The Colorado Public Utilities Commission must do all it can to close the rural broadband gap, a member said Thursday at a livestreamed information meeting on the state’s USF high-cost support mechanism. State broadband officials said limited funding makes it tough to spread broadband. Supporting municipal broadband efforts and phasing out high-cost support for traditional phone service could be ways forward, consumer advocates said. PUC staff pointed to continued decline in USF contributions due to changing technology.
AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and the Voice on the Net Coalition urged the FCC to complete an intercarrier compensation move to bill-and-keep arrangements under which carriers don't charge each other for exchanging traffic, and speed the transition to IP-based networks. Rural telcos urged a more cautious approach. Comments were posted Thursday and Friday in docket 01-92 on a public notice seeking to refresh the record as a phaseout of many terminating charges continues under a 2011 overhaul. Sprint remains "concerned that [LECs] will be reluctant (or even refuse) to enter into far more efficient IP interconnection arrangements" as long as they can collect access charges. AT&T and Verizon also commented. Many ILECs exchange much voice traffic in "highly inefficient TDM-based arrangements," forcing cable companies to "spend millions of dollars every year converting IP-based voice traffic," said NCTA. It urged "incentives for completing the transition to an all IP-environment." T-Mobile said the agency should create such incentives, scrap rules slowing the IP transition, and convene a federal-state board to work with industry to consolidate interconnection points. "Correct this asymmetry by adopting rules permitting all tandem owners to be compensated equally for the use of their networks -- thereby establishing the end office as the proper default network edge for all providers," recommended CenturyLink. ITTA said carriers should be required to "make one or more network edge point(s) available such that carriers that interconnect at that point will pay nothing to the terminating carrier for terminating the traffic." NTCA and WTA sought action only after high-cost USF "budget shortfalls" are addressed. Any subsequent "reforms" should create certainty about "network 'edge' transport obligations, while protecting rural consumers," the RLEC groups said. "Facilitate IP-to-IP interconnection by providing stable and clear 'rules of the road' governing all underlying network technologies." HD Tandem sought an IP-based transition with "regulatory glide paths."
Large telcos and others urged the FCC to complete an intercarrier compensation move to bill-and-keep arrangements under which carriers don't charge each other for exchanging traffic, and speed the transition to IP-based networks. Rural telcos urged a more cautious approach and further FCC action only after addressing USF subsidy "shortfalls." Comments were posted Thursday and Friday in docket 01-92 on a public notice seeking to refresh the record as a lengthy phaseout of many terminating charges continues under a 2011 overhaul.
An FCC draft item would begin an overhaul of the Lifeline USF program subsidizing providers of broadband and voice service to low-income consumers. Three orders would aim to crack down on "waste, fraud and abuse" and two notices would propose to adopt an annual funding cap and seek ways to better target support to those most in need. They would also target funding to facilities-based providers, not resellers. The actions and proposals were contained in a combined draft that Chairman Ajit Pai put on the tentative agenda Thursday for the Nov. 16 commissioners' meeting (see 1710260049).
A draft order on reconsideration that would eliminate cross-ownership and duopoly rules was circulated to the eighth floor to be voted at the FCC’s Nov. 16 meeting (see 1710250037), as expected, Chairman Ajit Pai told the House Communications Subcommittee during an oversight hearing (see 1710250050) Wednesday. The November meeting is widely expected to include a vote on authorizing ATSC 3.0, industry officials said. FCC action on net neutrality rules isn’t expected until December, agency and industry officials told us.
A draft order on reconsideration that would eliminate cross-ownership and duopoly rules was circulated to the eighth floor to be voted at the FCC’s Nov. 16 meeting (see 1710250037), as expected, Chairman Ajit Pai told the House Communications Subcommittee during an oversight hearing (see 1710250050) Wednesday. The November meeting is widely expected to include a vote on authorizing ATSC 3.0, industry officials said. FCC action on net neutrality rules isn’t expected until December, agency and industry officials told us.
The National Hispanic Media Coalition and other public interest groups urged the FCC to do more to address the communications meltdown in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (see 1710040046). Chairman Ajit Pai, meanwhile, said he appointed a staff task force on hurricane recovery. Addressed to Pai, the letter also was signed by the Center for Media Justice, the Color of Change, Free Press and Public Knowledge.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai acted on Puerto Rico in light of the near meltdown in communications because of Hurricane Maria, but some say there’s more the agency can do. Commissioners took about a day to approve an order (see 1710030057) making up to $76.9 million immediately available for the restoration of communications networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “The FCC’s actions are intended to enable carriers to restore essential communications services as quickly as possible,” said a news release.
Fight for the Future launched a campaign Tuesday targeting the four Senate Democrats who voted Monday in favor of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's reconfirmation. The Senate confirmed Pai on a 52-41 vote, prompting reaction that divided sharply between supporters and opponents of the FCC's 2015 net neutrality rules (see 1710020062 and 1710030064). All four Democrats -- Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Gary Peters of Michigan and Jon Tester of Montana -- previously told us they were leaning toward confirming Pai (see 1709280056). Manchin and Peters separately told reporters they were impressed by Pai's focus on increasing rural broadband deployment. “I just need a lot of help in West Virginia, and he’s been moving in that direction,” Manchin said. Pai has been “very receptive to ways to expand broadband access” in Michigan's Upper Peninsula region, Peters said. Manchin and Peters noted ongoing concerns with Pai's bid to rescind 2015 net neutrality rules, which figured prominently in other Senate Democrats' floor speeches opposing the chairman (see 1709150060). Peters said he will now work to “hold [Pai] accountable” on net neutrality. McCaskill and Tester previously cited work with Pai on policy issues like oversight of the Lifeline USF program as a reason to reconfirm him. FFTF tweeted that the four Democrats “voted for an FCC chairman that wants to allow Internet censorship, throttling, and extra fees” and urged the group's supporters to call the senators' offices.
Fight for the Future launched a campaign Tuesday targeting the four Senate Democrats who voted Monday in favor of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's reconfirmation. The Senate confirmed Pai on a 52-41 vote, prompting reaction that divided sharply between supporters and opponents of the FCC's 2015 net neutrality rules (see 1710020062 and 1710030064). All four Democrats -- Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Gary Peters of Michigan and Jon Tester of Montana -- previously told us they were leaning toward confirming Pai (see 1709280056). Manchin and Peters separately told reporters they were impressed by Pai's focus on increasing rural broadband deployment. “I just need a lot of help in West Virginia, and he’s been moving in that direction,” Manchin said. Pai has been “very receptive to ways to expand broadband access” in Michigan's Upper Peninsula region, Peters said. Manchin and Peters noted ongoing concerns with Pai's bid to rescind 2015 net neutrality rules, which figured prominently in other Senate Democrats' floor speeches opposing the chairman (see 1709150060). Peters said he will now work to “hold [Pai] accountable” on net neutrality. McCaskill and Tester previously cited work with Pai on policy issues like oversight of the Lifeline USF program as a reason to reconfirm him. FFTF tweeted that the four Democrats “voted for an FCC chairman that wants to allow Internet censorship, throttling, and extra fees” and urged the group's supporters to call the senators' offices.