Federal Trade Commission Adopts Highly Controversial Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements; Common Carriers are Exempt, but VoIP and Other Telecom Companies Must Comply
On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted 3-2 to prohibit noncompete agreements that restrict tens of millions of workers from joining competitors or initiating their own ventures after leaving a job. Under the final rules, new noncompete agreements will be prohibited for all employees, and companies must inform current and former staff that these […]
Announcement of New KYC Principles & Best Practices by the Cloud Communications Alliance
We are excited to share with you the recent unveiling of the Know Your Customer (KYC) Principles & Best Practices by the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA), in collaboration with Numeracle. This significant development was announced at the Cloud Connections 2024 conference last week in St. Petersburg, Florida. Click to download CCA’s KYC Principles & Best […]
Navigating the FCC’s 911 Reliability Requirements
The FCC’s 911 Reliability Requirements establish important guidelines to guarantee the dependability of emergency services across the country. These regulations mandate that 911 Service Providers undertake measures to safeguard against service disruptions. Compliance with these requirements is vital for maintaining access to emergency assistance and upholding public safety standards nationwide. In 2013, the FCC adopted […]
U.S. Department of Justice Unveils Long Awaited Web Content and Mobile App Disability Access Regulations for Public Entities: How Will Their Private Sector Business Partners be Impacted?
On April 8, 2024, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) issued long awaited digital accessibility regulations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requiring Amtrak, state and local governments, and their subdivisions to make their websites, mobile apps, and most electronic content published on their digital platforms accessible to people with […]
FCC Releases Draft Order Reclassifying Broadband as a Telecommunications Service and Reinstating Obama-Era Net Neutrality Rules
On April 4, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC or Commission”) released a draft Declaratory Ruling, Order, Report and Order, and Order on Reconsideration (“the Order”) that, if adopted, would restore the Obama Administration FCC’s regulation of the Internet. The Order would specifically (1) reclassify fixed broadband from an unregulated information service under Title I […]
Privacy News Bigger than the Eclipse: Comprehensive Bipartisan American Privacy Rights Act Introduced in Congress; Maryland Set to Pass State Privacy Act; California Privacy Protection Agency Issues First Enforcement Advisory
Comprehensive American Privacy Rights Act Introduced in Congress A groundbreaking bipartisan proposal, the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA), was introduced late Sunday by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), offering consumers unprecedented control over their personal data usage. If passed, the APRA would […]
FCC Launches Voluntary Labeling Program for Internet of Things (IoT) Devices and Products
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently launched a voluntary cybersecurity labeling program called the “U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program” for wireless consumer Internet of Things (IoT) products. This labeling program aims to provide consumers with greater confidence in the security of their everyday devices and seeks to help businesses identify trustworthy products. The program covers […]
Accessible Canada Act – June 1 Filing Deadline Fast Approaching
All non-exempt telecommunications service providers (TSPs) and broadcasters registered with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) must comply with the CRTC’s June 1, 2024 reporting deadline pursuant to the Accessible Canada Act (ACA). Failure to comply with accessibility-related obligations, including compliance with CRTC regulations pursuant to the ACA and Canada’s Telecommunications Act, may subject TSPs to […]
FCC Is Analyzing Submitted Robocall Mitigation Plans and Notifying Companies of Deficient Filings; Non-Compliance May Lead to All Traffic Getting Blocked
All existing Robocall Mitigation Database filers were required to submit updated certifications and robocall mitigation plans in the Robocall Mitigation Database by February 26, 2024. These updates are necessary to comply with additional content requirements adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) in March 2023. We would like to inform our clients that the FCC […]
FCC Removes BPO Innovate from Robocall Mitigation Database; All Intermediate And Terminating Voice Service Providers Must Cease Accepting Its Traffic Immediately
By its Order, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) removes the certification of BPO Innovate from the Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD). BPO Innovate did not cure its deficient RMD certification following the Bureau’s January 9, 2024 Order. Removal from the RMD requires all intermediate providers and terminating voice service providers to […]
FCC Adopts “Energy Star” Equivalent Cybersecurity Labeling System for IoT Devices
On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved the draft Report and Order for a voluntary cybersecurity labeling system aimed at wireless IoT-connected devices, following several months of program development. Arising from concerns regarding cyberattacks leveraging connected home devices, these labels are intended to educate consumers much like the “Energy Star” labels found on […]
Lawsuit Filed Against Alleged Perpetrators and Facilitators of “Fake Biden” Robocall Campaign Targeting New Hampshire Voters; VoIP Providers Beware!
The League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, the League of Women Voters of the United States, and individual New Hampshire voters have initiated a federal lawsuit against Steve Kramer, Lingo Telecom, LLC, and Life Corporation, accusing them of voter intimidation, coercion, and deception through illegal AI-generated robocalls discouraging participation in the 2024 New Hampshire presidential primary. […]
FCC USF Fee Factor Decreases to 32.8% from 34.6% for Q2 2024
The FCC Managing Director issued a Public Notice on March 14, 2024, announcing the proposed Universal Service Fund (“USF”) contribution factor for Q2 2024 will be 32.8%, down 1.8% from the Q1 2024 factor of 34.6%. Any reforms of the USF contribution system will likely take months — and potentially longer — to materialize in any meaningful […]
Key Takeaways from Landmark U.S. v. Stratics Networks, Inc. Ruling
Last week, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, located in the 9th Circuit, dropped a landmark ruling in U.S. v. Stratics Networks, Inc., declaring Stratics’ ringless voicemail software platform solution to be outside the purview of the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) Telecommunications Sales Rule or “TSR,” as it’s commonly referred. The […]
Reminder: FCC Accessibility Recordkeeping and Contact Information Reporting Requirements due April 1, 2024; Video Conferencing Services Must be Accessible and Usable by September 3, 2024
On February 26, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “the Commission”) released a Public Notice reminding telecommunications and customer premises equipment manufacturers and telecommunications service providers, as well as providers of advanced communication services (ACS) and manufacturers of equipment used to access ACS, to submit their accessibility recordkeeping compliance certifications and contact information in […]
Revised Deadlines for CRTC’s Notice of Consultation on Robocall Traceback Process
On March 4, 2024, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced a revision to the deadline for filing comments in response to the CRTC’s Notice of Consultation (NOC) on the proposed mandatory implementation of the call traceback process for all telecommunications service providers (TSPs) offering voice services in Canada. Revised Deadlines: Deadline for filing […]
