FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai is anxious about how little time remains this year to resolve the stand-alone broadband issue, he told us. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler committed to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., that the agency would find a way by the end of the year to provide USF support for telecom companies that offer only broadband service. Industry stakeholders, Wheeler and Pai have kicked around different ideas this year about how to best resolve the situation, with the solution still unclear.
LAS VEGAS -- The FCC should wrap up an order creating a dedicated USF mobility fund, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn urged, speaking Thursday at the Rural Wireless Association conference at the CTIA convention.
LAS VEGAS -- The FCC should wrap up an order creating a dedicated USF mobility fund, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn urged, speaking Thursday at the Rural Wireless Association conference at the CTIA convention.
The FCC could face tough implementation tasks as it seeks to modernize Lifeline subsidy mechanisms for low-income consumers, conflicting comments in the agency’s rulemaking suggest. The commission received strong support -- and a deluge of parties weighed in -- on its core proposals to extend Lifeline USF support from voice to broadband service and shift consumer eligibility oversight away from telecom providers. (For previous stories, see 1509010073, 1509020058, 1509020048 and 1508180069).
The FCC could face tough implementation tasks as it seeks to modernize Lifeline subsidy mechanisms for low-income consumers, conflicting comments in the agency’s rulemaking suggest. The commission received strong support -- and a deluge of parties weighed in -- on its core proposals to extend Lifeline USF support from voice to broadband service and shift consumer eligibility oversight away from telecom providers. (For previous stories, see 1509010073, 1509020058, 1509020048 and 1508180069).
Commenters voiced substantial support for FCC proposals to extend Lifeline USF subsidies to broadband and restructure oversight, with differences over some priorities and many implementation details, including among the Bells. Expanding Lifeline support would boost broadband adoption and shifting administrative responsibility away from telecom providers would increase efficiency, many said in comments in docket 11-42 responding to a Further NPRM (see 1506180029). Some said the FCC should proceed carefully and focus on enforcing budget discipline and streamlining program administration. Monday was the filing deadline for initial comments, but some comments hadn't been posted on the commission’s website Tuesday, while some parties filed comments early (see 1508180069).
Commenters voiced substantial support for FCC proposals to extend Lifeline USF subsidies to broadband and restructure oversight, with differences over some priorities and many implementation details, including among the Bells. Expanding Lifeline support would boost broadband adoption and shifting administrative responsibility away from telecom providers would increase efficiency, many said in comments in docket 11-42 responding to a Further NPRM (see 1506180029). Some said the FCC should proceed carefully and focus on enforcing budget discipline and streamlining program administration. Monday was the filing deadline for initial comments, but some comments hadn't been posted on the commission’s website Tuesday, while some parties filed comments early (see 1508180069).
The FCC push to extend Lifeline USF support to broadband received support in early comments, but some state and local officials are concerned it could come at the expense of traditional phone services. Some Native American groups also urged the commission to reach out more directly to tribal authorities to address their needs. Responding to several requests for more time, the FCC extended its Aug. 17 deadline to Aug. 31 for commenting on its NPRM to revamp its Lifeline USF support for low-income consumers (see 1508050032). Some parties filed comments in docket 11-42 by the original deadline. The Alliance for Excellent Education said it “strongly supports” FCC efforts to expand and modernize Lifeline to help “narrow the homework gap” affecting “low-income families and traditional minorities” that lack access to technology needed to do school assignments. Senior Service America asked the agency to "strengthen links between Lifeline’s existing eligibility determination system and other major federal means-tested assistance programs as an efficient and effective way to reach a significant proportion of the millions of older Americans who remain offline.” State and local officials expressed varying degrees of enthusiasm for general Lifeline reform efforts, but voiced concerns about some proposals, in letters that appeared to work off the same template. Linda Hudson, mayor of Fort Pierce, Florida, said “several aspects of this regulatory scheme” would “adversely affect qualified low-income individuals and households, and further broaden the digital divide.” She and others said they were concerned a proposed FCC rule would force Lifeline subscribers to choose between spending their monthly subsidy on cellphone service or broadband. They also said the commission’s current $9.25/month Lifeline subsidy isn't enough to buy broadband that would “solve any real communications issues” or voice/broadband bundles. Public Knowledge asked the FCC to take care in establishing any “budget” for the Lifeline program, which provides about $1.6 billion in support, down from $2.1 billion a few years ago. Some tribal groups also weighed in, seeking greater consultation and outreach.
The FCC’s push to extend Lifeline USF support to broadband is receiving support in early comments, but some state and local officials are concerned it could come at the expense of traditional phone services. Some Native American groups also have urged the commission to reach out more directly to tribal authorities to address their needs. Responding to several requests for more time, the FCC extended its Aug. 17 deadline to Aug. 31 for commenting on its NPRM to revamp its Lifeline USF support for low-income consumers (see 1508050032), but some parties filed comments in docket 11-42 by the original deadline.
Some state telecom associations, especially those representing rural telcos, said they are struggling with increased federal intrusion into areas that have traditionally been under state jurisdiction. Such overreach is the main reason one of the two rural telecom associations in Montana -- the Montana Independent Telecommunications Systems (MITS) -- chose to disband at the end of the month after 22 years, said state Public Service Commission Chairman Brad Johnson. That type of intrusion has been noticed less in states such as Kentucky, where an association is going strong and continues to advocate for members and figure out how to deal with FCC orders.