The FCC approved 5-0 an NPRM that proposes to 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, as expected (see 1804110032). Commissioners said the NPRM was expanded while on the eighth floor to ask additional questions, including on what the FCC could do beyond the USF. Small carriers, especially members of the Rural Wireless Association, expressed concerns because many use devices and equipment provided by Chinese suppliers Huawei and ZTE. For other ZTE news Tuesday: 1804170018.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., promoted his Tribal Connect Act (S-2205) during an American Library Association event Thursday, seeking support from the group and others for the bill. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., separately filed her Community Connect Grant Program Act, which like S-2205 is aimed at broadband projects in rural and tribal communities. S-2205 would “steer much-needed federal investments" to close the digital divide "in rural and tribal communities," Heinrich said. The bill would establish a pilot program that would allow designations of tribal communities without libraries as an “anchor institution” eligible for USF E-rate funding. It also would provide training to help tribes implement E-rate and direct the FCC to work with tribes to develop E-rate eligibility requirements for their libraries. Smith's bill would codify the Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service's Community Connect Grant Program into law and increase internet speed service under the program. Heinrich tied S-2205 into Hill lawmakers' broader push to develop broadband-related bills aimed for inclusion in a broader infrastructure bill responding to President Donald Trump's February proposal, which urges streamlining the permitting process and includes $200 billion in funding (see 1802110001 and 1802120001). E-rate “spurs the development of broadband networks in underserved communities,” Heinrich said. But the program's current requirements and application process don't “reflect the unique infrastructure challenges and needs in Indian Country,” which has made it difficult for tribes to qualify. FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn didn't endorse S-2205 during the event but pushed for efforts to increase tribal eligibility and participation in E-rate as a way of closing the digital divide, noting that “broadband investment is critical infrastructure investment which is increasingly determining which city, county, town or tribal nation thrives or not.” ALA “wholeheartedly supports” S-2205, said President Jim Neal.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., promoted his Tribal Connect Act (S-2205) during an American Library Association event Thursday, seeking support from the group and others for the bill. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., separately filed her Community Connect Grant Program Act, which like S-2205 is aimed at broadband projects in rural and tribal communities. S-2205 would “steer much-needed federal investments" to close the digital divide "in rural and tribal communities," Heinrich said. The bill would establish a pilot program that would allow designations of tribal communities without libraries as an “anchor institution” eligible for USF E-rate funding. It also would provide training to help tribes implement E-rate and direct the FCC to work with tribes to develop E-rate eligibility requirements for their libraries. Smith's bill would codify the Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service's Community Connect Grant Program into law and increase internet speed service under the program. Heinrich tied S-2205 into Hill lawmakers' broader push to develop broadband-related bills aimed for inclusion in a broader infrastructure bill responding to President Donald Trump's February proposal, which urges streamlining the permitting process and includes $200 billion in funding (see 1802110001 and 1802120001). E-rate “spurs the development of broadband networks in underserved communities,” Heinrich said. But the program's current requirements and application process don't “reflect the unique infrastructure challenges and needs in Indian Country,” which has made it difficult for tribes to qualify. FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn didn't endorse S-2205 during the event but pushed for efforts to increase tribal eligibility and participation in E-rate as a way of closing the digital divide, noting that “broadband investment is critical infrastructure investment which is increasingly determining which city, county, town or tribal nation thrives or not.” ALA “wholeheartedly supports” S-2205, said President Jim Neal.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai added a local official to the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee after two local resignations from the body and continuing criticism of BDAC's composition. Pai appointed David Young, a National League of Cities member and fiber infrastructure and right-of-way manager in Lincoln, Nebraska, the FCC announced Monday. Young replaces Sam Liccardo, mayor of San Jose, California. BDAC Chair Elizabeth Bowles and other BDAC officials said last week they hoped Pai would appoint new local members to the group (see 1804040044).
NTCA is the latest group to express concerns about an NPRM teed up for a vote at the April 17 commissioners’ meeting proposing to 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 1803260037). The draft NPRM cites a 2012 report by the House Intelligence Committee raising concerns about Chinese equipment makers Huawei and ZTE.
The FCC took USF actions and made proposals intended to help rural telcos provide broadband-oriented service and to improve high-cost subsidy program operations. Dissenting Democrats said their requests for changes to an NPRM went unheeded. Chairman Ajit Pai said the minority members waited too long to make their suggestions, a charge they denied. The commission Friday released two orders and a notice (here) that provide up to $545 million in additional support to rate-of-return carriers, flesh out expense and investment cost-recovery restrictions, and aim to examine the rural USF budget and a possible tribal broadband factor. The item appears largely consistent with a draft (see 1801160040 and 1801170048).
The FCC took USF actions and made proposals intended to help rural telcos provide broadband-oriented service and to improve high-cost subsidy program operations. Dissenting Democrats said their requests for changes to an NPRM went unheeded. Chairman Ajit Pai said the minority members waited too long to make their suggestions, a charge they denied. The commission Friday released two orders and a notice (here) that provide up to $545 million in additional support to rate-of-return carriers, flesh out expense and investment cost-recovery restrictions, and aim to examine the rural USF budget and a possible tribal broadband factor. The item appears largely consistent with a draft (see 1801160040 and 1801170048).
With a lack of electricity and access to funding hampering recovery efforts for communications services in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, some concerns about the FCC USF-based aid proposal have emerged, industry and government officials in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington told us. Some industry officials expressed concern about the proposal's goals and said the plan does nothing for affected broadcasters. A group of Puerto Rico broadcasters pitched a nationwide disaster relief plan for broadcasters to Chairman Ajit Pai during his visit earlier this month. “What happened in Puerto Rico can happen elsewhere in the U.S.,” said Eduardo Rivero of Puerto Rico station owner Media Power Group.
President Donald Trump’s infrastructure legislative proposal included its expected focus on streamlining the federal environmental permitting process, including for small-cells deployments, along with state block grants and federal matching funds (see 1801220035, 1802090050 and 1802110001). Communications sector officials and lobbyists bemoaned lack of a dedicated broadband funding allocation in the proposal, released Monday. They told us they are in the beginning phase of negotiations with the White House and Capitol Hill. The White House also released its FY 2019 budget plan, which seeks to zero out public broadcaster federal funding. The FCC's budget would also fall (see 1802120037).
President Donald Trump’s infrastructure legislative proposal included its expected focus on streamlining the federal environmental permitting process, including for small-cells deployments, along with state block grants and federal matching funds (see 1801220035, 1802090050 and 1802110001). Communications sector officials and lobbyists bemoaned lack of a dedicated broadband funding allocation in the proposal, released Monday. They told us they are in the beginning phase of negotiations with the White House and Capitol Hill. The White House also released its FY 2019 budget plan, which seeks to zero out public broadcaster federal funding. The FCC's budget would also fall (see 1802120037).