September 2024 Open Meeting Agenda

This Monday, our Nation celebrated Labor Day. It is a terrific time to reiterate my gratitude for those who work at the FCC and their service to our country. Their incredible efforts are on display, yet again, with our September agenda. Here’s what to expect at this month’s open meeting.

• We’re improving access to video conferencing services. Building on the FCC’s 2022 Order making clear video conferencing services like Zoom and Teams must be accessible to people with disabilities under our rules, we will vote to enhance the accessibility standards for these online tools. New performance objectives would include accurate and synchronous captioning; access to third-party captioning and sign language services; and users’ ability to adjust captions, display-of-video windows, and other features that are important for accessibility.
• We’re freeing up spectrum to support satellite broadband service. The FCC will vote on expanding use of 1,300 megahertz of spectrum in the 17 GHz band for high-throughput satellite communications. These changes will facilitate the deployment of high-speed broadband and other advanced satellite services, especially in remote, unserved, and underserved areas.
• We’re bolstering protections against robocalls and texts. Continuing the FCC’s continued, multi-pronged strategy to combat unwanted robocalls and texts, the agency will vote to expand communications blocked under do-not-originate list. These new rules would also step up our enforcement efforts, including creating new financial penalties for carriers who fail to protect consumers from illegal calls.
• We’re improving digital FM radio service. The FCC will vote to streamline the process for allowing digital transmissions at different power levels on the upper and lower digital sidebands. This change to our rules will help stations to improve digital FM signal coverage while minimizing the risk of harmful interference to other stations.
• We will also consider seven items from our Enforcement Bureau.

— Jessica