TracFone got support from industry and public interest groups for the FCC to address “serious shortcomings” in the Lifeline national verifier being deployed by Universal Service Administrative Co. Commission and industry officials said it’s not clear if FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will press for further action, especially since his agency is reining in the program as part of changes to the USF (see 1806060031). Without FCC action, mass de-enrollments will start Jan. 2, commented the National Lifeline Association in docket 17-287. Lifeline funds are used to pay for government-subsidized services including broadband for the poor. The national verifier needs an application programming interface to work properly, stakeholders say.
TracFone got support both from industry and public interest groups for the FCC to address "serious shortcomings" in the Lifeline national verifier (see 1812030053) being deployed by Universal Service Administrative Co. FCC and industry officials said it’s not clear whether FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will press for further action, especially since the commission is reining in the program as part of a broader series of changes to the USF (see 1806060031). Without FCC action, mass de-enrollments will start Jan. 2, commented the National Lifeline Association in docket 17-287.
The FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council approved a recommendation Thursday that new rules aimed at protecting the national security of networks be narrowly tailored to prevent disruptions. Commissioners approved an NPRM in April that would bar use of money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain (see 1804170038). Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday those security concerns remain a commission focus (see 1812120043).
The FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council approved a recommendation Thursday that new rules aimed at protecting the national security of networks be narrowly tailored to prevent disruptions. Commissioners approved an NPRM in April that would bar use of money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain (see 1804170038). Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday those security concerns remain a commission focus (see 1812120043).
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel accused FCC colleagues of regulatory “doublespeak,” in a decision clarifying text messages are a lightly regulated Communications Act Title I service. Members approved the declaratory ruling 3-1 over her dissent, as expected (see 1812050019). Commission staff couldn't identify any instances where lightly regulating wireless texting would have better prevented spam, and groups that generally back regulation cried foul. Members separately approved a reassigned number database order targeting some unwanted robocalls, with safe harbor from liability (see 1812120026).
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel accused FCC colleagues of regulatory “doublespeak,” in a decision clarifying text messages are a lightly regulated Communications Act Title I service. Members approved the declaratory ruling 3-1 over her dissent, as expected (see 1812050019). Commission staff couldn't identify any instances where lightly regulating wireless texting would have better prevented spam, and groups that generally back regulation cried foul. Members separately approved a reassigned number database order targeting some unwanted robocalls, with safe harbor from liability (see 1812120026).
The Senate voted 87-13 Tuesday to pass the compromise farm bill (HR-2), which contained several broadband provisions. The final legislation, which a Capitol Hill conference committee released Monday night, in some ways hews closer to an earlier Senate-passed farm bill (S-3042). Broadband provisions included in the final legislation got mixed industry reaction in statements. ITTA and other broadband groups had urged conferees to adopt elements of S-3042 that would revamp some Rural Utilities Service broadband funding programs (see 1809040074). The compromise HR-2 would increase annual funding for RUS broadband grant programs to $350 million for 2019-23. It annually would allocate $50 million for Community Connect grants, $10 million for rural middle-mile infrastructure grants and loans and $10 million for the Rural Gigabit Network Pilot Program, to be renamed the Innovative Broadband Advancement Program. HR-2 includes the Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act (HR-4881/S-2343), which would establish a task force to identify connectivity gaps in agricultural areas. HR-2 would require any RUS-funded project's proposed service area be at least 90 percent households with speeds of less than 10 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload. The legislation would codify the Agriculture Department's definition of minimum acceptable speed at 25/3. NTCA “strongly supports” the compromise HR-2, particularly “the substantial new grant program in the bill and the pains drafters took to ensure those resources won’t duplicate the work of other federal programs and private deployment,” said CEO Shirley Bloomfield. ITTA believes the RUS changes recognize “the importance and value of building strong, robust broadband networks in rural America,” said President Genny Morelli: It “remains troubled that the Report would allow for the use of RUS funds to overbuild existing providers receiving federal support” from USF programs.
The Senate voted 87-13 Tuesday to pass the compromise farm bill (HR-2), which contained several broadband provisions. The final legislation, which a Capitol Hill conference committee released Monday night, in some ways hews closer to an earlier Senate-passed farm bill (S-3042). Broadband provisions included in the final legislation got mixed industry reaction in statements. ITTA and other broadband groups had urged conferees to adopt elements of S-3042 that would revamp some Rural Utilities Service broadband funding programs (see 1809040074). The compromise HR-2 would increase annual funding for RUS broadband grant programs to $350 million for 2019-23. It annually would allocate $50 million for Community Connect grants, $10 million for rural middle-mile infrastructure grants and loans and $10 million for the Rural Gigabit Network Pilot Program, to be renamed the Innovative Broadband Advancement Program. HR-2 includes the Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act (HR-4881/S-2343), which would establish a task force to identify connectivity gaps in agricultural areas. HR-2 would require any RUS-funded project's proposed service area be at least 90 percent households with speeds of less than 10 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload. The legislation would codify the Agriculture Department's definition of minimum acceptable speed at 25/3. NTCA “strongly supports” the compromise HR-2, particularly “the substantial new grant program in the bill and the pains drafters took to ensure those resources won’t duplicate the work of other federal programs and private deployment,” said CEO Shirley Bloomfield. ITTA believes the RUS changes recognize “the importance and value of building strong, robust broadband networks in rural America,” said President Genny Morelli: It “remains troubled that the Report would allow for the use of RUS funds to overbuild existing providers receiving federal support” from USF programs.
The FCC plans to launch a 2018 quadrennial review, classify wireless messaging as an information service, pave the way for a new high-band 5G auction, and provide rural telcos with new USF support in exchange for more deployment of 25/3 Mbps broadband, at the Dec. 12 commissioners' meeting. It's targeting votes on items to create a reassigned phone number database to help against unwanted robocalling, further "modernize" broadcast rules and issue a communications market report. The wireless messaging (including short message service or SMS) and auction items weren't among those previously expected (see 1811190047), with the first item now getting criticism.
Telecom interests view the shift to split partisan control next Congress as improving prospects for compromise on a broadband title in a likely revisit of an infrastructure package. President Donald Trump and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said after the Democrats gained control of the House in last week's elections that they believe a deal is possible on infrastructure (see 1811070054). Democrats as of Tuesday won 228 House seats to the Republicans' 199, with eight races undecided. The GOP held a 51-47 Senate edge, with two races undecided.