FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appointed members to the Precision Ag Task Force working groups, said a public notice Thursday in docket 19-329 (see 2201130056). Sreekala Bajwa, Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station vice president-dean and director, will chair the mapping working group. Heather Hampton+Knodle, Knodle Farms vice president-secretary, will chair the examining current and future connectivity demand working group. Paige Wireless President Julie Bushell will chair the encouraging adoption and availability of high-quality jobs working group. Hughes Network Systems Senior Vice President-Regulatory Affairs Jennifer Manner will chair the accelerating broadband deployment on unserved agricultural lands working group.
The FCC is “ready to take swift and meaningful action” against voice service providers suspected of facilitating illegal robocalls, said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Thursday. The Enforcement Bureau has sent 15 cease-and-desist letters to providers to date, said a news release. The most recent letters went to Great Choice Telecom and TCA Voip (see 2202100053). “Our message to anyone helping illegal robocalls remains simple and consistent,” Rosenworcel said: “Stop it now or face serious consequences.”
The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau wants comments by March 17, replies by April 1, on NexTalk's application for certification to provide IP captioned telephone service supported by the Telecom Relay Service Fund, said a public notice Thursday in docket 03-123. NexTalk also sought a partial waiver of data collection and audit rules because the company "operates without [communications assistants]" and can't provide a URL address because its technology routes aren't web-based.
NTIA wants comments by April 18 on its proposed information collection for the tribal broadband connectivity program, said a notice for Thursday's Federal Register. Comments may be sent to broadbandusa@ntia.gov, with "TBCP Data Collection" in the subject line.
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will host a virtual event on connecting Black communities through the affordable connectivity program and NTIA’s broadband, equity, access, and deployment program Feb. 22 at 11 a.m. EST, said the commission Tuesday. Moderated by Fallon Wilson, Multicultural Media, Telecom, & Internet Council vice president-policy, speakers will be Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington. Panelists are Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D), New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin (D), Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D), Augusta, Georgia, Mayor Hardie Davis (D), and Scott Woods, NTIA director-Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives.
Resideo acquired regional distributor Arrow Wire & Cable, it said Monday. Arrow’s three warehouse stocking locations serve the West Coast and will be part of Resideo’s ADI Global Distribution business. Arrow carries copper and fiber cabling, connectors, racking solutions and network equipment. Transaction terms weren't disclosed.
The FCC Connect2Health task force will host a virtual symposium on "recognizing broadband connectivity as a 'social determinant of health,'" March 3 at 10 a.m. EST, said a public notice Friday in docket 22-43.
The FCC order amending the E-rate program's definition of a library to clarify tribal libraries are eligible for the program takes effect March 16, says Monday's Federal Register (see 2201270030).
A Kentucky man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a "decade-long scheme" to defraud the FCC of $6.9 million through the E-rate program, said a Justice Department news release Friday, in case 2:19-cr-20025-MSN. Charles Jones "paid kickbacks to an E-rate consultant working with the Missouri and Tennessee schools," DOJ said, and used the schools as "vehicles to fraudulently obtain money." The FCC is "committed to pursuing investigations into those who would corrupt this program for personal gain," said Inspector General David Hunt, and the Office of Inspector General will "actively continue to support the investigation and prosecution of individuals who defraud this, and all other FCC programs." An attorney for Jones didn't comment. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced June 1 and faces a maximum 20-year prison term.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau sent cease-and-desist letters to TCA Voip and Great Choice Telecom Thursday for allegedly transmitting illegal robocalls. Identified calls transmitted by TCA Voip included government impersonations and online orders. Calls transmitted by Great Choice Telecom included government impersonations and legal notices. Great Choice Telecom is "working diligently on correcting the illegal robocalls from our network" and has been "working on our switch from this past Monday until today," emailed CEO Mikel Quinn. The company "realized the errors within our own switch prior to this letter from the FCC," Quinn said: "We already responded to the FCC and we are now responding to the Traceback team within the 48-hour time frame." TCA Voip didn't comment.