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Telecom Alert: 911 Outage Reporting Rules; EBB Providers Announced; CCPA Amendments; Round 2 of COVID-19 Telehealth Program; 911 Location Accuracy Compliance Inquiry, [Vol. XVIII, Issue 14]

911 Outage Reporting Rules

Last week, the FCC released a Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking commented on proposed rules that would ensure Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and the public receive timely and useful notification of network outages.  The rules would require covered 911 service providers to maintain accurate PSAP contact information and standardize the type of information conveyed to PSAPS, which includes the name of the service provider offering the notification, data and time the incident began, services affect, and potential impact on PSAPs.  The rules also establish consumer notification procedures for 911 unavailability and harmonize the timeframe, means, and frequency of notification from originating and covered 911 service providers to PSAPs about network disruptions.  For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).  

First Slate of Emergency Broadband Benefit Providers Announced

The FCC issued a news release last week announcing the first slate of internet service providers accepted into its Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (“EBB Program” or “Program”) (Vol. XVIII, Issue 10).  Around 319 providers offering broadband service in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and half of U.S. territories will participate in the Program so far.  The Commission anticipates that additional providers will sign up to participate in the Program in the coming weeks.  A full list of accepted providers can be found here.  For more information, please contact Doug Jarrett (jarrett@khlaw.com; 202.434.4180).

California Approves Additional Amendments to California Consumer Privacy Act Regulations

On March 15, the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved additional amendments to the regulations implementing the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) that give consumers new tools and rights for protecting the personal information businesses collect from them.  The latest amendments provide for a voluntary opt-out icon that may be used along with posting the required notice of a consumer’s right to opt-out of the sale of personal information.  They also require businesses to ensure that their notices of the right to opt-out use simple language, and to inform consumers about their right to opt-out when collecting personal information from consumers offline.  To review the complete CCPA regulations, click here.  

FCC Begins Implementing Round 2 of COVID-19 Telehealth Program

The FCC voted to adopt a Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration last week that establishes Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program (Vol. XVIII, Issue 2).  After receiving an additional $245.95 million in support under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the Commission established new metrics to evaluate applications to increase transparency and distribute funds efficiently and fairly.  The Report and Order creates an application filing window that will open within 30 days of its release, and directs the Wireline Competition Bureau to publicly provide notice of the opening of the window at least two weeks prior.  For more information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178). 

911 Location Accuracy Compliance Inquiry

Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel issued a statement last week announcing that the FCC is conducting an inquiry into several wireless providers’ compliance with FCC rules that require them to start delivering 911 callers’ vertical location information by April 3, 2021 (Vol. XVII, Issue 26). The Commission’s rules require providers to deploy dispatchable location or meet certain vertical (z-axis) location accuracy requirements by April 3, 2021, and to certify to such deployment by June 2, 2021.  As part of its inquiry, the Enforcement Bureau will review carriers’ past efforts to comply with FCC deadlines and the current capabilities of z-axis solutions.  For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com ; 202.434.4239).