Proposed NANPA Fund Contribution Factor of 0.0001047 Announced by FCC (More than 1/5 Higher than Prior Year Factor of 0.0000853)
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau recently announced the proposed North American Numbering Plan (NANP) administration fund size estimate and contribution factor for the fiscal year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024 (Fiscal Year 2024). Proper funding of NANP administration ensures that consumers will continue to have access to the numbering resources essential to the […]
FCC Proposes IoT Voluntary Cybersecurity Labeling Program
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) yesterday published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing a “first-ever” voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for connected smart devices. The proposed “U.S. Cyber Trust Mark” would be affixed to IoT1 devices and products, providing consumers with clear and accessible information on their relative security. Along with the mark, the […]
Ninth Circuit Decides that Text Messages are not “Voices” Under the TCPA: What This Means for Telemarketing through Text Messages
On August 8, the federal court of appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that text messages do not count as prerecorded “voices” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) because “the text messages did not use prerecorded voices under the [TCPA] because they did not include audible components.” In reaching this conclusion, the court found […]
FCC Releases Compliance Deadlines and NPRM Comment Due Dates for Video Conferencing Services’ New Accessibility Obligations
As we outlined in our previous client advisory, on June 12, 2023, the FCC issued a Report and Order (“R&O”), Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”), and Order finding that the existing accessibility requirements for advanced communications services (ACS) apply to commonly used video customer-facing and enterprise video conferencing services. Compliance Deadlines On August 7, 2023, […]
FCC Levies Nearly $300 Million Fine on Illegal Robocall Auto Warranty Scammers
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) Thursday announced that it had imposed a $299,997,000 fine on an international network of companies that made more than five hundred billion illegal robocalls to more than 500 million phone numbers in in 2021. As delineated in our earlier client advisory, in June 2022, the FCC ordered all […]
Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group Request for Comment
We are pleased to inform you of an important opportunity to participate in the U.S. Congress’s efforts to shape the future of the Universal Service Fund (USF). Members of a USF Working Group, including Senators Luján, Thune, Klobuchar, Capito, Peters, and Moran, are inviting comments from stakeholders like yourself to gain insights, concerns, and proposals […]
FCC Announces Comment and Reply Comment Dates for Next Generation 911 NPRM
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced the comment and reply comment dates for the Next Generation 911 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). On July 10, 2023, the FCC released a Public Notice regarding the NPRM, which was approved on June 8, 2023. The NPRM is designed to promote the nationwide transition to Next Generation […]
European Commission Adopts New Adequacy Decision for the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework: Compliant US Companies to Seamlessly Obtain EU Customer Data
On Monday, July 10, European Commission adopted a new adequacy decision for safe and trusted EU-US data flows. The European Commission has determined that the United States provides a level of data protection comparable to that of the European Union. This adequacy decision allows for secure transfer of personal data from the EU to US […]
FCC Expands Robocall Mitigation Rules and Seeks Comment on Additional Requirements for Voice Service Providers
The Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC” or “Commission”) today published its Seventh Report and Order, Eighth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Third Notice of Inquiry in the Federal Register, continuing its ever-expanding robocall mitigation requirements on U.S. voice service providers (“VSPs”). With minor exceptions, the rules promulgated in the Report and Order (“Order”) will be […]
Cloud Communications Alliance Responds to California VOIP Rulemaking, Criticizing Unsubstantiated Claims of Consumer Harm by Pro-Regulation Commenters
On April 28, 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC or Commission) published its Scoping Memo and Ruling, which identified eight key issues for discussion in the ongoing VoIP regulation rulemaking proceeding that began last year. The Scoping Memo also set a deadline of June 30 for the submission of replies. One goal of the […]
FCC Extends VRS Waiver Relating to Communications Assistants; Establishes VRS Compensations Formulas
On June 30, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC” or “Commission”) released two Orders concerning telecommunications relay services (TRS). VRS Waiver Extension The first Order extends the following waivers of certain Video Relay Service (VRS) rules relating to communications assistants (CAs): The 50% cap on call minutes handled by VRS CAs working at home; […]
FCC Seeks Comments on Proposed Rules to Enable Consumers to Easily Revoke Consent to Receive Robocalls and Robotexts
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) recently released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”), seeking comment on its proposed measures to clarify and strengthen consumers’ ability to revoke consent to receive robocalls and robotexts. The deadline for submitting comments is July 31, 2023 and reply comments are due by August 14, 2023. Specifically, the […]
FCC’s Report & Order Imposing New Sweeping Robocall Mitigation Requirements on Voice Service Providers is Published in the Federal Register; Most Filing Deadlines will Soon be Set; Severe Sanctions Will be Levied on Violators
As delineated in a previous client advisory, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) recently released a Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Order” and “NPRM”) which imposes new robocall mitigation rules on all voice service providers (“VSPs”) operating in the U.S., including VSPs that were previously exempt from the Commission’s STIR/SHAKEN rules, […]
FCC Launches a New Privacy and Data Protection Task Force to Bolster Its Rulemaking and Enforcement Efforts
On June 14, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the establishment of a new Privacy and Data Protection Task Force (“The Task Force”) at the FCC. The Task Force is an FCC staff working group that will coordinate on the rulemaking, enforcement, and public awareness needs in the privacy and data […]
FCC Proposes Rules to Accelerate Next Generation 911 Transition
On June 8, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aimed at advancing the nationwide transition to Next Generation 911 (NG911). The FCC’s proposed rules seek to establish requirements for wireline telecommunications carriers, interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (I-VoIP) providers, and Internet-based telecommunications relay service (iTRS)[1] providers to facilitate […]
FCC Announces Proposed USF Contribution Factor of 29.2% for Q3 2023
The FCC Managing Director issued a Public Notice on June 14, 2023, announcing the proposed Universal Service Fund (“USF”) contribution factor for the second quarter of 2023 will be 29.2%, a slight increase from the previous quarter’s 29%. Any reforms of the USF contribution system will likely take months — and potentially longer — to […]
