Among its many other effects, Hurricane Sandy served as a reminder that the nation's wireless network still lags well behind traditional land-line phones when it comes to resiliency in the event of a national disaster. While the FCC has long-standing authority to ensure land lines are available in the event of a disaster, its authority over wireless networks is considerably murkier; that's why the wireless carriers sued the FCC over a proposed rule following Hurricane Katrina in 2007 that would have required all cell carriers to develop emergency plans and be held accountable for their coordination during disasters. The issue has only grown more pressing since, as more than a third of American households now rely solely on mobile phones.
Leading the charge to re-examine the resiliency of the wireless network are New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and new Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a former staffer on the Senate Commerce Committee. Rosenworcel gave a speech on Nov. 13 that called for "an honest conversation about network reliability in the wireless and digital age," which prompted Schumer to press the FCC to develop a plan to improve communications during future disasters, and Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to request a hearing on the matter. The FCC has since agreed to hold field hearings in the affected areas.
However, Rosenworcel stopped short of suggesting new regulations are needed, demonstrating her predictably cautious approach to policy-making after a career spent on the sidelines. The former staffer appears eager to dive deeply into the often unglamorous world of telecom policy, but she has also steadfastly avoided making waves by declaring any definitive views on her chosen area of expertise. Her resistance to taking a strong stand on the issues should help her fit well with whoever is chosen to replace FCC chairman Julius Genachowski's, whose resignation is widely expected in the next year.
Senate Commerce tackles FTC, FCC nominees: The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing this afternoon to examine a host of presidential appointments, including the reappointment of Democrat Mignon Clyburn to the FCC and Republican Joshua Wright's appointment to the Federal Trade Commission. Clyburn is the daughter of Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., and a vocal advocate for media diversity; she was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in 2009. Wright has previously cautioned regulators not to pursue an antitrust case against Google, and will reportedly recuse himself from the FTC's probe of the search giant if confirmed. Defense Bill Will Likely End Ban on Domestic Propaganda: The final defense authorization bill is expected to include a provision that would lift the decades-old ban on U.S. government broadcasts within the United States. The Senate declined to adopt provisions included in the House-passed defense bill (HR 4310), which would allow government broadcast services, such as Voice of America, to deliver their content inside the country. But there is no known opposition to the measure in either chamber, where the 1948 rule is viewed as antiquated and out of date for the Internet age. FDA Announces Public Private Partnership for Medical Devices: Details and full announcement here (PDF). FCC to Seek More Input on Minority Ownership Rules: The FCC reportedly won't vote on new media ownership rules until at least next year. None of the commissioners have yet to vote on the item, and there are reports the FCC is seeking more public comment on the recently-released minority ownership 323 report. The FCC will likely be under greater pressure to expand minority ownership of broadcast and other media outlets during President Obama's second term, adding to the speculation that the next FCC chairman will come with a strong commitment to fostering diversity.