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Telecom updates: FCC USF review, court ruling on Digital Equity Act, and local AI rent bans noted
Summary
Committee member Frank summarized policy developments: an anticipated FCC notice to modernize the $9 billion Universal Service Fund, a court ruling affecting the Digital Equity Act's race-based criteria, local ordinances banning AI in rent-setting, and Comcast's announced media-business spinoff.
Frank provided a legislative and industry briefing. He said the Federal Communications Commission is expected to vote on a notice of proposed rulemaking to modernize the $9,000,000,000 Universal Service Fund and described the effort as a top-to-bottom review of the program. "FCC at its August meeting, is expected to vote on a notice proposed rulemaking to modernize the $9,000,000,000 universal service fund USF, and it's being described as a top to bottom review of all aspects of USF," Frank said.
Frank also reported a legal development: he said the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Digital Equity Act programs may resume but must proceed without the act's original race-based factors, which he said were deemed unconstitutional. He noted municipal action: Rockville, Maryland’s city council voted to ban the use of artificial intelligence in setting rent costs, which Frank said follows actions in some California, New York and Connecticut jurisdictions. Frank also summarized industry news, including Comcast’s plan to separate NBCUniversal from its broadband and wireless business lines.
