Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.) wants FCC chairman Ajit Pai to provide more granular data on complaints to the FCC about internet and phone service during the pandemic.

During Sept. 17 testimony in an FCC oversight hearing in the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Pai said he would make information about those complaints publicly available, said McNerney, and on Oct. 23, the FCC posted general information on its Web site.

But he said the lack of specific information about the complaints, including how they had been responded to or resolved, was a problem. "It is concerning that more than seven months into the pandemic you have still not been fully upfront with the public about the problems that consumers have been facing,” McNerney said.

In a letter to Pai Thursday (Oct. 29), McNerney said he wanted the following by Nov. 13:

1. "For each individual consumer complaint received by the FCC relating to internet or phone service during the pandemic, the text of the complaint (properly de-identified to protect the individual’s privacy), whether the complaint was resolved, and how long it took to resolve the complaint;

2. "The number of complaints identified above in (1) that were referred to the Enforcement Bureau or other bureaus in the agency and what further action was taken with respect to each referred complaint; and
 
3. "With respect to the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, the number of instances in which the provider did not keep the promises it made under the Pledge."

"While your agency has made available a summary of the complaints on its website, the information that has been shared is incomplete," he wrote the chairman. "The American people deserve to know about the specific problems that are arising, whether the problems are being resolved, and how long it is taking to resolve them. Unfortunately, none of this information is publicly posted on your agency’s website.”

WiFi is getting its own congressional caucus.

Reps. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.) have launched the bipartisan WiFi Caucus.

That comes as the FCC is moving fast on freeing up spectrum, including unlicensed, for broadband. 

The legislators pointed out that WiFi delivers more than half of all internet traffic and over 60% of mobile network offload. It is also the way cable broadband operators are reaching their increasingly mobile broadband subs.

Caucuses bring legislators together over common interests in an issue.

“The integral role that WiFi plays in our telecommunication infrastructure positively affects our economy, American businesses, consumers, and our way of life,” said Latta.

“WiFi Alliance commends Congressmen Latta and McNerney on the creation of a congressional WiFi Caucus to address important policy considerations shaping the future of WiFi innovation,” said alliance president Edgar Figueroa. “WiFi brings critical connectivity to society while contributing hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. economic value. The WiFi Caucus will inform decisions to support a WiFi ecosystem that will continue to provide ubiquitous and affordable connectivity while creating jobs, innovation, and value to the U.S. economy.”

There is already a Congressional Internet Caucus, but not one dealing specifically with WiFi.