A bipartisan group of 28 senators asked the FCC to update the USF Mobility Fund. “USF should support mobile broadband at a minimum of today’s level to close the coverage gap while preserving existing service,” said the letter dated Monday, led by Communications Subcommittee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. “We ask you to give special attention as you work to establish Phase II of the USF’s Mobility Fund (MF). Given the importance of mobile services today, the MF should be retained and updated to ensure that funding will promote new mobile broadband deployment in unserved rural and agricultural areas and preserve and upgrade mobile broadband where it is currently available. Importantly, the FCC must rely on realistic measurements of network experience on the ground to determine areas to support.” Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry lauded the letter. “USF must provide sufficient and predictable support to preserve and expand mobile broadband networks to meet consumers’ growing demand for wireless services and to ensure high-speed mobile broadband is readily available for subscribers, regardless of location,” Berry said. “As the FCC works to establish Phase II of USF’s Mobility Fund, CCA encourages the Commission to continue to make preserving and expanding mobile broadband in rural areas a top priority. I totally agree with the Senators on the importance of broadband for agriculture connectivity as well as economic, educational, health care, public safety, and social connectivity.”
A bipartisan group of 28 senators asked the FCC to update the USF Mobility Fund. “USF should support mobile broadband at a minimum of today’s level to close the coverage gap while preserving existing service,” said the letter dated Monday, led by Communications Subcommittee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. “We ask you to give special attention as you work to establish Phase II of the USF’s Mobility Fund (MF). Given the importance of mobile services today, the MF should be retained and updated to ensure that funding will promote new mobile broadband deployment in unserved rural and agricultural areas and preserve and upgrade mobile broadband where it is currently available. Importantly, the FCC must rely on realistic measurements of network experience on the ground to determine areas to support.” Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry lauded the letter. “USF must provide sufficient and predictable support to preserve and expand mobile broadband networks to meet consumers’ growing demand for wireless services and to ensure high-speed mobile broadband is readily available for subscribers, regardless of location,” Berry said. “As the FCC works to establish Phase II of USF’s Mobility Fund, CCA encourages the Commission to continue to make preserving and expanding mobile broadband in rural areas a top priority. I totally agree with the Senators on the importance of broadband for agriculture connectivity as well as economic, educational, health care, public safety, and social connectivity.”
A growing cable industry sense of its concerns being ignored by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has raised the likelihood that whatever rules come out of the agency regarding set-top boxes, broadband privacy and business data services almost surely will be met by legal appeals, cable executives and experts tell us. "I think everybody takes for granted that everything is going to end up in court," MCTV President/American Cable Association Chairman Robert Gessner said in an interview Friday.
A growing cable industry sense of its concerns being ignored by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has raised the likelihood that whatever rules come out of the agency regarding set-top boxes, broadband privacy and business data services almost surely will be met by legal appeals, cable executives and experts tell us. "I think everybody takes for granted that everything is going to end up in court," MCTV President/American Cable Association Chairman Robert Gessner said in an interview Friday.
BOSTON -- The FCC was criticized by another group of stakeholders at INTX, as the show drew to a close Wednesday. All four state telecom regulator panelists heaped criticism on the FCC over a range of process and legal issues. Critiques involved moving Lifeline subsidies for the poor to broadband from voice in a way that allows the FCC to certify providers as eligible telecom carriers (ETC) instead of just states having that authority, and pre-empting anti-municipal broadband state law. Process concerns included that the federal commission takes too long to issue the text of orders, is too partisan, and commissioners don't cooperate. State commissioners of both parties said the FCC doesn't work closely with state telecom regulators and follow through by having such cooperation reflected in rules. Asked in Q&A whether the FCC had any bright spots, panelists praised it for moving USF to broadband.
NTCA pressed the FCC for "sufficient" budgets to carry out its overhaul of rate-of-return USF high-cost mechanisms through a new voluntary model-based approach and updated legacy support of stand-alone broadband. The FCC raised its $2 billion annual budget to $2.15 billion to cover possible increased support based on a broadband cost model, and also instituted new controls of capital and operating expenditures and lowered the authorized rate of return, leading NCTA to seek further budget flexibility (see 1603300065 and 1604180055). In a Thursday filing in docket 10-90 about a call with Wireline Bureau Deputy Chief Carol Mattey, NTCA backed "equitable sharing of budget resources and fair application of budget controls" among all rural carriers, with each RLEC responsible for the consequences of its model decision "rather than having the risk and consequences" spread to all carriers. "To the extent that the Commission does not adopt such a clear-cut approach to model elections, NTCA suggested two alternatives that could be used in ensuring equitable management of the budget among all RLECs," it said, providing numerous details of its proposals in an attachment. In an earlier filing about a call with Mattey and other bureau officials, WTA asked how certain aspects of the model-based selection process would work and also voiced concerns that some options would reduce the overall budget for all carriers sticking with the updated legacy mechanisms. Also, NTCA, in a letter discussing the "challenge process" for model-based support, said the FCC shouldn't overlook "clear evidence in the record indicating that certain Form 477 data are simply inaccurate or imprecise in measuring the presence of competition." Rural incumbents facing certain levels of unsubsidized competition aren't eligible for the new support, but many RLECs are challenging the Form 477 data of competitors (see 1604280011).
NTCA pressed the FCC for "sufficient" budgets to carry out its overhaul of rate-of-return USF high-cost mechanisms through a new voluntary model-based approach and updated legacy support of stand-alone broadband. The FCC raised its $2 billion annual budget to $2.15 billion to cover possible increased support based on a broadband cost model, and also instituted new controls of capital and operating expenditures and lowered the authorized rate of return, leading NCTA to seek further budget flexibility (see 1603300065 and 1604180055). In a Thursday filing in docket 10-90 about a call with Wireline Bureau Deputy Chief Carol Mattey, NTCA backed "equitable sharing of budget resources and fair application of budget controls" among all rural carriers, with each RLEC responsible for the consequences of its model decision "rather than having the risk and consequences" spread to all carriers. "To the extent that the Commission does not adopt such a clear-cut approach to model elections, NTCA suggested two alternatives that could be used in ensuring equitable management of the budget among all RLECs," it said, providing numerous details of its proposals in an attachment. In an earlier filing about a call with Mattey and other bureau officials, WTA asked how certain aspects of the model-based selection process would work and also voiced concerns that some options would reduce the overall budget for all carriers sticking with the updated legacy mechanisms. Also, NTCA, in a letter discussing the "challenge process" for model-based support, said the FCC shouldn't overlook "clear evidence in the record indicating that certain Form 477 data are simply inaccurate or imprecise in measuring the presence of competition." Rural incumbents facing certain levels of unsubsidized competition aren't eligible for the new support, but many RLECs are challenging the Form 477 data of competitors (see 1604280011).
Rural telco groups said the FCC should be careful in changing rate-of-return rules for carrier cost recovery and related practices. Regulatory changes should apply prospectively only and should be targeted to provide increased clarity about allowable expenditures where helpful, said various RLEC groups in comments Thursday in docket 10-90, responding to a recent Further NPRM included in an item that overhauled rate-of-return USF mechanisms (see 1603300065 and 1603310039). Some voiced concern the FCC could make sweeping changes to throw out rules -- which they said had worked reasonably well -- based on "anecdotal" accounts of isolated problems.
A Senate Republican appropriator questioned how the FCC handled its recent rate of return USF overhaul and is pressing for inquiries, he told NTCA members Tuesday. Scores of NTCA members flew to Washington this week for a meeting and to lobby congressional offices Tuesday.
A Senate Republican appropriator questioned how the FCC handled its recent rate of return USF overhaul and is pressing for inquiries, he told NTCA members Tuesday. Scores of NTCA members flew to Washington this week for a meeting and to lobby congressional offices Tuesday.