FCC nails down agenda for next Open Meeting

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The FCC’s five commissioners will gather together Wednesday morning, 4/21/10 for the April Open Meeting. The session will once again spend time on broadband issues, although cable television issues will be dealt with in two of the items.


The meeting kicks off at 10:30 AM.

The agenda looks at the broadband through the prisms of the universal service fund and the possibility of system overload in times of crisis. The two cable planks are related to the availability of competitive navigation equipment.

From the FCC, here is the full agenda:

* WIRELINE COMPETITION TITLE: Connect America Fund; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future (GN Docket No 09-51); and High-Cost Universal Service Support (WC Docket No. 05-337). SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking initiating universal service reforms as outlined in the National Broadband Plan and Joint Statement on Broadband.

* WIRELESS TELE-COMMUNICATIONS  TITLE: Reexamination of Roaming Obligations of Commercial Mobile Radio Service Providers and Other Providers of Mobile Data Services (WT Docket No. 05-265). SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider an Order on Reconsideration regarding automatic voice roaming requirements and a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding automatic roaming for mobile data services.

* MEDIA TITLE: Video Device Competition; Implementation of Section 304 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Commercial Availability of Navigation Devices (CS Docket No. 97-80); and Compatibility Between Cable Systems and Consumer Electronics Equipment (PP Docket No. 00-67). SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on best approaches to assure the commercial availability of smart video devices and other equipment used to access the services of multichannel video programming distributors.

* MEDIA TITLE:  Implementation of Section 304 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996:   Commercial Availability of Navigation Devices(CS Docket No. 97-80); and Compatibility Between Cable Systems and Consumer Electronics Equipment (PP Docket No. 00-67). SUMMARY:   The Commission will consider a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes changes to the CableCARD rules for set-top boxes used with cable services, to improve the operation of that framework pending the development of a successor framework.

* PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY TITLE:  Effects on Broadband Communications Networks Of Damage to or Failure of Network Equipment Or Severe Overload. SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry that examines the survivability of broadband infrastructure and seeks comment on the ability of existing broadband networks to withstand significant damage or severe overloads as result of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, pandemics or other major public emergencies.

* PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY TITLE: Cyber Security Certification  Program. SUMMARY:  The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry on whether to establish a voluntary cyber security certification program.