VOL. 13, NO. 22
May 30, 2017
UPCOMING EVENTS
MEMBER NEWS
Fatbeam CEO Greg Green Invited to White House Boston Business Journal Names Granite one of 2017 Healthiest Employers
FCC DEADLINES
Rep. Blackburn Introduces BROWSER Act 
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, introduced the BROWSER Act (H.R. 2520) to address privacy policies in the wake of the Privacy Congressional Review Act that was signed by President Trump on April 3. The bill requires companies that are providing broadband internet access service (BIAS) and edge services to give users notice of their privacy policies, obtain opt-in consent for sensitive data, and opt-out consent for non-sensitive data. Sensitive information includes financial, health, info pertaining to children under age 13, SSN, geo-location info, content of communications and web browsing history.

The bill gives enforcement to the Federal Trade Commission under its "Unfair or Deceptive Act or Practice" authority "notwithstanding the exemption...for common carriers subject to the Communications Act." The bill also preempts state law, as well as provisions of the Communications Act and regulations relating to privacy policies, "unless such regulations pertain to emergency services."

Unlawful Robocalls Focus of FCC
In addition to working with the Robocall Industry Strike Force as part of its efforts to eliminate unlawful robocalls, the FCC has introduced an NPRM/NOI in which it is seeking public feedback on several proposals that it believes will mitigate the problem. Comments on the NPRM/NOI are due July 3, with reply comments due July 31.

Additionally, the Commission had asked the Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) to develop a series of recommendations on how to better educate the public and provide consumers with the tools necessary to fight unwanted calls. The CAC recently released a series of 11 recommendations that the Commission will consider. Among other things, the CAC recommends that the FCC initiate and prosecute enforcement actions against known robocallers, enhance its current Unwanted Calls Consumer Guide by integrating external resources, and make educational resources and complaint forms available in accessible formats and languages other than English. 
FCC Chairman Pai Responds
to Congress on E-rate 
FCC Chairman Pai sent letters to Sens. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), responding to their letter expressing support for the E-rate program. 

Pai said there are flaws in the administration of the E-rate program, and that he recently directed USAC to fix the E-rate application process and take all steps needed to ensure schools and libraries do not suffer because of IT failures.
FCC Appoints Bureau Chiefs 
Last week, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the appointments of Kris Anne Monteith as Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau and Michelle Carey as Chief of Media Bureau.

Monteith had been serving as the Acting Wireline Bureau Chief, and has served as Acting Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Chief of the Enforcement Bureau and Deputy Chief in the Wireline Competition Bureau.

Carey had been serving as the Acting Media Bureau Chief under Chairman Pai. Prior to that, she served for six years as deputy chief of the bureau she now leads.
INCOMPAS Seeking Sponsors
for Competitors' Reception 
INCOMPAS is seeking sponsors for its Competitors' Reception on Saturday, July 15, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina.

The event will take place prior to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Summer Meetings in San Diego on July 16-19. Please note that the Competitors' Reception is not sponsored by NARUC, nor is it a part of the meeting agenda.

If you are interested in sponsoring, please email Karen Reidy