket No. 19-310)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151. 154(i), 154(j), and 303(r)
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission eliminated the radio 
duplication rule. The rule bars same-service (AM or FM) commercial 
radio stations from duplicating more than 25% of their total hours of 
programming in an average broadcast week if the stations have 50% or 
more contour overlap and are commonly owned or subject to a time 
brokerage agreement. Petitions for reconsideration are pending.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/23/19  84 FR 70485
Report & Order......................   10/22/20  85 FR 67303
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Jamile Kadre, Industry Analysis Division, Media 
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2245, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL19

501. Sponsorship Identification Requirements for Foreign Government-
Provided Programming (MB Docket No. 20-299)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151. 154, 155, 301, 303, 307, 309, 310, 
334, 336, 339
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission modifies its rules to 
require specific disclosure requirements for broadcast programming that 
is paid for, or provided by a foreign government or its representative. 
Petitions for reconsideration are pending.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/24/20  85 FR 74955
R&O.................................   06/17/21  86 FR 32221
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Radhika Karmarker, Attorney Advisor, IAD, Media 
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1523, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL20

502. FM Broadcast Booster Stations (MB Docket 20-401)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 157, 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, 
309, 316, 319, 324
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission proposes to amend its 
rules to enable FM broadcasters to use FM booster stations to air geo-
targeted content (e.g., news, weather, and advertisements) independent 
of the signals of its primary station within different portions of the 
primary station's protected service contour for a limited period of 
time during the broadcast hour.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/11/21  86 FR 1909
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Al Shuldiner, Chief, Audio Div., Media Bureau, 
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-2700, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL21

503.  Revisions to Political Programming and Record-Keeping 
Rules (MB Docket No. 21-93)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C secs. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 303, 307, 312, 
315, 335, and 403
    Abstract: This proceeding was initiated to update the political 
programming and recordkeeping rules for broadcast licensees, cable 
television system operators, Direct Broadcast Satellite service 
providers, and Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service licensees. Given 
the substantial growth of such programming in recent years, the updates 
under consideration in this proceeding are intended to conform the 
Commission's rules with statutory amendments, increase transparency, 
and account for modern campaign practices.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/01/21  86 FR 48942
NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/01/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Robert Baker, Assistant Division Chief, Policy 
Division, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street 
NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1417, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL25

504.  Updating Broadcast Radio Technical Rules (MB Docket 21-
263)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 301, 303, 
307, 308, 309, 316, and 319
    Abstract: This proceeding was initiated to update the Commission's 
rules for the broadcast radio services by eliminating or amending 
outmoded or unnecessary regulations. This update will ensure that the 
Commission's rules are accurate, reducing any potential confusion and 
alleviating unnecessary burdens.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/12/21  86 FR 43145
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/07/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Christine Goepp, Attorney Advisor, Media Bureau,

[[Page 5354]]

Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-7834, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL26

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

Office of Managing Director

Long-Term Actions

505. Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 159
    Abstract: Section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended 
(47 U.S.C. 159), requires the Federal Communications Commission to 
recover the cost of its activities by assessing and collecting annual 
regulatory fees from beneficiaries of the activities.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/06/17  82 FR 26019
R&O.................................   09/22/17  82 FR 44322
NPRM................................   06/14/18  83 FR 27846
NPRM Comment Period End.............   06/21/18
R&O.................................   09/18/18  83 FR 47079
NPRM................................   06/05/19  84 FR 26234
NPRM Comment Period End.............   06/07/19
R&O.................................   09/26/19  84 FR 50890
NPRM................................   05/08/20  85 FR 32256
R&O.................................   06/22/20  85 FR 37364
NPRM................................   05/13/21  86 FR 26262
R&O.................................   05/17/21  86 FR 26677
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roland Helvajian, Office of the Managing Director, 
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-0444, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK64

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau

Long-Term Actions

506. Wireless E911 Location Accuracy Requirements: PS Docket No. 07-114

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 332
    Abstract: This rulemaking is related to the proceedings in which 
the FCC previously acted to improve the quality of all emergency 
services. Wireless carriers must provide specific automatic location 
information in connection with 911 emergency calls to Public Safety 
Answering Points (PSAPs). Wireless licensees must satisfy enhanced 911 
location accuracy standards at either a county-based or a PSAP-based 
geographic level.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/20/07  72 FR 33948
R&O.................................   02/14/08  73 FR 8617
Public Notice.......................   09/25/08  73 FR 55473
FNPRM; NOI..........................   11/02/10  75 FR 67321
Public Notice.......................   11/18/09  74 FR 59539
2nd R&O.............................   11/18/10  75 FR 70604
Second NPRM.........................   08/04/11  76 FR 47114
Second NPRM Comment Period End......   11/02/11
Final Rule..........................   04/28/11  76 FR 23713
NPRM, 3rd R&O, and 2nd FNPRM........   09/28/11  76 FR 59916
3rd FNPRM...........................   03/28/14  79 FR 17820
Order Extending Comment Period......   06/10/14  79 FR 33163
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........   07/14/14
Public Notice (Release Date)........   11/20/14
Public Notice Comment Period End....   12/17/14
4th R&O.............................   03/04/15  80 FR 11806
Final Rule..........................   08/03/15  80 FR 45897
Order Granting Waiver...............   07/10/17
NPRM................................   09/26/18  83 FR 54180
4th NPRM............................   03/18/19  84 FR 13211
5th R&O.............................   01/16/20  85 FR 2660
5th NPRM............................   01/16/20  85 FR 2683
5th NPRM Comment Period End.........   03/16/20
6th R&O and Order on Recon..........   08/28/20  85 FR 53234
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brenda Boykin, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and 
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2062, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AJ52

507. Improving Outage Reporting for Submarine Cables and Enhancing 
Submarine Cable Outage Data; GN Docket No. 15-206

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 34 to 39; 
47 U.S.C. 301
    Abstract: This proceeding takes steps toward assuring the 
reliability and resiliency of submarine cables, a critical piece of the 
Nation's communications infrastructure, by proposing to require 
submarine cable licensees to report to the Commission when outages 
occur and communications are disrupted. The Commission's intent is to 
enhance national security and emergency preparedness by these actions. 
In December 2019, the Commission adopted an Order on Reconsideration 
that modifies the requirement for submarine cable licensees to report 
outages to the Commission.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM (Release Date).................   09/18/15
R&O.................................   06/24/16  81 FR 52354
Petitions for Recon.................   09/08/16
Petitions for Recon--Public Comment.   10/17/16  81 FR 75368
Order on Recon......................   12/20/19  84 FR 15733
PRA Approval for new collection.....   03/25/21
Public Notice re effective date.....   04/28/21
Compliance Date for New Rules.......   10/28/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Scott Cinnamon, Attorney-Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 
202 418-2319, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK39

508. Amendments to Part 4 of the Commission's Rules Concerning 
Disruptions to Communications: PS Docket No. 15-80

    Legal Authority: Sec. 1, 4(i), 4(j), 4(o), 251(e)(3), 254, 301, 
303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 307, 309(a), 309(j); 316, 332, 403, 615a-1, and 
615c of Pub. L. 73-416, 4 Stat. 1064, as amended; and section 706 of 
Pub. L. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56; 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i)-(j) & (o), 
251(e)(3), 254, 301, 303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 307; 309(a), 309(j), 316, 
332, 403, 615a-1, 615c, and 1302, unless otherwise noted
    Abstract: The 2004 Report and Order (R&O) extended the Commission's 
communication disruptions reporting rules to non-wireline carriers and 
streamlined reporting through a new electronic template (see docket ET 
Docket 04-35). In 2015, this proceeding, PS Docket 15-80, was opened to 
amend the original communications disruption

[[Page 5355]]

reporting rules from 2004 in order to reflect technology transitions 
observed throughout the telecommunications sector. The Commission seeks 
to further study the possibility to share the reporting database 
information and access with State and other Federal entities. In May 
2016, the Commission released a Report and Order, FNPRM, and Order on 
Reconsideration (see also Dockets 11-82 and 04-35). The R&O adopted 
rules to update the part 4 requirements to reflect technology 
transitions. The FNPRM sought comment on sharing information in the 
reporting database. Comments and replies were received by the 
Commission in August and September 2016.
    In March 2020, the Commission adopted a Second Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking in PS Docket No. 15-80 that proposed a framework to 
provide state and federal agencies with access to outage information to 
improve their situational awareness while preserving the 
confidentiality of this data, including proposals to: Provide direct, 
read-only access to NORS and DIRS filings to qualified agencies of the 
50 states, the District of Columbia, Tribal nations, territories, and 
federal government; allow these agencies to share NORS and DIRS 
information with other public safety officials that reasonably require 
NORS and DIRS information to prepare for and respond to disasters; 
allow participating agencies to publicly disclose NORS or DIRS filing 
information that is aggregated and anonymized across at least four 
service providers; condition a participating agency's direct access to 
NORS and DIRS filings on their agreement to treat the filings as 
confidential and not disclose them absent a finding by the Commission 
that allows them to do so; and establish an application process that 
would grant agencies access to NORS and DIRS after those agencies 
certify to certain requirements related to maintaining confidentiality 
of the data and the security of the databases. In March 2021, the 
Commission adopted the proposed information sharing framework with some 
modifications in a Second Report and Order. In April 2021, in a Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission proposed to codify a rule 
adopted in 2016 that exempts satellite and terrestrial wireless 
providers from reporting outages that potentially affect special 
offices and facilities, as defined in Commission rules.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM, 2nd R&O, Order on Recon.......   06/16/15  80 FR 34321
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/31/15
R&O.................................   07/12/16  81 FR 45055
FNPRM, 1 Part 4 R&O, Order on Recon.   08/11/16  81 FR 45059
Order Denying Reply Comment Deadline   09/08/16
 Extension Request.
FNPRM Comment Period End............   09/12/16
Announcement of Effective Date for     06/22/17  82 FR 28410
 Rule Changes in R&O.
Announcement of Effective Date for     06/22/17  82 FR 28410
 Rule Changes in R&O.
Second Further NPRM.................   02/28/20  85 FR 17818
Second Further NPRM Comment Period     06/01/20
 End.
2nd R&O.............................   04/29/21  86 FR 22796
3rd NPRM............................   06/30/21  86 FR 34679
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Robert Finley, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and 
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7835, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK40

509. New Part 4 of the Commission's Rules Concerning Disruptions to 
Communications; ET Docket No. 04-35

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154 and 155; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 
251; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 316
    Abstract: The proceeding creates a new part 4 in title 47 and 
amends part 63.100. The proceeding updates the Commission's 
communication disruptions reporting rules for wireline providers 
formerly in 47 CFR 63.100 and extends these rules to other non-wireline 
providers. Through this proceeding, the Commission streamlines the 
reporting process through an electronic template. The Report and Order 
received several petitions for reconsideration, of which two were 
eventually withdrawn. In 2015, seven were addressed in an Order on 
Reconsideration and in 2016 another petition was addressed in an Order 
on Reconsideration. One petition (CPUC Petition) remains pending 
regarding NORS database sharing with States, which is addressed in a 
separate proceeding, PS Docket 15-80. To the extent the communication 
disruption rules cover VoIP, the Commission studies and addresses these 
questions in a separate docket, PS Docket 11-82.
    In May 2016, the Commission released a Report and Order, FNPRM, and 
Order on Reconsideration (see Dockets 11-82 and 15-80). The Order on 
Reconsideration addressed outage reporting for events at airports, and 
the FNPRM sought comment on database sharing. The Commission received 
comments and replies in August and September 2016.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   03/26/04  69 FR 15761
R&O.................................   11/26/04  69 FR 68859
Denial for Petition for Partial Stay   12/02/04
Seek Comment on Petition for Recon..   02/02/10
Reply Period End....................   03/19/10
Seek Comment on Broadband and          07/02/10
 Interconnected VOIP Service
 Providers.
Reply Period End....................   08/16/12
2nd R&O, and Order on Recon, NPRM...   06/16/15  80 FR 34321
R&O.................................   07/12/16  81 FR 45055
FNPRM, 1 Part 4 R&O, Order on Recon.   08/11/16  81 FR 45095, 81 FR
                                                  45055
Order Denying Extension of Time to     09/08/16
 File Reply Comments.
Announcement of Effective Date for     06/22/17  82 FR 28410
 Rule Changes in R&O.
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Robert Finley, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and 
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7835, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK41

510. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): PS Docket No. 15-91

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 109-347, title VI; 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 
U.S.C. 154(i)

[[Page 5356]]

    Abstract: This proceeding was initiated to improve Wireless 
Emergency Alerts (WEA) messaging, ensure that WEA alerts reach only 
those individuals to whom they are relevant, and establish an end-to-
end testing program based on advancements in technology.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/19/15  80 FR 77289
NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/13/16
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   02/12/16
Order...............................   11/01/16  81 FR 75710
FNPRM...............................   11/08/16  81 FR 78539
Comment Period End..................   12/08/16
Petition for Recon..................   12/19/16  81 FR 91899
Order on Recon......................   12/04/17  82 FR 57158
2nd R&O and 2nd Order on Recon......   02/28/18  83 FR 8619
Public Notice.......................   04/26/18  83 FR 18257
Public Notice Comment Period End....   05/29/18
Public Notice Reply Comment Period     06/11/18
 End.
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Wiley, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and 
Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1678, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK54

511. Blue Alert EAS Event Code

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 
154(o); 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303(r) and (v); 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 
U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 335; 47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C.544(g); 47 U.S.C. 
606 and 615
    Abstract: In 2015, Congress adopted the Blue Alert Act to help the 
States provide effective alerts to the public and law enforcement when 
police and other law enforcement officers are killed or are in danger. 
To ensure that these State plans are compatible and integrated 
throughout the United States as envisioned by the Blue Alert Act, the 
Blue Alert Coordinator made a series of recommendations in a 2016 
Report to Congress. Among these recommendations, the Blue Alert 
Coordinator identified the need for a dedicated EAS event code for Blue 
Alerts, and noted the alignment of the EAS with the implementation of 
the Blue Alert Act. On June 22, 2017, the FCC released an NPRM 
proposing to revise the EAS rules to adopt a new event code, which 
would allow transmission of Blue Alerts to the public over the EAS and 
thus satisfy the stated need for a dedicated EAS event code. On 
December 14, 2017, the Commission released an Order adopting a new Blue 
Alert EAS Code-BLU. EAS participants must be able to implement the BLU 
code by January 19, 2019. BLU alerts must be available to wireless 
emergency alerts by July, 2019.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/30/17  82 FR 29811
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/31/17
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   08/29/17
Order...............................   12/14/18  83 FR 2557
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Linda Pintro, Attorney Advisor, Policy and 
Licensing Division, PSHSB, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7490, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK63

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau

Long-Term Actions

512. Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 22, 24, 27, 90, and 95 of the 
Commission's Rules To Improve Wireless Coverage Through the Use of 
Signal Boosters (WT Docket No. 10-4)

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79; 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 
U.S.C. 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 155; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 
227; 47 U.S.C. 303(r)
    Abstract: This action adopts new technical, operational, and 
registration requirements for signal boosters. It creates two classes 
of signal boosters--consumer and industrial--with distinct regulatory 
requirements for each, thereby establishing a two-step transition 
process for equipment certification for both consumer and industrial 
signal boosters sold and marketed in the United States.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/10/11  76 FR 26983
R&O.................................   04/11/13  78 FR 21555
Petition for Reconsideration........   06/06/13  78 FR 34015
Order on Reconsideration............   11/08/14  79 FR 70790
FNPRM...............................   11/28/14  79 FR 70837
2nd R&O and 2nd FNPRM...............   03/23/18  83 FR 17131
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Jaclyn Rosen, Federal Communications Commission, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-0154, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AJ87

513. Promoting Technological Solutions To Combat Wireless Contraband 
Device Use in Correctional Facilities; GN Docket No. 13-111

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 
154(j); 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303(a); 47 U.S.C. 303(b); 47 U.S.C. 
307 to 310; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 302(a)
    Abstract: In the 2017 Report and Order, 82 FR 22742, the Commission 
addressed the problem of illegal use of contraband wireless devices by 
inmates in correctional facilities by streamlining the process of 
deploying contraband wireless device interdiction systems (CIS)--
systems that use radio communications signals requiring Commission 
authorization--in correctional facilities. In particular, the 
Commission eliminated certain filing requirements and provides for 
immediate approval of the lease applications needed to operate these 
systems. In the 2017 Further Notice, 82 FR 22780, the Commission sought 
comment on a process for wireless providers to disable contraband 
wireless devices once they have been identified. The Commission also 
sought comment on additional methods and technologies that might prove 
successful in combating contraband device use in correctional 
facilities, and on various other proposals related to the authorization 
process for CISs and their deployment.
    In the Second Report and Order, the Commission takes further steps 
to facilitate the deployment and viability of technological solutions 
used to combat contraband wireless devices in correctional facilities. 
The Second Report and Order adopts a framework requiring the disabling 
of contraband wireless devices detected in correctional

[[Page 5357]]

facilities upon satisfaction of certain criteria, and the Commission 
addresses issues involving oversight, wireless provider liability, and 
treatment of 911 calls. The Second Report and Order further adopts 
rules requiring advance notice of certain wireless provider network 
changes to promote and maintain contraband interdiction system 
effectiveness. In the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the 
Commission takes further steps to facilitate the deployment and 
viability of technological solutions used to combat contraband wireless 
devices in correctional facilities. The Second Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking seeks further comment on the relative 
effectiveness, viability, and cost of additional technological 
solutions to combat contraband phone use in correctional facilities 
previously identified in the record.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/18/13  78 FR 36469
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/08/13
FNPRM...............................   05/18/17  82 FR 22780
R&O.................................   05/18/17  82 FR 22742
Final Rule Effective (Except for       06/19/17
 Rules Requiring OMB Approval).
FNPRM Comment Period End............   07/17/17
Final Rule Effective for 47 CFR        10/20/17  82 FR 48773
 1.9020(n), 1.9030(m), 1.9035 (o),
 and 20.23(a).
Final Rule Effective for 47 CFR        02/12/18
 1.902(d)(8), 1.9035(d)(4),
 20.18(a), and 20.18(r).
2nd FNPRM...........................   08/13/21  86 FR 44681
2nd FNPRM...........................   08/13/21  86 FR 44681
2nd R&O.............................   08/13/21  86 FR 44635
2nd R&O.............................   08/13/21  86 FR 44635
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........   09/13/21
Final Rules Effective (except for      09/13/21
 those requiring OMB approval).
Final Rules Effective (except for      09/13/21
 those requiring OMB approval).
Reply Comment Period End............   10/12/21
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Melissa Conway, Attorney Advisor, Mobility Div., 
Wireless Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2887, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK06

514. Promoting Investment in the 3550-3700 MHz Band; GN Docket No. 17-
258

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 
154(j) ; 47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303 and 304; 47 U.S.C. 307(e); 47 
U.S.C. 316
    Abstract: The Report and Order and Second Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) adopted by the Commission established a new 
Citizens Broadband Radio Service for shared wireless broadband use of 
the 3550 to 3700 MHz band. The Citizens Broadband Radio Service is 
governed by a three-tiered spectrum authorization framework to 
accommodate a variety of commercial uses on a shared basis with 
incumbent Federal and non-Federal users of the band. Access and 
operations will be managed by a dynamic spectrum access system. The 
three tiers are: Incumbent Access, Priority Access, and General 
Authorized Access. Rules governing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service 
are found in part 96 of the Commission's rules.
    The Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order addressed 
several Petitions for Reconsideration submitted in response to the 
Report and Order and resolved the outstanding issues raised in the 
Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
    The 2017 NPRM sought comment on limited changes to the rules 
governing Priority Access Licenses in the band, adjacent channel 
emissions limits, and public release of base station registration 
information.
    The 2018 Report and Order addressed the issues raised in the 2017 
NPRM and implemented changes rules governing Priority Access Licenses 
in the band and public release of base station registration 
information.
    On July 2020, the Commission commenced an auction of Priority 
Access Licenses in the band. ``Winning bidders were announced on 
September 2, 2020''.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/08/13  78 FR 1188
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/19/13
FNPRM...............................   06/02/14  79 FR 31247
FNPRM Comment Period End............   08/15/14
R&O and 2nd FNPRM...................   06/15/15  80 FR 34119
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........   08/14/15
Order on Recon and 2nd R&O..........   07/26/16  81 FR 49023
NPRM................................   11/28/17  82 FR 56193
NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/29/18
R&O.................................   12/07/18  83 FR 6306
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Paul Powell, Assistant Chief, Mobility Division, 
WTB, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications 
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1613, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK12

515. Use of Spectrum Bands Above 24 GHz for Mobile Services--Spectrum 
Frontiers: WT Docket 10-112

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 
160; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 301 and 
302; 47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303 and 304; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 
309 and 310; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 
336; 47 U.S.C. 1302
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission adopted service rules 
for licensing of mobile and other uses for millimeter wave (mmW) bands. 
These high frequencies previously have been best suited for satellite 
or fixed microwave applications; however, recent technological 
breakthroughs have newly enabled advanced mobile services in these 
bands, notably including very high speed and low latency services. This 
action will help facilitate Fifth Generation mobile services and other 
mobile services. In developing service rules for mmW bands, the 
Commission will facilitate access to spectrum, develop a flexible 
spectrum policy, and encourage wireless innovation.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/13/16  81 FR 1802
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/26/16
FNPRM...............................   08/24/16  81 FR 58269
Comment Period End..................   09/30/16
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End......   10/31/16

[[Page 5358]]

 
R&O.................................   11/14/16  81 FR 79894
R&O.................................   01/02/18  83 FR 37
FNPRM...............................   01/02/18  83 FR 85
FNPRM Comment Period End............   01/23/18
R&O.................................   07/20/18  83 FR 34478
FNPRM...............................   07/20/18  83 FR 34520
FNPRM Comment Period End............   09/28/18
R&O.................................   02/05/19  84 FR 1618
R&O.................................   05/01/19  84 FR 18405
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John Schauble, Deputy Chief, Broadband Division, 
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-0797, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK44

516. Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band, WT Docket No. 18-120

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 153; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 
157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301 and 302; 47 U.S.C. 304; 47 U.S.C. 307 
to 310; 47 U.S.C. 1302
    Abstract: The 2.5 GHz band (2496-2690 MHz) constitutes the single 
largest band of contiguous spectrum below 3 GHz and has been identified 
as prime spectrum for next generation mobile operations, including 5G 
uses. Significant portions of this band, however, currently lie fallow 
across approximately one-half of the United States, primarily in rural 
areas. Moreover, access to the Educational Broadband Service (EBS) has 
been strictly limited since 1995, and current licensees are subject to 
a regulatory regime largely unchanged from the days when educational TV 
was the only use envisioned for this spectrum. The Commission proposes 
to allow more efficient and effective use of this spectrum band by 
providing greater flexibility to current EBS licensees as well as 
providing new opportunities for additional entities to obtain unused 
2.5 GHz spectrum to facilitate improved access to next generation 
wireless broadband, including 5G. The Commission also seeks comment on 
additional approaches for transforming the 2.5 GHz band, including by 
moving directly to an auction for some or all of the spectrum.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/07/18  83 FR 26396
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   06/21/18  83 FR 31515
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/07/18
Final Rule..........................   10/25/19  84 FR 57343
Dismissal of Petitions for             02/23/21  86 FR 10839
 Reconsideration.
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John Schauble, Deputy Chief, Broadband Division, 
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-0797, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK75

517. Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band: GN Docket No. 
18-122

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C.151 to 153; 47 U.S.C.154(i); 47 U.S.C 
157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301 to 304; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 310; 47 
U.S.C. 1302; . . .
    Abstract: In the 2020 Report and Order, the Commission adopted 
rules to make 280 megahertz of mid-band spectrum available for flexible 
use (plus a 20-megahertz guard band) throughout the contiguous United 
States. Pursuant to the Report and Order, existing fixed satellite 
service (FSS) and fixed services (FS) must relocate operations out of 
the lower portion of the 3.7-4.0 GHz band. The Commission will issue 
flexible use licenses in the 3.7-3.98 GHz portion of the band in the 
contiguous United States via a system of competitive bidding. The 
Commission established rules to govern the transition including 
optional payments for satellite operators that choose to relocate on an 
accelerated schedule and provide reimbursement to FSS operators and 
their associated earth stations for reasonable expenses incurred to 
facilitate the transition. The Report and Order also established 
service and technical rules for the new flexible use licenses that will 
be issued in the 3.7-3.98 GHz portion of the band. ``On December 8, 
2020, the Commission began an auction of licenses in the 3.7-3.98 GHz 
portion of the band. the winning bidders were announced on February 24, 
2021''.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/29/18  83 FR 44128
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/27/18
Public Notice.......................   05/20/19  84 FR 22733
Certifications and Data Filing         05/28/19
 Deadline.
Public Notice.......................   06/03/19  84 FR 22514
Public Notice Comment Period End....   07/03/19
Public Notice Reply Comment Period     07/18/19
 End.
R&O.................................   04/23/20  85 FR 22804
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Paul Powell, Assistant Chief, Mobility Division, 
WTB, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications 
Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1613, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK76

518. Amendment of the Commission's Rules To Promote Aviation Safety: WT 
Docket No. 19-140

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 303; 307(e)
    Abstract: The Federal Communications Commission regulates the 
Aviation Radio Service, a family of services using dedicated spectrum 
to enhance the safety of aircraft in flight, facilitate the efficient 
movement of aircraft both in the air and on the ground, and otherwise 
ensure the reliability and effectiveness of aviation communications. 
Recent technological advances have prompted the Commission to open this 
new rulemaking proceeding to ensure the timely deployment and use of 
today's state-of-the-art safety-enhancing technologies. With this 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission proposes changes to its 
part 87 Aviation Radio Service rules to support the deployment of more 
advanced avionics technology, increase the efficient use of limited 
spectrum resources, and generally improve aviation safety.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/02/19  84 FR 31542
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/03/19
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   09/30/19
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

[[Page 5359]]

    Agency Contact: Jeff Tobias, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1617, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK92

519.  Implementation of State and Local Governments' Obligation 
To Approve Certain Wireless Facility Modification Requests Under 
Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act of 2012 (WT Docket No. 19-250)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. chs. 2, 5, 9, 13; 28 U.S.C. 2461, unless 
otherwise noted
    Abstract: In this proceeding, the Commission seeks to reduce 
regulatory barriers to wireless infrastructure deployment by further 
streamlining the state and local government review process for 
modifications to existing wireless infrastructure under section 6409(a) 
of the Spectrum Act of 2012.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/02/20  85 FR 39859
Declaratory Ruling..................   07/27/20  85 FR 45126
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/03/20
R&O.................................   12/03/20  85 FR 78005
Petition for Recon..................   03/03/21  86 FR 12898
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Georgios Leris, Federal Communications Commission, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-1994, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL29

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau

Completed Actions

520. 800 MHz Cellular Telecommunications Licensing Reform; Docket No. 
12-40

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) to 154(j); 
47 U.S.C. 301 to 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47 U.S.C. 332
    Abstract: The proceeding was launched to revisit and update rules 
governing the 800 MHz Cellular Radiotelephone Service (Cellular 
Service). On November 10, 2014, the FCC released a Report and Order 
(R&O) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM). In the R&O, 
the FCC eliminated or streamlined numerous regulatory requirements; in 
the FNPRM, the FCC sought comment on additional reforms of the Cellular 
rules, including radiated power and other technical rules, to promote 
flexibility and help foster deployment of new technologies such as LTE. 
On March 24, 2017, the FCC released a Second Report and Order (2d R&O) 
and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (2d FNPRM). In the 2d 
R&O, the FCC revised the Cellular radiated power rules to permit 
compliance with limits based on power spectral density as an option for 
licensees deploying wideband technologies such as LTE, made conforming 
revisions to related technical rules, and adopted additional licensing 
reforms. In the 2d FNPRM, the FCC sought comment on other measures to 
give Cellular and other part 22 commercial mobile radio service 
licensees more flexibility and administrative relief, and on ways to 
consolidate and simplify the rules for the Cellular Service and other 
geographically licensed wireless services. On July 13, 2018, the FCC 
released a Third Report and Order (3d R&O) in which it deleted certain 
part 22 rules that imposed needless recordkeeping and reporting 
obligations; it also deleted certain Cellular Service-specific and Part 
22 rules that are duplicative of other rules and are thus no longer 
necessary. These revisions reduce regulatory burdens for Cellular and 
other Part 22 licensees and provide them with enhanced flexibility, 
thereby freeing up more resources for investment in new technologies 
and greater spectrum efficiency to meet increasing consumer demand for 
advanced wireless services. On March 22, 2019, the FCC released an 
Order on Reconsideration addressing a petition for reconsideration of a 
rule deletion in the 3d R&O. The FCC denied the petition, thus 
affirming its decision in the 3d R&O.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   03/16/12  77 FR 15665
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/15/12
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   06/14/12
R&O.................................   12/05/14  79 FR 72143
FNPRM...............................   12/22/14  79FR 76268
Final Rule Effective (With 3           01/05/15
 Exceptions).
FNPRM Comment Period End............   01/21/15
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End......   02/20/15
2nd R&O.............................   04/12/17  82 FR 17570
2nd FNPRM...........................   04/14/17  82 FR 17959
Final Rule Effective (With 9           05/12/17
 Exceptions).
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........   05/15/17
2nd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End..   06/14/17
3rd R&O.............................   08/02/18  83 FR 37760
Final Rule Effective (With 1           09/04/18
 Exception).
Order on Reconsideration............   04/09/19  84 FR 14080
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Nina Shafran, Attorney Advisor, Wireless Bureau, 
Mobility Div., Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2781, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK13

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)

Wireline Competition Bureau

Long-Term Actions

521. Local Telephone Networks That LECS Must Make Available to 
Competitors

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 251
    Abstract: The Commission adopted rules applicable to incumbent 
local exchange carriers (LECs) to permit competitive carriers to access 
portions of the incumbent LECs' networks on an unbundled basis. 
Unbundling allows competitors to lease portions of the incumbent LECs' 
network to provide telecommunications services. These rules, adopted in 
dockets CC 96-98, WC 01-338, and WC 04-313, are intended to accelerate 
the development of local exchange competition.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second FNPRM........................   04/26/99  64 FR 20238
Fourth FNPRM........................   01/14/00  65 FR 2367
Errata Third R&O and Fourth FNPRM...   01/18/00  65 FR 2542
Second Errata Third R&O and Fourth     01/18/00  65 FR 2542
 FNPRM.

[[Page 5360]]

 
Supplemental Order..................   01/18/00  65 FR 2542
Third R&O...........................   01/18/00  65 FR 2542
Correction..........................   04/11/00  65 FR 19334
Supplemental Order Clarification....   06/20/00  65 FR 38214
Public Notice.......................   02/01/01  66 FR 8555
Public Notice.......................   03/05/01  66 FR 18279
Public Notice.......................   04/10/01
Public Notice.......................   04/23/01
Public Notice.......................   05/14/01
NPRM................................   01/15/02  67 FR 1947
Public Notice.......................   05/29/02
Public Notice.......................   08/01/02
Public Notice.......................   08/13/02
NPRM................................   08/21/03  68 FR 52276
R&O and Order on Remand.............   08/21/03  68 FR 52276
Errata..............................   09/17/03
Report..............................   10/09/03  68 FR 60391
Order...............................   10/28/03
Order...............................   01/09/04
Public Notice.......................   01/09/04
Public Notice.......................   02/18/04
Order...............................   07/08/04
Second R&O..........................   07/08/04  69 FR 43762
Order on Recon......................   08/09/04  69 FR 54589
Interim Order.......................   08/20/04  69 FR 55111
NPRM................................   08/20/04  69 FR 55128
Public Notice.......................   09/10/04
Public Notice.......................   09/13/04
Public Notice.......................   10/20/04
Order on Recon......................   12/29/04  69 FR 77950
Order on Remand.....................   02/04/04
Public Notice.......................   04/25/05  70 FR 29313
Public Notice.......................   05/25/05  70 FR 34765
Declaratory Ruling..................   05/26/11
NPRM................................   01/06/20  85 FR 472
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/06/20
Report & Order......................   01/08/21  86 FR 1636
                                     -----------------------------------
Next Action Undetermined............           To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Edward Krachmer, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1525, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AH44

522. Jurisdictional Separations

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(j); 47 
U.S.C. 205; 47 U.S.C. 221(c); 47 U.S.C. 254; 47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 
410
    Abstract: Jurisdictional separations is the process, pursuant to 
part 36 of the Commission's rules, by which incumbent local exchange 
carriers apportion regulated costs between the intrastate and 
interstate jurisdictions. In 1997, the Commission initiated a 
proceeding seeking comment on the extent to which legislative changes, 
technological changes, and marketplace changes warrant comprehensive 
reform of the separations process. In 2001, the Commission adopted the 
Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations' Joint Board's 
recommendation to impose an interim freeze on the part 36 category 
relationships and jurisdictional cost allocation factors for a period 
of 5 years, pending comprehensive reform of the part 36 separations 
rules. In 2006, the Commission issued an Order and Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking that extended the separations freeze for a period 
of 3 years and sought comment on comprehensive reform. In 2009, the 
Commission issued a Report and Order extending the separations freeze 
an additional year to June 2010. In 2010, the Commission issued a 
Report and Order extending the separations freeze for an additional 
year to June 2011. In 2011, the Commission adopted a Report and Order 
extending the separations freeze for an additional year to June 2012. 
In 2012, the Commission issued a Report and Order extending the 
separations freeze for an additional 2 years to June 2014. In 2014, the 
Commission issued a Report and Order extending the separations freeze 
for an additional 3 years to June 2017.
    In 2016, the Commission issued a Report and Order extending the 
separations freeze for an additional 18 months until January 1, 2018. 
In 2017, the Joint Board issued a Recommended Decision recommending 
changes to the part 36 rules designed to harmonize them with the 
Commission's previous amendments to its part 32 accounting rules. In 
February 2018, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
proposing amendments to part 36 consistent with the Joint Board's 
recommendations. In October 2018, the Commission issued a Report and 
Order adopting each of the Joint Board's recommendations and amending 
the Part 36 consistent with those recommendations. In July 2018, the 
Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to extend 
the separations freeze for an additional 15 years and to provide rate-
of-return carriers that had elected to freeze their category 
relationships a time limited opportunity to opt out of that freeze. In 
December 2018, the Commission issued a Report and Order extending the 
freeze for up to 6 years until December 31, 2024, and granting rate-of-
return carriers that had elected to freeze their category relationships 
a one-time opportunity to opt out of that freeze.
    On March 31, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the 
District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the Commission's December 2018 
Report and Order.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/05/97  62 FR 59842
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/10/97  .......................
Order...............................   06/21/01  66 FR 33202
Order and FNPRM.....................   05/26/06  71 FR 29882
Order and FNPRM Comment Period End..   08/22/06  .......................
R&O.................................   05/15/09  74 FR 23955
R&O.................................   05/25/10  75 FR 30301
R&O.................................   05/27/11  76 FR 30840
R&O.................................   05/23/12  77 FR 30410
R&O.................................   06/13/14  79 FR 36232
R&O.................................   06/02/17  82 FR 25535
Recommended Decision................   10/27/17  .......................
NPRM................................   03/13/18  83 FR 10817
NPRM Comment Period End.............   04/27/18  .......................
NPRM................................   07/27/18  83 FR 35589
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/10/18  .......................
R&O.................................   12/11/18  83 FR 63581
R&O.................................   02/15/19  84 FR 4351
Announcement of OMB Approval........   03/01/19  84 FR 6977
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: William A. Kehoe III, Senior Counsel, Policy & 
Program Planning Division, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 
418-1580, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AJ06

523. Rural Call Completion; WC Docket No. 13-39

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 217; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 
U.S.C. 202; 47 U.S.C. 218; 47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C. 262; 47 U.S.C. 
403(b)(2)(B); 47 U.S.C. 251(a); 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 620; 47 U.S.C. 
251; 47 U.S.C. 251(e); 47 U.S.C. 254(k); 47 U.S.C. 616; 47 U.S.C. 226; 
47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 228; 47 U.S.C. 1401-1473
    Abstract: The Third RCC Order began implementation of the Improving 
Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017 (RCC Act), by adopting 
rules designed to ensure the integrity of our nation's telephone 
network and prevent unjust or unreasonable discrimination among areas 
of the United States in the delivery of telephone service. In 
particular, the Third RCC Order adopted rules to establish a registry 
for intermediate providers entities that transmit, but do not originate 
or terminate, voice calls.

[[Page 5361]]

The Order requires intermediate providers to register with the 
Commission before offering to transmit covered voice communications, 
and requires covered providers entities that select the initial long-
distance route for a large number of lines to use only registered 
intermediate providers to transmit covered voice communications.
    The Fourth RCC Order completed the Commission's implementation of 
the RCC Act by adopting service quality standards for intermediate 
providers, as well as an exception to those standards for intermediate 
providers that qualify for the covered provider safe harbor in our 
existing rules. The Order also set forth procedures to enforce our 
intermediate provider requirements. Finally, the Fourth RCC Order 
adopted provisions to sunset the rural call completion data recording 
and retention requirements adopted in the First RCC Order one year 
after the effective date of the new intermediate provider service 
quality standards.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   04/12/13  78 FR 21891
Public Notice.......................   05/07/13  78 FR 26572
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/28/13  .......................
R&O and FNPRM.......................   12/17/13  78 FR 76218
PRA 60 Day Notice...................   12/30/13  78 FR 79448
FNPRM Comment Period End............   02/18/14  .......................
PRA Comments Due....................   03/11/14  .......................
Public Notice.......................   05/06/14  79 FR 25682
Order on Reconsideration............   12/10/14  79 FR 73227
Erratum.............................   01/08/15  80 FR 1007
Public Notice.......................   03/04/15  80 FR 11593
2nd FNPRM...........................   07/27/17  82 FR 34911
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........   08/28/17  .......................
Reply Comment Period End............   09/25/17  .......................
2nd Order...........................   05/10/18  83 FR 21723
3rd FNPRM...........................   05/11/18  83 FR 21983
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........   06/04/18  .......................
3rd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End..   06/19/18  .......................
3rd Order...........................   08/13/18  83 FR 47296
4th Order...........................   03/15/19  84 FR 25692
PRA 60 Day Notice...................   05/22/18  83 FR 23681
PRA 60 Day Notice...................   09/18/18  83 FR 47153
Public Notice.......................   10/24/18  83 FR 53588
Public Notice.......................   04/15/19  84 FR 15124
PRA 60 Day Notice...................   05/17/21  86 FR 26722
PRA Comment Period End..............   07/16/21  .......................
PRA 60 Day Notice...................   08/24/21  86 FR 47307
PRA Comment Period End..............   10/25/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Connor Ferraro, Attorney Advisor, Competition 
Policy Division, WCB, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street 
NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-1322, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AJ89

524. Rates for Inmate Calling Services; WC Docket No. 12-375

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and (j); 
47 U.S.C. 201(b); 47 U.S.C. 218; 47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C. 276; 47 
U.S.C. 403; 47 CFR 64
    Abstract: In the Second Report and Order, the Federal 
Communications Commission adopted rule changes to ensure that rates for 
both interstate and intrastate inmate calling services (ICS) are fair, 
just, and reasonable limits on ancillary service charges imposed by ICS 
providers. In the Second Report and Order, the Commission set caps on 
all interstate and intrastate calling rates for ICS, established a 
tiered rate structure based on the size and type of facility being 
served, limited the types of ancillary services that ICS providers may 
charge for and capped the charges for permitted fees, banned flat-rate 
calling, facilitated access to ICS by people with disabilities by 
requiring providers to offer free or steeply discounted rates for calls 
using TTY, and imposed reporting and certification requirements to 
facilitate continued oversight of the ICS market. In the Third Further 
Notice portion of the item, the Commission sought comment on ways to 
promote competition for ICS, video visitation, and rates for 
international calls, and considered an array of solutions to further 
address areas of concern in the ICS industry. In an Order on 
Reconsideration, the Commission amended its rate caps and the 
definition of ``mandatory tax or mandatory fee.''
    On June 13, 2017, the D.C. Circuit vacated the rate caps adopted in 
the Second Report and Order, as well as reporting requirements related 
to video visitation. The court held that the Commission lacked 
jurisdiction over intrastate ICS calls and that the rate caps the 
Commission adopted for interstate calls were arbitrary and capricious. 
The court also remanded the Commission's caps on ancillary fees. On 
September 26, 2017, the court denied a petition for rehearing en banc. 
On December 21, 2017, the court issued two separate orders: One 
vacating the 2016 Order on Reconsideration insofar as it purports to 
set rate caps on inmate calling services, and one dismissing as moot 
challenges to the Commission's First Report and Order on ICS.
    On February 4, 2020, the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau 
released a Public Notice seeking to refresh the record on ancillary 
service charges imposed in connection with inmate calling services.
    On August 6, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order on 
Remand and a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking responding to 
remands by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 
Circuit and proposing to comprehensively reform rates and charges for 
the inmate calling services within the Commission's jurisdiction. The 
Report and Order on Remand found that the Commission's five permitted 
ancillary service charges (1) automated payment fees; (2) fees for 
single-call and related services; (3) live agent fees; (4) paper bill/
statement fees; and (5) third-party financial transaction fees 
generally, cannot be practically segregated between interstate and 
intrastate inmate telephone calls, except in a limited number of cases. 
Accordingly, the Commission prohibited inmate calling services 
providers from imposing ancillary service fees higher than the 
Commission's caps,or imposing fees for additional ancillary services 
unless imposed in connection with purely intrastate inmate telephone 
service calls. The Order also reinstated a rule prohibiting providers 
from marking up third-party fees for single-call services; reinstated 
rule language that prohibits providers from marking up mandatory taxes 
or fees that they pass on to inmate telephone service consumers; and 
amended certain of the inmate calling services rules consistent with 
the D.C. Circuit's mandates to reflect that the Commission's rate and 
fee caps on inmate calling service apply only to interstate and 
international inmate calling. The Fourth FNPRM proposes to 
substantially reduce the interstate rate cap for inmate telephone calls 
from the current interim rate caps of $0.21 per minute for debit or 
prepaid calls and $0.25 per minute for collect calls for all types of 
correctional facilities, to permanent rate caps of $0.14 per minute for 
all interstate calls from prisons and $0.16 for all interstate calls 
from jails. The Fourth FNPRM also proposes to adopt rate caps for 
international inmate

[[Page 5362]]

calling services calls for the first time based on the proposed 
interstate rate caps, plus the amount that the provider must pay its 
underlying international service provider for an international call. It 
also proposes a waiver process for providers that believe the 
Commission's rate caps would not allow them to recover their costs of 
serving a particular facility or contract. Finally, it seeks comment on 
a further mandatory data collection to continue efforts to reform these 
rates and fees.
    On November 23, 2020, Global Tel*Link Corporation filed a petition 
for reconsideration of the August 6, 2020 Order on Remand. On December 
3, 2020, the Commission established the opposition and reply comment 
dates for the petition.
    On May 24, 2021 the Commission released the Third Report and Order, 
Order on Reconsideration and Fifth Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking. In the Third Report and Order, the Commission: (1) 
Substantially reduced the interim rate caps for interstate inmate 
calling services from prisons and larger jails (those with 1,000 or 
more incarcerated people) from $0.21 per minute for debit and prepaid 
calls and $0.25 per minute for collect calls to new uniform interim 
interstate caps of $0.12 per minute for prisons and $0.14 per minute 
for larger jails; (2) maintained the current interim interstate rate 
cap of $0.21 for jails with less than 1,000 incarcerated people because 
of insufficient record evidence to determine providers' costs of 
serving those facilities at this time; (3) eliminated separate 
treatment of collect calls, resulting in a uniform interim interstate 
rate cap for all types of calls at each facility, as proposed; (4) 
reformed the treatment of site commission payments by specifying that 
providers may pass through to consumers (without any markup) site 
commission payments that are mandated by federal, state, or local law 
and that providers may pass through to consumers no more than $ 0.02 
per minute site commission payments resulting from contractual 
obligations negotiated between providers and correctional officials; 
(5) capped, for the first time, international calling rates at all 
facilities at the applicable facility's total interstate rate cap, plus 
the amount the inmate calling services provider pays to its underlying 
wholesale carriers for completing international calls; (6) reformed the 
ancillary service charge caps for third-party financial transaction 
fees, including those related to calls that are billed on a per-call 
basis; and (7) adopted a new mandatory data collection to obtain more 
uniform cost data based on consistent, prescribed allocation 
methodologies to determine fair, permanent cost-based rates for 
facilities of all sizes.
    In the Order on Reconsideration, the Commission denied GTL's 
petition seeking reconsideration of a single sentence from the 2020 
Remand Order, in which the Commission reminded providers that the 
jurisdictional nature of a call, that is whether it is interstate or 
intrastate, depends on the physical location of the endpoints of the 
call and not on whether the area code or NXX prefix of the telephone 
number associated with the account are associated with a particular 
state. The Commission determined that the end-to-end analysis has been, 
and remains, the generally applicable test for all telecommunications 
carriers in determining the jurisdiction of their calls and the 
Commission continues to use the traditional end-to-end jurisdictional 
analysis in setting rates for calls placed by inmate calling services 
consumers.
    In the Fifth Further Notice, the Commission proposed to amend the 
Commission's rules to require calling service providers to provide 
access to all forms of Telecommunications Relay Services, including 
internet-based services, to facilitate greater accessibility for 
incarcerated people with hearing and speech disabilities. The 
Commission also sought comment on: (1) The methodology the Commission 
should use to set permanent per-minute rate caps for interstate and 
international inmate calling services; (2) site commission costs for 
facilities of all sizes and site commission reform generally; (3) the 
costs of providing services to jails with average daily populations of 
fewer than 1,000 incarcerated people; (4) whether and how the 
Commission should reform the ancillary service charge caps and how the 
Commission can curtail potentially abusive practices related to these 
charges; (5) whether to institute a recurring periodic data collection; 
and (6) whether some providers have market power in the bidding 
process, thereby impacting the competitiveness of the bidding process.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/22/13  78 FR 4369
FNPRM...............................   11/13/13  78 FR 68005
R&O.................................   11/13/13  78 FR 67956
FNPRM Comment Period End............   12/20/13  .......................
Announcement of Effective Date......   06/20/14  79 FR 33709
2nd FNPRM...........................   11/21/14  79 FR 69682
2nd FNPRM Comment Period End........   01/15/15  .......................
2nd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End..   01/20/15  .......................
3rd FNPRM...........................   12/18/15  80 FR 79020
2nd R&O.............................   12/18/15  80 FR 79136
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........   01/19/16  .......................
3rd FNPRM Reply Comment Period End..   02/08/16  .......................
Order on Reconsideration............   09/12/16  81 FR 62818
Announcement of OMB Approval........   03/01/17  82 FR 12182
Correction to Announcement of OMB      03/08/17  82 FR 12922
 Approval.
Announcement of OMB Approval........   02/06/20  85 FR 6947
Public Notice.......................   02/19/20  85 FR 9444
Public Notice Comment Period End....   03/20/20  .......................
Public Notice Reply Comment Period     04/06/20  .......................
 End.
Letter..............................   07/15/20  .......................
R&O on Remand & 4th FNPRM...........   08/06/20  85 FR 67450; 85 FR
                                                  67480; 85 FR 73233
Order...............................   09/01/20  .......................
Public Notice.......................   09/24/20  85 FR 66512
Public Notice.......................   10/23/20  .......................
Letter..............................   11/13/20  .......................
Public Notice.......................   12/03/20  85 FR 83000
Order...............................   12/17/20  .......................
Public Notice.......................   01/08/21  .......................
Public Notice.......................   03/03/21  .......................
Inactive per Maura McGowan..........   03/31/21  .......................
5th FNPRM...........................   07/28/21  86 FR 40416
3rd R&O.............................   07/28/21  86 FR 40340
Order...............................   08/10/21  86 FR 48952
5th NPRM Comment Period End.........   09/27/21  .......................
5th NPRM Reply Comment Period End...   10/27/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: William A. Kehoe III, Senior Counsel, Policy & 
Program Planning Division, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 
418-1580, Email: [email protected].
    Irina Asoskov, Assistant Division Chief, Federal Communications 
Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street SW,

[[Page 5363]]

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7122, Fax: 202 418-1413, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK08

525. Comprehensive Review of the Part 32 Uniform System of Accounts (WC 
Docket No. 14-130)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201(b); 
47 U.S.C. 219 and 220
    Abstract: The Commission initiates a rulemaking proceeding to 
review the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA) to consider ways to 
minimize the compliance burdens on incumbent local exchange carriers 
while ensuring that the Agency retains access to the information it 
needs to fulfill its regulatory duties. In light of the Commission's 
actions in areas of price cap regulation, universal service reform, and 
intercarrier compensation reform, the Commission stated that it is 
likely appropriate to streamline the existing rules even though those 
reforms may not have eliminated the need for accounting data for some 
purposes. The Commission's analysis and proposals are divided into 
three parts. First, the Commission proposes to streamline the USOA 
accounting rules while preserving their existing structure. Second, the 
Commission seeks more focused comment on the accounting requirements 
needed for price cap carriers to address our statutory and regulatory 
obligations. Third, the Commission seeks comment on several related 
issues, including state requirements, rate effects, implementation, 
continuing property records, and legal authority.
    On February 23, 2017, the Commission adopted a Report and Order 
that revised the part 32 USOA to substantially reduce accounting 
burdens for both price cap and rate-of-return carriers. First, the 
Order streamlines the USOA for all carriers. In addition, the USOA will 
be aligned more closely with generally accepted accounting principles, 
or GAAP. Second, the Order allows price cap carriers to use GAAP for 
all regulatory accounting purposes as long as they comply with targeted 
accounting rules, which are designed to mitigate any impact on pole 
attachment rates. Alternatively, price cap carriers can elect to use 
GAAP accounting for all purposes other than those associated with pole 
attachment rates and continue to use the part 32 accounts for pole 
attachment rates for up to 12 years. Third, the Order addresses several 
miscellaneous issues, including referral to the Federal-State Joint 
Board on Separations the issue of examining jurisdictional separations 
rules in light of the reforms adopted to part 32.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/15/14  79 FR 54942
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/14/14  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   12/15/14  .......................
R&O.................................   04/04/17  82 FR 20833
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Robin Cohn, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-2747, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK20

526. Restoring Internet Freedom (WC Docket No. 17-108); Protecting and 
Promoting the Open Internet (GN Docket No. 14-28)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and (j); 47 U.S.C. 
201(b)
    Abstract: In December 2017, the Commission adopted the Restoring 
internet Freedom Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, and Order 
(Restoring internet Freedom Order), which reclassified broadband 
internet access service as an information service; reinstates the 
determination that mobile broadband internet access service is not a 
commercial mobile service and as a private mobile service; finds that 
transparency, internet Service Providers (ISPs) economic incentives, 
and antitrust and consumer protection laws will protect the openness of 
the internet, and that title II regulation is unnecessary to do so; and 
adopts a transparency rule similar to that in the 2010 Open internet 
Order, requiring disclosure of network management practices, 
performance characteristics, and commercial terms of service. 
Additionally, the transparency rule requires ISPs to disclose any 
blocking, throttling, paid prioritization, or affiliate prioritization, 
and eliminates the internet conduct standard and the bright-line 
conduct rules set forth in the 2015 Open internet Order.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/01/14  79 FR 37448
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/18/14  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   09/15/14  .......................
R&O on Remand, Declaratory Ruling,     04/13/15  80 FR 19737
 and Order.
NPRM................................   06/02/17  82 FR 25568
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/03/17  .......................
Declaratory Ruling, R&O, and Order..   02/22/18  83 FR 7852
Order on Remand.....................   01/07/21  86 FR 994
Next Action Undetermined............             .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Melissa Kirkel, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7958, Fax: 202 418-1413, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK21

527. Technology Transitions; GN Docket No 13-5, WC Docket No. 05-25; 
Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to 
Infrastructure Investment; WC Docket No. 17-84

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 U.S.C. 251
    Abstract: On April 20, 2017, the Commission adopted a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking, Notice of Inquiry, and Request for Comment 
(Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, NOl, and RFC) seeking input on a number 
of actions designed to accelerate: (1) The deployment of next-
generation networks and services by removing barriers to infrastructure 
investment at the Federal, State, and local level; (2) the transition 
from legacy copper networks and services to next-generation fiber-based 
networks and services; and (3) the reduction of Commission regulations 
that raise costs and slow, rather than facilitate, broadband 
deployment.
    On November 16, 2017, the Commission adopted a Report and Order 
(R&O), Declaratory Ruling, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(Wireline Infrastructure Order) that takes a number of actions and 
seeks comment on further actions designed to accelerate the deployment 
of next-generation networks and services through removing barriers to 
infrastructure investment.
    The Wireline Infrastructure Order took a number of actions. First, 
the Report and Order revised the pole attachment rules to reduce costs 
for attachers, reforms the pole access complaint procedures to settle 
access disputes more swiftly, and increases access to infrastructure 
for certain types

[[Page 5364]]

of broadband providers. Second, the Report and Order revised the 
section 214(a) discontinuance rules and the network change notification 
rules, including those applicable to copper retirements, to expedite 
the process for carriers seeking to replace legacy network 
infrastructure and legacy services with advanced broadband networks and 
innovative new services. Third, the Report and Order reversed a 2015 
ruling that discontinuance authority is required for solely wholesale 
services to carrier-customers. Fourth, the Declaratory Ruling abandoned 
the 2014 ``functional test'' interpretation of when section 214 
discontinuance applications are required, bringing added clarity to the 
section 214(a) discontinuance process for carriers and consumers alike. 
Finally, the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking sought comment on 
additional potential pole attachment reforms, reforms to the network 
change disclosure and section 214(a) discontinuance processes, and ways 
to facilitate rebuilding networks impacted by natural disasters. 
Various parties filed a Petition for Review of the Wireline 
Infrastructure Order in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth 
Circuit. The Ninth Circuit denied the Petition on January 23, 2020 on 
the grounds that the parties lacked standing.
    On June 7, 2018, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order 
(Wireline Infrastructure Second Report and Order) taking further 
actions designed to expedite the transition from legacy networks and 
services to next generation networks and advanced services that benefit 
the American public and to promote broadband deployment by further 
streamlining the section 214(a) discontinuance rules, network change 
disclosure processes, and part 68 customer notification process.
    The Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, NOI, and RFC sought comment on 
additional issues not addressed in the November Wireline Infrastructure 
Order or the June Wireline Infrastructure Second Report and Order. It 
sought comment on changes to the Commission's pole attachment rules to: 
(1) Streamline the timeframe for gaining access to utility poles; (2) 
reduce charges paid by attachers for work done to make a pole ready for 
new attachments; and (3) establish a formula for computing the maximum 
pole attachment rate that may be imposed on an incumbent LEC.
    The Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, NOI, and RFC also sought comment 
on whether the Commission should enact rules, consistent with its 
authority under section 253 of the Act, to promote the deployment of 
broadband infrastructure by preempting State and local laws that 
inhibit broadband deployment. It also sought comment on whether there 
are State laws governing the maintenance or retirement of copper 
facilities that serve as a barrier to deploying next-generation 
technologies and services that the Commission might seek to preempt.
    Previously, in November 2014, the Commission adopted a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking and Declaratory Ruling that: (1) Proposed new 
backup power rules; (2) proposed new or revised rules for copper 
retirements and service discontinuances; and (3) adopted a functional 
test in determining what constitutes a service for purposes of section 
214(a) discontinuance review. In August 2015, the Commission adopted a 
Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking that: (i) Lengthened and revised the copper 
retirement process; (ii) determined that a carrier must obtain 
Commission approval before discontinuing a service used as a wholesale 
input if the carrier's actions will discontinue service to a carrier-
customer's retail end users; (iii) adopted an interim rule requiring 
incumbent LECs that seek to discontinue certain TDM-based wholesale 
services to commit to certain rates, terms, and conditions; (iv) 
proposed further revisions to the copper retirement discontinuance 
process; and (v) upheld the November 2014 Declaratory Ruling. In July 
2016, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order, Declaratory 
Ruling, and Order on Reconsideration that: (i) Adopted a new test for 
obtaining streamlined treatment when carriers seek Commission 
authorization to discontinue legacy services in favor of services based 
on newer technologies; (ii) set forth consumer education requirements 
for carriers seeking to discontinue legacy services in favor of 
services based on newer technologies; (iii) allowed notice to customers 
of discontinuance applications by email; (iv) required carriers to 
provide notice of discontinuance applications to Tribal entities; (v) 
made a technical rule change to create a new title for copper 
retirement notices and certifications; and (vi) harmonized the timeline 
for competitive LEC discontinuances caused by incumbent LEC network 
changes.
    On August 2, 2018, the Commission adopted a Third Report and Order 
and Declaratory Ruling (Wireline Infrastructure Third Report and Order) 
establishing a new framework for the vast majority of pole attachments 
governed by Federal law by instituting a one-touch make-ready regime, 
in which a new attacher may elect to perform all simple work to prepare 
a pole for new wireline attachments in the communications space. This 
new framework includes safeguards to promote coordination among parties 
and ensures that new attachers perform work safely and reliably. The 
Commission retained its multi-party pole attachment process for 
attachments that are complex or above the communications space of a 
pole, but made significant modifications to speed deployment, promote 
accurate billing, expand the use of self-help for new attachers when 
attachment deadlines are missed, and reduce the likelihood of 
coordination failures that lead to unwarranted delays. The Commission 
also improved its pole attachment rules by codifying and redefining 
Commission precedent that requires utilities to allow attachers to 
overlash existing wires, thus maximizing the usable space on the pole; 
eliminating outdated disparities between the pole attachment rates that 
incumbent carriers must pay compared to other similarly-situated cable 
and telecommunications attachers; and clarifying that the Commission 
will preempt, on an expedited case-by-case basis, State and local laws 
that inhibit the rebuilding or restoration of broadband infrastructure 
after a disaster. The Commission also adopted a Declaratory Ruling that 
interpreted section 253(a) of the Communications Act to prohibit State 
and local express and de facto moratoria on the deployment of 
telecommunications services or facilities and directed the Wireline 
Competition and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus to act promptly on 
petitions challenging specific alleged moratoria. Numerous parties 
filed appeals of the Wireline Infrastructure Third Report and Order, 
and the appeals were consolidated in the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 
Ninth Circuit. On August 12, 2020, the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion 
upholding the Wireline Infrastructure Third Report and Order in all 
respects.
    On August 8, 2018, Public Knowledge filed a Petition for 
Reconsideration of the Second Report and Order and Motion to Hold in 
Abeyance. On October 20, 2020, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) 
adopted a Declaratory Ruling, Order on Reconsideration, and Order. In 
the Declaratory Ruling, the Bureau clarified that any carrier seeking 
to discontinue legacy voice service to a community or

[[Page 5365]]

part of a community that is the last retail provider of such legacy TDM 
service to that community or part of the community is subject to the 
Commission's technology transition discontinuance rules, including the 
requirements to receive streamlined treatment of its discontinuance 
application. In the Order on Reconsideration, the Bureau denied the 
Public Knowledge Petition for Reconsideration because all of Public 
Knowledge's arguments were fully considered, and rejected, by the 
Commission in the underlying proceeding. It also dismissed as moot the 
accompanying motion to have the Commission hold that Order in abeyance 
pending the outcome of the appeal that the Ninth Circuit ultimately 
denied.
    In September 2019, CTIA filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling 
seeking clarification of certain issues raised in the 2018 Third Report 
and Order. On July 29, 2020, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a 
Declaratory Ruling clarifying that (1) the imposition of a blanket 
ban'' by a utility on attachments to any portion of a utility pole is 
inconsistent with the federal requirement that a denial of access . . . 
be specific'' to a particular request; and (2) while utilities and 
attachers have the flexibility to negotiate terms in their pole 
attachment agreements that differ from the requirements in the 
Commission's rules, a utility cannot use its significant negotiating 
leverage to require an attacher to give up rights to which the attacher 
is entitled under the rules without the attacher obtaining a 
corresponding benefit.
    On July 20, 2020, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public 
Notice seeking comment on a Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed on 
July 16, 2020 by NCTA The Internet & Television Association. NCTA asked 
the Commission to declare that: (1) Pole owners must share in the cost 
of pole replacements in unserved areas pursuant to section 224 of the 
Communications Act, section 1.1408(b) of the Commission's rules, and 
Commission precedent; (2) pole attachment complaints arising in 
unserved areas should be prioritized through placement on the 
Accelerated Docket under section 1.736 of the Commission's rules; and 
(3) section 1.1407(b) of the Commission's rules authorizes the 
Commission to order any pole owner to complete a pole replacement 
within a specified period of time or designate an authorized contractor 
to do so. Comments on the NCTA Petition were due by September 2, 2020, 
and reply comments by September 17, 2020.
    On July 23, 2021, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public 
Notice seeking comment on a Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed by 
the Edison Electric Institute asking the Commission to declare that: 
(1) When the Commission determines that a pole attachment rate, term, 
or condition is unjust and unreasonable and orders a refund pursuant to 
section 1.1407(a)(3) of the Commission's rules, the applicable statute 
of limitations'' is the same as the two-year period prescribed by 
section 415(b) of the Act; and (2) refunds in pole attachment complaint 
proceedings are not appropriate'' for any period preceding good-faith 
notice of a dispute. Deadlines for filing comments and reply comments 
were set for August 23, 2021, and September 10, 2021, respectively.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/06/15  80 FR 450
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/05/15  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   03/09/15  .......................
FNPRM...............................   09/25/15  80 FR 57768
R&O.................................   09/25/15  80 FR 57768
FNPRM Comment Period End............   10/26/15  .......................
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End......   11/24/15  .......................
2nd R&O.............................   09/12/16  81 FR 62632
NPRM................................   05/16/17  82 FR 224533
NPRM Comment Period End.............   06/15/17  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   07/17/17  .......................
R&O.................................   12/28/17  82 FR 61520
FNPRM Comment Period End............   01/17/18  .......................
FNPRM Reply Comment Period End......   02/16/18  .......................
2nd R&O.............................   07/09/18  83 FR 31659
3rd R&O.............................   09/14/18  83 FR 46812
NCTA Public Notice..................   07/20/20  .......................
CTIA Declaratory Ruling.............   07/29/20  .......................
Order on Reconsideration............   02/02/21  86 FR 8872
EEI Public Notice...................   07/23/21  .......................
EEI Public Notice Comment Period End   08/23/21  .......................
EEI Public Notice Reply Comment        09/10/21  .......................
 Period End.
Next Action Undetermined............             .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michele Berlove, Special Counsel, Competition 
Policy Div., WCB, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 
418-1477, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK32

528. Numbering Policies for Modern Communications, WC Docket No. 13-97

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 153 to 154; 47 U.S.C. 201 
to 205; 47 U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 303(r)
    Abstract: This Order establishes a process to authorize 
interconnected VoIP providers to obtain North American Numbering Plan 
(NANP) telephone numbers directly from the numbering administrators, 
rather than through intermediaries. Section 52.15(g)(2)(i) of the 
Commission's rules limits access to telephone numbers to entities that 
demonstrate they are authorized to provide service in the area for 
which the numbers are being requested. The Commission has interpreted 
this rule as requiring evidence of either a State certificate of public 
convenience and necessity (CPCN) or a Commission license. Neither 
authorization is typically available in practice to interconnected VoIP 
providers. Thus, as a practical matter, generally only 
telecommunications carriers are able to provide the proof of 
authorization required under our rules, and thus able to obtain numbers 
directly from the numbering administrators. This Order establishes an 
authorization process to enable interconnected VoIP providers that 
choose direct access to request numbers directly from the numbering 
administrators. Next, the Order sets forth several conditions designed 
to minimize number exhaust and preserve the integrity of the numbering 
system.
    The Order requires interconnected VoIP providers obtaining numbers 
to comply with the same requirements applicable to carriers seeking to 
obtain numbers. These requirements include any State requirements 
pursuant to numbering authority delegated to the States by the 
Commission, as well as industry guidelines and practices, among others. 
The Order also requires interconnected VoIP providers to comply with 
facilities readiness requirements adapted to this context, and with 
numbering utilization and optimization requirements. As conditions to 
requesting and obtaining numbers directly from the numbering 
administrators, interconnected VoIP providers are also required to: (1)

[[Page 5366]]

Provide the relevant State commissions with regulatory and numbering 
contacts when requesting numbers in those states; (2) request numbers 
from the numbering administrators under their own unique OCN; (3) file 
any requests for numbers with the relevant State commissions at least 
30 days prior to requesting numbers from the numbering administrators; 
and (4) provide customers with the opportunity to access all 
abbreviated dialing codes (N11 numbers) in use in a geographic area.
    The Order also modifies Commission's rules in order to permit VoIP 
Positioning Center (VPC) providers to obtain pseudo-Automatic Number 
Identification (p-ANI) codes directly from the numbering administrators 
for purposes of providing E911 services.
    Based on experiences and review of the direct access authorization 
process established by the 2015 Order, the Commission adopted a FNPRM 
which proposes clarifications and revisions to the Commission's rules 
to better ensure that interconnected VoIP providers that obtain direct 
access authorization fo not facilitate illegal robocalls, pose national 
security risks, or evade or abuse intercarrier compensation 
requirements. The FNPRM proposes to require additional certifications 
as part of the direct access authorization applications process, that 
would include certification of compliance with anti-robocalling 
obligations. The FNPRM also proposes to clarify that applicants 
disclose foreign ownership information on their direct access 
application. It would also propose to generally refer those 
applications with 10% or greater foreign ownership to the Executive 
Branch agencies for their review, consistent with the Commission's 
referral of other types of applications. The FNPRM also propose to 
clarify that holders of a direct access authorization must update the 
Commission and applicable states within 30 days of changes to ownership 
information submitted to the Commission. The FNPRM further proposes to 
clarify that Commission staff retain the authority to determine when to 
accept filings as complete and proposes to direct Commission staff to 
reject an application if an applicant has engaged in behavior contrary 
to the public interest or has been found to originate or transmit 
illegal robocalls. Finally, the FNPRM seeks comment on whether to 
expand the direct access authorization to one-way VoIP providers or 
other entities that use numbering resources.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/19/13  78 FR 36725
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/19/13  .......................
R&O.................................   10/29/15  80 FR 66454
FNPRM (release date)................   08/06/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............             .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michelle Sclater, Attorney, Wireline Competition 
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0388, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK36

529. Implementation of the Universal Service Portions of the 1996 
Telecommunications Act

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.
    Abstract: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 expanded the 
traditional goal of universal service to include increased access to 
both telecommunications and advanced services such as high-speed 
internet for all consumers at just, reasonable and affordable rates. 
The Act established principles for universal service that specifically 
focused on increasing access to evolving services for consumers living 
in rural and insular areas, and for consumers with low-incomes. 
Additional principles called for increased access to high-speed 
internet in the nation's schools, libraries, and rural healthcare 
facilities. The FCC established four programs within the Universal 
Service Fund to implement the statute: Connect America Fund (formally 
known as High-Cost Support) for rural areas; Lifeline (for low-income 
consumers), including initiatives to expand phone service for Native 
Americans; Schools and Libraries (E-rate); and Rural Healthcare.
    The Universal Service Fund is paid for by contributions from 
telecommunications carriers, including wireline and wireless companies, 
and interconnected Voice over internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, 
including cable companies that provide voice service, based on an 
assessment on their interstate and international end-user revenues. The 
Universal Service Administrative Company, or USAC, administers the four 
programs and collects monies for the Universal Service Fund under the 
direction of the FCC.
    On February 7, 2020, the Commission launched $20 Billion Rural 
Digital Opportunity Fund.
    On April 2, 2020, the Commission fought COVID-19 with $200M; Adopts 
Long-Term Connected Care Study.
    On July 17, 2020, the Commission integrated provisions of the 
recently enacted Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Acts of 
2019 into the existing supply chain rulemaking.
    On March 16, 2021, the Commission sought comments on Emergency 
Connectivity Fund for Educational Connections and Devices to address 
the homework gap during the pandemic.
    On March 30, 2021, the Commission moved forward with Round 2 of the 
COVID-19 Telehealth Program.
    On May 11, 2021, the Commission launched $7.17 Billion Emergency 
Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program.
    On June 2, 2021, the Commission offered further guidance on the 
administration of the Connected Care Pilot Program, including guidance 
on eligible services, competitive bidding, invoicing, and data 
reporting for selected participants.
    On July 22, 2021, the Commission established June 30, 2022, as the 
ECF service delivery date for equipment and other non-recurring 
services funding requests filed during the initial application filing 
window and modifies the certification language for section 
54.1710(a)(1)(x).
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
R&O and FNPRM.......................   01/13/17  82 FR 4275
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/13/17  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   02/27/17  .......................
R&O and Order on Recon..............   03/21/17  82 FR 14466
Order on Recon......................   05/19/17  82 FR 22901
Order on Recon......................   06/08/17  82 FR 26653
Memorandum, Opinion & Order.........   06/21/17  82 FR 228224
NPRM................................   07/30/19  84 FR 36865
NPRM................................   08/21/19  84 FR 43543
R&O and Order on Recon..............   11/07/19  84 FR 59937
Order on Recon......................   12/09/19  84 FR 67220
R&O.................................   12/20/19  84 FR 70026
R&O.................................   12/27/19  84 FR 71308
R&O.................................   01/17/20  85 FR 3044
Report & Order......................   03/10/20  85 FR 13773
Report & Order......................   05/11/20  85 FR 19892
Declaratory Ruling/2nd FNPRM........   08/04/20  85 FR 48134
Public Notice.......................   03/22/21  86 FR 15172
Report & Order on Recon.............   04/09/21  86 FR 18459
R&O.................................   05/28/21  86 FR 29136
2nd R&O.............................   07/14/21  86 FR 37061
Public Notice.......................   08/02/21  86 FR 41408
Next Action Undetermined............             .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 5367]]

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Nakesha Woodward, Program Analyst, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 
418-1502, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK57

530. Toll Free Assignment Modernization and Toll Free Service Access 
Codes: WC Docket No. 17-192, CC Docket No. 95-155

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201(b); 
47 U.S.C. 251(e)(1)
    Abstract: In this Report and Order (Order), the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC) initiates an auction to distribute 
certain toll free numbers. The numbers to be auctioned will be in the 
new 833 toll free code for which there have been multiple, competing 
requests.
    By using an auction, the FCC will ensure that sought-after numbers 
are awarded to the parties that value them most. In addition, the FCC 
will reserve certain 833 numbers for distribution to government and 
non-profit entities that request them for public health and safety 
purposes. The FCC will study the results of the auction to determine 
how to best use the mechanism to distribute toll-free numbers equitably 
and efficiently in the future as well. Revenues from the auction will 
be used to defray the cost of toll-free numbering administration, 
reducing the cost of numbering for all users. The Order establishing 
the toll-free number auction will also authorize and accommodate the 
use of a secondary market for numbers awarded at auction to further 
distribute these numbers to the entities that value them most. The 
Order also adopted several definitional and technical updates to 
improve clarity and flexibility in toll-free number assignment.
    The Commission sought comment and then adopted auctions procedures 
and deadlines on August 2, 2019. Bidding for the auction occurred on 
December 17, 2019, and Somos issued an announcement of the winning 
bidders on December 20, 2019. On December 16, 2019, to facilitate the 
preparation of its study of the auction, the Bureau charged the North 
American Numbering Council, via its Toll Free Access Modernization 
Working Group, to issue a report evaluating various aspects of the 833 
Auction, and recommending improvements for any future toll free number 
auctions.
    On January 16, 2020, Somos released all of the 833 Auction data for 
public review. On March 13, 2020, the Bureau invited public comment on 
the 833 Auction in preparation for issuing a report on the lessons 
learned from the Auction. Comments were due on April 13, 2020. On July 
14, 2020, the North American Numbering Council approved the Toll Free 
Assignment Modernization Working Group's report, Perspectives on the 
December 2019 Auction of Numbers in the 833 Numbering Plan Area.
    On January 15, 2021, the Bureau released a report that examined 
various aspects of this toll free number assignment experiment, 
including lessons learned, examination of auction outcomes, and 
recommendations for future toll free number assignment. The Bureau 
concluded that the 833 Auction was a successful experiment that 
provided invaluable experience and data that can facilitate further 
Commission efforts to continue to modernize toll free number allocation 
in the future.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/13/17  82 FR 47669
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/13/17  .......................
Final Rule..........................   10/23/18  83 FR 53377
Next Action Undetermined............             .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Matthew Collins, Attorney Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7141, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK91

531. Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; WC Docket 
Nos. 19-195 and 11-10

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 35 to 39; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 211; 
47 U.S.C. 219; 47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C. 402(b)2(B); Pub. L. 104-104; 
47. U.S.C. 151-154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 254; 47 
U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 
47 U.S.C. 641 to 646; Pub. L 116-130; . . .
    Abstract: In the Report and Order, the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC), moving to better identify gaps in broadband coverage 
across the nation, initiated a new process for collecting fixed 
broadband data to better pinpoint where broadband service is lacking. 
The Report and Order concluded that there is a compelling and immediate 
need to develop more granular broadband deployment data to meet this 
goal and, accordingly, created the new Digital Opportunity Data 
Collection.
    The Digital Opportunity Data Collection will collect geospatial 
broadband coverage maps from fixed broadband internet service providers 
of areas where they make fixed service available. This geospatial data 
will facilitate development of granular, high-quality fixed broadband 
deployment maps, which should improve the FCC's ability to target 
support for broadband expansion through the agency's Universal Service 
Fund programs. The Report and Order also adopts a process to collect 
public input on the accuracy of service providers' broadband maps, 
facilitated by a crowd-sourcing portal that will gather input from 
consumers as well as from state, local, and Tribal governments.
    The Second Further NPRM sought comment on additional technical 
standards for fixed broadband providers that could ensure greater 
precision for the Digital Opportunity Data Collection deployment 
reporting and on ways the Commission could incorporate crowdsourced and 
location-specific fixed broadband deployment data into this new data 
collection. The Second Further NPRM also sought comment on 
incorporating the collection of accurate, reliable mobile wireless 
voice and broadband coverage data into the Digital Opportunity Data 
Collection. In addition, the Second Further NPRM sought comment on 
sunsetting the Form 477 broadband deployment collection following the 
creation of the Digital Opportunity Data Collection.
    The Second Report and Order established requirements for: (1) 
Collecting fixed broadband availability and quality of service data; 
(2) collecting mobile broadband deployment data, including the 
submission of standardized propagation maps, propagation model details, 
and infrastructure information; (3) establishing a common dataset of 
all locations in the United States where fixed broadband service can be 
installed; (4) verifying the accuracy of broadband availability data; 
(5) collecting crowdsourced data; (6) enforcing the requirements of the 
Broadband DATA Act; (7) creating coverage maps from the data submitted; 
and (8) ensuring the privacy, confidentiality, and security of 
information submitted by broadband providers.
    The Third Further NPRM sought comment on a range of additional 
measures to implement the requirements of the Broadband DATA Act, 
including additional processes for verifying broadband availability 
data

[[Page 5368]]

submitted by providers, the development of a challenge process, and FCC 
Form 477 reforms.
    The Third Report and Order specified which fixed and mobile 
broadband internet access service providers are required to report 
broadband availability data and expanded the reporting and 
certification requirements for certain fixed and mobile broadband 
filers in order to ensure that Commission staff have the necessary 
tools to assess the quality and accuracy of its broadband coverage 
maps. The Third Report and Order also adopted standards for collecting 
verified broadband data from State, local, and Tribal entities and 
certain third parties and adopted processes for submitting challenges 
to fixed and mobile coverage map data and data in the location Fabric, 
along with processes for providers to respond to such challenges. In 
addition, the Third Report and Order established standards for 
identifying locations that will be included in the broadband 
serviceable locations Fabric and for enforcement of the requirements 
associated with the Digital Opportunity Data Collection.
    On July 16, 2021, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Office of 
Economics and Analytics, and Office of Engineering and Technology 
released a Public Notice seeking comment on the technical requirements 
for the mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsourcing processes 
required under the Broadband DATA Act for the new Broadband Data 
Collection (formerly known as the Digital Opportunity Data Collection). 
Deadlines for filing comments and reply comments have been set for 
September 10, 2021, and September 27, 2021, respectively.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/03/17  82 FR 40118
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/25/17  .......................
Report & Order......................   08/01/19  84 FR 43705
Second Further Notice of Proposed      08/01/19  84 FR 43764
 Rulemaking.
Second Further NPRM Comment Period     10/07/19  .......................
 End.
2nd R&O.............................   07/16/20  85 FR 50886
3rd FNPRM...........................   07/16/20  85 FR 50911
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........   09/08/20  .......................
3rd R&O.............................   01/13/21  .......................
Public Notice.......................   07/16/21  86 FR 40398
Public Notice Comment Period End....   09/27/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Ray, Attorney, Federal Communications 
Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-0357, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AK93

532. Call Authentication Trust Anchor

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 
U.S.C. 227b; 47 U.S.C. 503
    Abstract: On June 6, 2019, the Commission adopted a Declaratory 
Ruling and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (CG Docket No. 
17-59, WC Docket No. 17-97) that proposed and sought comment on 
mandating implementation of STIR/SHAKEN in the event that major voice 
service providers did not voluntarily implement the framework by the 
end of 2019.
    On December 30, 2019, Congress enacted the Pallone-Thune Telephone 
Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. Along 
with numerous other provisions directed at addressing robocalls, the 
TRACED Act directs the Commission to require all voice service 
providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN in the internet Protocol (IP) 
portions of their networks, and to implement an effective caller ID 
authentication framework in the non-IP portions of their networks. The 
TRACED Act further creates processes by which voice service providers 
may be exempt from this mandate if the Commission determines they have 
achieved certain implementation benchmarks, and by which voice service 
providers may be granted a delay in compliance based on a finding of 
undue hardship because of burdens or barriers to implementation or 
based on a delay in development of a caller ID authentication protocol 
for calls delivered over non-IP networks.
    On March 31, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (WC Docket Nos. 17-97, 20-67). 
The Report and Order mandated that all originating and terminating 
voice service providers implement the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID 
authentication framework in the IP portions of their networks by June 
30, 2021. In the Further Notice the Commission sought comment on 
proposals to further promote caller ID authentication and implement the 
TRACED Act.
    On September 29, 2020, the Commission adopted a Second Report and 
Order (WC Docket No. 17-97). The Second Report and Order implemented 
rules (1) granting extensions for compliance with the STIR/SHAKEN 
implementation mandate for small voice service providers, voice service 
providers that cannot obtain a SPC token from the Governance Authority, 
services scheduled for section 214 discontinuance, for those portions 
of a voice service provider's network that rely on non-IP technology, 
and establishing a process for individual voice service providers to 
seek provider specific extensions (2) requiring voice service providers 
using non-IP technology either to upgrade their networks to IP to 
enable STIR/SHAKEN implementation, or work to develop non-IP caller ID 
authentication technology and implement a robocall mitigation program 
in the interim; (3) establishing a process where by a voice service 
provider may be exempt from the STIR/SHAKEN implementation mandate if 
the provider has achieved certain implementation benchmarks; (4) 
prohibiting voice service providers from imposing line item charges on 
consumer and small business subscribers for caller ID authentication; 
and (5) requiring intermediate providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN. On 
May 20, 2021, the Commissioned released a Third Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking proposing to shorten the small provider extension 
from two years to one for a subset of small voice service providers 
that are at a heightened risk of originating an especially large amount 
of robocall traffic.
    On January 13, 2021, the Commission adopted a Second Further Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking proposing and seeking comment on a limited role 
for the Commission to oversee certificate revocation decisions by the 
private STIR/SHAKEN Governance Authority that would have the effect of 
placing providers in noncompliance with the Commission's rules. On 
August 5, 2021, the Commission adopted a Third Report and Order which 
adopted rules creating this oversight role.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOI.................................   07/14/17  .......................
DR and 3rd FNPRM....................   06/06/19  84 FR 29478
NPRM................................   06/24/19  84 FR 29478
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/23/19  .......................

[[Page 5369]]

 
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........   08/23/19  .......................
R&O and FNPRM.......................   03/31/20  85 FR 22029
FNPRM Comment Period End............   05/29/20  .......................
2nd R&O.............................   09/29/20  85 FR 73360
2nd FNPRM...........................   01/13/21  86 FR 9894
2nd FNPRM Comment Period............   03/19/21  .......................
3rd FNPRM...........................   05/20/21  86 FR 30571
3rd R&O.............................   08/05/21  86 FR 48511
3rd FNPRM Comment Period End........   08/19/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............             .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Alexander McMennamin Hobbs, Attorney-Advisor, 
Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554, Phone: 202 418-7433, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL00

533. Implementation of the National Suicide Improvement Act of 2018

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 251
    Abstract: On August 14, 2018, Congress passed the National Suicide 
Hotline Improvement Act (Act). Public Law 115-233, 132 Stat. 2424 
(2018). The purpose of the Act was to study and report on the 
feasibility of designating a 3-digit dialing code to be used for a 
national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system by 
considering each of the current N11 designations. The Act directed the 
Commission to: (1) Conduct a study that examines the feasibility of 
designating a simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit dialing code to be used 
for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline 
system; and (2) analyze how well the current National Suicide 
Prevention Lifeline is working to address the needs of veterans. The 
Act also directed the Commission to coordinate with the Department of 
Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the 
North American Numbering Council (NANC) in conducting the study, and to 
produce a report on the study by August 14, 2019.
    On August 14, 2019, the Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of 
Economics and Analytics submitted its report to Congress recommending 
that: (1) A 3-digit dialing code be used for a national suicide 
prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; and (2) the 
Commission should initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider 
designating 988 as the 3-digit code.
    On December 12, 2019, the Commission released a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to designate 988 as a new, nationwide, 3-
digit dialing code for a suicide prevention and mental health crisis 
hotline. WC Docket No. 18-336. The NPRM proposes that calls made to 988 
be directed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which 
is made up of an expansive network of over 170 crisis centers located 
across the United States, and to the Veterans Crisis Line. The NPRM 
also proposes to require all telecommunications carriers and 
interconnected VoIP service providers to make, within 18 months, any 
changes necessary to ensure that users can dial 988 to reach the 
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line.
    On July 16, 2020, the Commission adopted an Order designating 988 
as the 3-digit number to reach the Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line 
(800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255) and requiring all telecommunications 
carriers, interconnected voice over internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, 
and one-way VoIP providers to make any network changes necessary to 
ensure that users can dial 988 to reach the Lifeline by July 16, 2022.
    On October 16, 2020, the Communications Equality Advocates filed a 
petition for partial reconsideration of the FCC's July 16, 2020 Report 
and Order. In their petition, Communications Equality Advocates 
requested that the FCC revise the Order to mandate text-to-988 and 
direct video calling (DVC) requirements and to have such requirements 
be implemented on the same timeline as voice calls to 988, by July 16, 
2022.
    On October 17, 2020, Congress enacted the National Suicide Hotline 
Designation Act of 2020 (2020 Act). Public Law 116-172, 134 Stat. 832 
(2020). The 2020 Act, among other things, designates 988 as the 
universal telephone number within the United States for the purpose of 
the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system 
operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline,'' with 
designation occurring one year after enactment.
    On November 9, 2020, pursuant to 2020 Act's requirements that the 
Commission submit a report on the feasibility and cost of attaching an 
automatic dispatchable location with 988 calls, the Commission issued a 
Public Notice that sought comment on these issues.
    On April 22, 2021 the Commission adopted a Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that proposes to require text service 
providers support text messages to 988 by routing texts to the toll 
free number.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/15/20  85 FR 2359
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/16/20  .......................
Report & Order......................   07/16/20  .......................
PFR.................................   10/16/20  .......................
Oppositions Due.....................   12/02/20  .......................
Public Notice.......................   12/08/20  85 FR 79014
Replies Due.........................   12/14/20  .......................
Public Notice Comment Period End....   01/11/21  .......................
FNPRM...............................   06/11/21  86 FR 31404
FNPRM Comment Period End............   08/10/21  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michelle Sclater, Attorney, Wireline Competition 
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-0388, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL01

534. Modernizing Unbundling and Resale Requirements in an Era of Next-
Generation Networks and Services

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 10; 47 U.S.C. 251
    Abstract: On November 22, 2019, the Commission adopted a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on proposals to update the 
unbundling and avoided-cost resale obligations stemming from the 1996 
Act and applicable only to incumbent LECs. Many of these obligations 
appear to no longer be necessary in many geographic areas due to 
vigorous competition for mass market broadband services in urban areas 
and numerous intermodal voice capabilities and services. But 
recognizing that rural areas pose special challenges for broadband 
deployment, the NPRM did not propose any change to unbundling 
requirements for broadband-capable loops in rural areas. The NPRM 
sought to promote the Commission's efforts to reduce unnecessary and 
outdated regulatory burdens that appear to discourage the deployment of 
next-generation networks, delay the IP transition, unnecessarily burden 
incumbent LECs with no similar obligations placed on

[[Page 5370]]

their competitors, and no longer benefit consumers or serve the purpose 
for which they were intended.
    On October 27, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (1) 
eliminating unbundling requirements, subject to a reasonable transition 
period, for enterprise-grade DS1 and DS3 loops where there is evidence 
of actual and potential competition, for broadband-capable DS0 loops 
and associated subloops in the most densely populated areas, and for 
voice-grade narrowband loops nationwide, but preserving unbundling 
requirements for DS0 loops in less densely populated areas and DS1 and 
DS3 loops in areas without sufficient evidence of competition; (2) 
eliminating unbundling requirements for network interface devices and 
multiunit premises subloops; (3) eliminating unbundled dark fiber 
transport provisioned from wire centers within a half-mile of 
competitive fiber networks, but providing an eight-year transition 
period for existing circuits so as to avoid stranding investment and 
last-mile deployment by competitive LECs that may harm consumers; (4) 
eliminating unbundling requirements for operations support systems, 
except where carriers are continuing to manage UNEs and for purposes of 
local interconnection and local number portability; and (5) eliminating 
remaining avoided-cost resale requirements. The Report and Order ended 
unbundling and resale requirements where they stifle technology 
transitions and broadband deployment, but preserved unbundling 
requirements where they are still necessary to realize the 1996 Act's 
goal of robust intermodal competition benefiting all Americans.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/06/20  85 FR 472
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/06/20  .......................
Report & Order......................   01/08/21  86 FR 1636
Next Action Undetermined............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michele Berlove, Special Counsel, Competition 
Policy Div., WCB, Federal Communications Commission, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 
418-1477, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL02

535. Eliminating Ex Ante Pricing Regulation and Tariffing of Telephone 
Access Charges (WC Docket 20-71)

    Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 160; 47 
U.S.C. 201 to 203; 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 251; 47 
U.S.C. 254; 47 U.S.C. 303(r); 47 U.S.C. 616
    Abstract: The NPRM proposes to deregulate and detariff Telephone 
Access Charges, which represent the last handful of interstate end-user 
charges that remain subject to regulation. The Notice also proposes to 
prohibit all carriers from separately listing these charges on 
customers' bills given that some Telephone Access Charges are used to 
calculate contributions to the Federal Universal Service Fund and other 
federal programs as well as high cost support this Notice also proposes 
and seeks comment on ways to ensure stability in funding these 
programs.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   04/01/20  85 FR 30899
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/06/20  .......................
NPRM Reply Comment Period End.......   08/04/20  .......................
Next Action Undetermined............             .......................
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    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Victoria Goldberg, Attorney-Advisor, Federal 
Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418-7353, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3060-AL03

[FR Doc. 2021-28337 Filed 1-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P