CTIA warned the FCC to avoid a “premature schism” between state eligibility programs for Lifeline and the updated federal program as a Dec. 2 implementation deadline nears. The group joined state commissions and industry groups supporting a USTelecom petition to give some states more time to align their Lifeline rules with changes to the federal program that added broadband as a supported service to the low-income program. USTelecom asked for temporary waiver of certain rules so Lifeline providers can continue enrolling consumers in the federal USF low-income subsidy support program based on state-specific criteria in 25 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. State support was expected in comments due Friday in docket 11-42 (see 1610180028).
Three million people, 575,000 square miles of area and 750,000 road miles in the U.S. have no 4G LTE coverage or only coverage from a carrier receiving universal service support, said Jon Wilkins, chief of the Wireless Bureau, as the FCC released numbers Friday, based on Form 477 data. “These are the areas where our analysis shows there is a clear need for an ongoing subsidy to either expand 4G LTE coverage or continue coverage on a subsidized basis.” The FCC is starting to work on a new phase of a mobility fund. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told the Competitive Carriers Association annual meeting recently (see 1609200058) the release was coming and would show a mobility fund is necessary since too many locations remain unserved by LTE. Wilkins said the data is much improved over what was available to the FCC when it launched the initial mobility fund. “Our analysis shows that just under one and a half million people, approximately 470,000 square miles, and 550,000 miles of road in the U.S. do not have 4G LTE coverage," Wilkins said in a blog post. "We can overlay the actual area coverage data with publicly available data on universal service subsidies to determine at a sub-census block level where 4G LTE service is available only from a provider receiving support -- an indication that continuing support for service in those areas is needed.” It’s a positive development that the Wireless Bureau acknowledges the need to support mobile broadband through the USF, said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. As the FCC works toward a new mobility fund, it should “prioritize expanding service nationwide without stranding thousands of rural Americans who rely on service that is currently provided through USF support,” he said. “To meet Congress’s mandate of ‘reasonably comparable services in urban and rural areas,’ seamless wireless service must be available from a consumer’s carrier of choice to reach critical public safety services including 911.” The Form 477 data isn’t the “last word” on service availability, with Wheeler and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn urging more-accurate and comprehensive measurements using the latest technologies and methods available, he said. “We appreciate the inclusion of a challenge process to make sure that the data used for any final decisions appropriately reflect the real on-the-ground services available to consumers,” he said. “CCA will continue to work with the FCC to ensure mobile broadband is available for all Americans, especially those in rural areas.” The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) applauded the FCC decision to analyze coverage in a census tract beyond the center point. Meanwhile, the USF program needs to continue to support mobile voice, the group said in a news release. “RWA is also pleased that the Bureau has committed to implementing a challenge process to allow service providers to contest coverage determinations,” RWA said. “RWA encourages the Bureau to ensure that this process is robust, and provides all parties (not just very large entities with nearly unlimited technological and personnel resources) sufficient time and opportunity to participate.”
Three million people, 575,000 square miles of area and 750,000 road miles in the U.S. have no 4G LTE coverage or only coverage from a carrier receiving universal service support, said Jon Wilkins, chief of the Wireless Bureau, as the FCC released numbers Friday, based on Form 477 data. “These are the areas where our analysis shows there is a clear need for an ongoing subsidy to either expand 4G LTE coverage or continue coverage on a subsidized basis.” The FCC is starting to work on a new phase of a mobility fund. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told the Competitive Carriers Association annual meeting recently (see 1609200058) the release was coming and would show a mobility fund is necessary since too many locations remain unserved by LTE. Wilkins said the data is much improved over what was available to the FCC when it launched the initial mobility fund. “Our analysis shows that just under one and a half million people, approximately 470,000 square miles, and 550,000 miles of road in the U.S. do not have 4G LTE coverage," Wilkins said in a blog post. "We can overlay the actual area coverage data with publicly available data on universal service subsidies to determine at a sub-census block level where 4G LTE service is available only from a provider receiving support -- an indication that continuing support for service in those areas is needed.” It’s a positive development that the Wireless Bureau acknowledges the need to support mobile broadband through the USF, said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. As the FCC works toward a new mobility fund, it should “prioritize expanding service nationwide without stranding thousands of rural Americans who rely on service that is currently provided through USF support,” he said. “To meet Congress’s mandate of ‘reasonably comparable services in urban and rural areas,’ seamless wireless service must be available from a consumer’s carrier of choice to reach critical public safety services including 911.” The Form 477 data isn’t the “last word” on service availability, with Wheeler and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn urging more-accurate and comprehensive measurements using the latest technologies and methods available, he said. “We appreciate the inclusion of a challenge process to make sure that the data used for any final decisions appropriately reflect the real on-the-ground services available to consumers,” he said. “CCA will continue to work with the FCC to ensure mobile broadband is available for all Americans, especially those in rural areas.” The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) applauded the FCC decision to analyze coverage in a census tract beyond the center point. Meanwhile, the USF program needs to continue to support mobile voice, the group said in a news release. “RWA is also pleased that the Bureau has committed to implementing a challenge process to allow service providers to contest coverage determinations,” RWA said. “RWA encourages the Bureau to ensure that this process is robust, and provides all parties (not just very large entities with nearly unlimited technological and personnel resources) sufficient time and opportunity to participate.”
Change is coming to Washington, D.C., and to the regulatory landscape after the November auction, said Steve Berry, Competitive Carriers Association president, in a speech Wednesday live-streamed from CCA’s annual meeting in Seattle. Competitive carriers need to be prepared because "lots of changes" are coming, Berry said. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told CCA in a Tuesday keynote he would press for a new mobility fund to pay for wireless buildout in rural areas and for changes to data roaming rules (see 1609200058).
Change is coming to Washington, D.C., and to the regulatory landscape after the November auction, said Steve Berry, Competitive Carriers Association president, in a speech Wednesday live-streamed from CCA’s annual meeting in Seattle. Competitive carriers need to be prepared because "lots of changes" are coming, Berry said. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told CCA in a Tuesday keynote he would press for a new mobility fund to pay for wireless buildout in rural areas and for changes to data roaming rules (see 1609200058).
Lifeline wireless providers plugged their petition for FCC reconsideration and clarification of its order overhauling the USF low-income subsidy program. The commission March 31 approved extending Lifeline funding to broadband service while phasing out stand-alone voice support, shifting the duty to oversee consumer eligibility from carriers to a national verifier, and creating a process for designating national Lifeline broadband providers supplementing the current state-by-state eligible telecom carrier (ETC) process (see 1603310056). The Joint Lifeline ETC Petitioners said they looked forward to offering broadband Lifeline service and working with regulators on ways to improve the enrollment process both before and after a national verifier is implemented, in a filing posted Thursday in docket 11-42 by American Broadband & Telecommunications, Blue Jay Wireless, i-wireless, Telrite, Assist Wireless, Easy Wireless, Prepaid Wireless Group and TruConnect. They said the Joint ETCs also are asking the commission to: "modify a minimum service standard formula and adopt a more graduated phase-in" of broadband requirements; complete a Lifeline market report before ending support for stand-alone voice service, given the "continuing value of voice service"; ensure the national verifier can engage in real-time eligibility determinations; and extend streamlined 60-day consideration to all ETC petitions. It opposed some calls of other petitioners, including to ban in-person handset distribution and incentive-based compensation, and to lift a "12-month benefit port freeze for broadband plans."
Lifeline wireless providers plugged their petition for FCC reconsideration and clarification of its order overhauling the USF low-income subsidy program. The commission March 31 approved extending Lifeline funding to broadband service while phasing out stand-alone voice support, shifting the duty to oversee consumer eligibility from carriers to a national verifier, and creating a process for designating national Lifeline broadband providers supplementing the current state-by-state eligible telecom carrier (ETC) process (see 1603310056). The Joint Lifeline ETC Petitioners said they looked forward to offering broadband Lifeline service and working with regulators on ways to improve the enrollment process both before and after a national verifier is implemented, in a filing posted Thursday in docket 11-42 by American Broadband & Telecommunications, Blue Jay Wireless, i-wireless, Telrite, Assist Wireless, Easy Wireless, Prepaid Wireless Group and TruConnect. They said the Joint ETCs also are asking the commission to: "modify a minimum service standard formula and adopt a more graduated phase-in" of broadband requirements; complete a Lifeline market report before ending support for stand-alone voice service, given the "continuing value of voice service"; ensure the national verifier can engage in real-time eligibility determinations; and extend streamlined 60-day consideration to all ETC petitions. It opposed some calls of other petitioners, including to ban in-person handset distribution and incentive-based compensation, and to lift a "12-month benefit port freeze for broadband plans."
Commissioner Mike O'Rielly says the FCC has made strides in resolving his concerns that commissioners faced censorship on pending agency items while Chairman Tom Wheeler and his staff were free to selectively disclose matters. "Thankfully, we've had decent progress toward fixing this one process area," O'Rielly said, responding to our query. However, questions remain about a leak that FCC and congressional Republicans say helped scuttle a bipartisan Lifeline compromise among commissioners March 31, which is being investigated by the agency's inspector general. Responses to a Communications Daily Freedom of Information Act request detail much late congressional lobbying of the FCC on Lifeline.
ITTA said it backs aspects of an NTCA petition for FCC reconsideration of a USF order in March updating subsidy mechanisms for rate-of-return telcos (see 1605250068). ITTA lauded the commission for working with industry groups on the USF broadband overhaul and said it's "especially gratified" rural carriers were given the option of receiving support based on a broadband cost model. In "this spirit of ongoing partnership and collaboration," the midsize telco group backed "three discrete issues" raised by NTCA. "ITTA agrees with NTCA that the Commission should clarify its order to ensure a better understanding of where an unsubsidized competitor actually purports to serve before eliminating support in a census block," said its comments posted Tuesday in docket 10-90. ITTA also echoed NTCA's request that the FCC confirm that, where there is competitive overlap, rural incumbents can choose freely from among the agency's defined formulas for recovering disaggregated costs. And ITTA supported NTCA's call for commission reconsideration of a requirement to impute access recovery charges where carriers can show they "had a certain number of standalone broadband connections when the Connect America Fund -- Intercarrier Compensation (CAF ICC) support baseline was set."
ITTA said it backs aspects of an NTCA petition for FCC reconsideration of a USF order in March updating subsidy mechanisms for rate-of-return telcos (see 1605250068). ITTA lauded the commission for working with industry groups on the USF broadband overhaul and said it's "especially gratified" rural carriers were given the option of receiving support based on a broadband cost model. In "this spirit of ongoing partnership and collaboration," the midsize telco group backed "three discrete issues" raised by NTCA. "ITTA agrees with NTCA that the Commission should clarify its order to ensure a better understanding of where an unsubsidized competitor actually purports to serve before eliminating support in a census block," said its comments posted Tuesday in docket 10-90. ITTA also echoed NTCA's request that the FCC confirm that, where there is competitive overlap, rural incumbents can choose freely from among the agency's defined formulas for recovering disaggregated costs. And ITTA supported NTCA's call for commission reconsideration of a requirement to impute access recovery charges where carriers can show they "had a certain number of standalone broadband connections when the Connect America Fund -- Intercarrier Compensation (CAF ICC) support baseline was set."