On Aug. 7, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to propose new rules to require callers to disclose if they are using artificial intelligence (AI) in robocalls and robotexts. If adopted, the new rules would set...more
On Feb. 8, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a unanimous declaratory ruling confirming the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s (TCPA) restrictions on the use of “artificial or prerecorded voice” include...more
On Oct. 19, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to advance Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s proposal to once again adopt “net neutrality” rules. As it had in 2015, the FCC also proposes to classify broadband...more
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) and implementing rules by the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) bar many types of calls or texts without first having obtained the consent of the called party....more
Blocking Texts Highly Likely to Be Illegal -
Until now, the FCC has focused on curbing illegal robocalls. It has now turned its attention to illegal robotexts, which the agency notes have been increasing rapidly. In an...more
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released an order finding that ringless voicemails constitute calls subject to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”). Companies sending prerecorded or artificial messages...more
Several Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including the chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, recently introduced the Robotext Scam Prevention Act (HR...more
A recent FCC order bans certain types of contractual arrangements between building owners and telecommunications carriers or cable operators. The order: (1) bars exclusive revenue sharing agreements and graduated revenue...more
On Sunday, Aug. 1, the group of senators negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure package unveiled the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The $1.2 trillion package contains $550 billion in new infrastructure spending,...more
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) for the $1 billion tribal connectivity grant program. Applications are due by Sept. 1, 2021. Of...more
The past several months have seen a number of new funding opportunities for the deployment, adoption and affordability of broadband services on tribal lands. This alert provides a quick update on these various opportunities....more
To ring in the New Year, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released an order imposing strict limits on the number of non-telemarketing, prerecorded or artificial voice calls that can be made to residential phone...more
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) bars certain types of automated calls without first obtaining the consent of the called party. Indeed, with uncapped statutory damages, the TCPA is a staple of the plaintiff’s bar,...more
Jan. 6, 2021, is the deadline to begin automatically sending location information along with 911 calls made from fixed phone lines in hotels, apartment complexes, offices or other businesses locations. ...more
We have previously issued several alerts regarding the ability of eligible tribal entities to apply for certain airwave licenses that can be used for wireless internet access and other services. The window for applying for...more
Multi-line voice communications systems sold or installed after Feb. 16, 2020, must comply with new E911 obligations. These requirements apply to IP-based, cloud communications services as well as traditional TDM-based...more
As we previously reported, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will provide rural tribes with an opportunity to apply for free wireless airwaves in the 2.5 GHz band. The FCC has now set the window during which...more
Compromise robocall legislation, called the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act (“Act”), is likely to be enacted soon. The Act enhances the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) enforcement powers, mandates adoption of the...more
12/3/2019
/ Auto-Dialed Calls ,
Bad Actors ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Do Not Call List ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FCC ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Robocalling ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Safe Harbors ,
TCPA ,
Telecommunications
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking comment on ways to improve the dialogue between tribes and carriers that provide subsidized telephone and broadband services to tribal areas using federal universal...more
In the latest twist in the net neutrality saga, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC” or “Commission”) 2017 decision to once again classify...more
10/10/2019
/ Broadband ,
Communications Act 2003 ,
FCC ,
Internet ,
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) ,
Net Neutrality ,
Open Internet Rules ,
Preemption ,
Public Safety ,
Telecommunications ,
Title II
On Sept. 18, 2019, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on tribal access to spectrum. Spectrum are slices of airwaves used to send signals to wireless devices like smartphones. One of the key messages was...more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released an order making available certain airwaves for broadband wireless services on rural tribal lands. These airwaves, in the 2.5 GHz spectrum band, were previously set...more
As directed by Congress in last year’s RAY BAUM’s Act, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) delivered to the House and Senate Commerce committees its evaluation of broadband coverage in Indian country. The FCC’s bottom...more
Intrusive, unwanted calls are the Federal Communications Commission’s top consumer complaint. As part of its efforts to combat robocalls, the FCC has released two draft orders that are slated to be approved at its next open...more
The Federal Communications Commission has made closing the “digital divide” a top priority, particularly on tribal lands. Despite this lofty goal, and millions of federal dollars theoretically available to subsidize building...more