The Native Telecom Coalition for Broadband urged the FCC to adopt its earlier proposal for a Tribal/Native Broadband Fund as part of changes to the Universal Service Fund. “The proposed ‘Native American’ USF program holds the promise of finally delivering many of the commitments embedded or implied in treaties and acts of Congress that have been languishing for over a century,” the group said in a filing at the commission (http://xrl.us/bmbgs3). “A broadband communications platform will provide the 21st century foundation that is needed to work toward Native American participation in socio-economic advancement, while enhancing their ability to preserve and pass on to future generations longstanding cultural traditions and values."
The Native Telecom Coalition for Broadband urged the FCC to adopt its earlier proposal for a Tribal/Native Broadband Fund as part of changes to the Universal Service Fund. “The proposed ‘Native American’ USF program holds the promise of finally delivering many of the commitments embedded or implied in treaties and acts of Congress that have been languishing for over a century,” the group said in a filing at the commission (http://xrl.us/bmbgs3). “A broadband communications platform will provide the 21st century foundation that is needed to work toward Native American participation in socio-economic advancement, while enhancing their ability to preserve and pass on to future generations longstanding cultural traditions and values."
CTIA questioned whether the $300 million dedicated annually to support of mobile broadband services by the USTelecom-brokered agreement on Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation regime reforms is enough to meet the nation’s needs. CTIA filed comments late Wednesday on the plan and USF overhaul. (See related story in this issue.) “CTIA applauds the recognition of the need for on-going support for mobile services, however, this funding level appears insufficient to meet the needs of mobile broadband consumers in high-cost areas,” the group said (http://xrl.us/bmbduq). “This is particularly true given that CTIA submitted a cost study in 2008 demonstrating that it would require an investment of approximately $22 billion to bring ubiquitous 3G service to unserved areas.” As it decides the proper allocation to wireless, the FCC should “take account of the fundamental nature of mobile networks, which must be available wherever Americans live, work, and travel,” CTIA said.
The FCC should take “swift and decisive” action to “promote universal broadband connectivity and advanced Internet protocol (IP) networks” as it moves forward on Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation reform, Google, Skype, Vonage, the Ad Hoc Telecommunications Users Committee and Sprint Nextel said in a filing to the commission (http://xrl.us/bmasxm). The filing proposes its own principles for reform, starting with an argument that the legacy USF should eventually be eliminated, in favor of a new fund that pays for broadband.
The FCC should take “swift and decisive” action to “promote universal broadband connectivity and advanced Internet protocol (IP) networks” as it moves forward on Universal Service Fund and Intercarrier compensation reform, Google, Skype, Vonage, the Ad Hoc Telecommunications Users Committee and Sprint Nextel said in a filing to the commission (http://xrl.us/bmasxm). The filing proposes its own principles for reform, starting with an argument that the legacy USF should eventually be eliminated, in favor of a new fund that pays for broadband.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s effort to issue another joint public statement by the FCC commissioners on Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation system reform appeared to be in flux late Thursday, agency officials said. Genachowski had hoped to get his colleagues to sign another Web post, as they did in March. Then, the full commission had promised “a busy spring and summer” of reform work and a promise to move to order’s “within a few months” of the comment cycle’s end in May (CD March 16 p10). Commissioners apparently couldn’t agree on language in the proposed new post, the officials said. Efforts to reach Genachowski’s spokesman for comment were unsuccessful at deadline.
The House sponsors of last year’s Universal Service Fund overhaul bill support the FCC acting on the industry USF agreement brokered by USTelecom. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., no longer plans to move USF legislation, aide Brad Schweer told us Wednesday. He said that Terry “will now be encouraging the FCC to produce details that reflect suggestions” proposed by the industry group. Terry’s former co-sponsor Rick Boucher agreed that the commission should move forward on its own.
Rural Cellular Association President Steve Berry sharply criticized the Universal Service Fund/intercarrier compensation proposal formally filed by a U.S. Telecom-organized group of carriers at the FCC Friday (CD Aug 1 p1). He argued it’s a wireline-centric plan that largely leaves wireless in the cold. Berry called the proposal “a joke.” RCA represents small to mid-sized carriers. Satellite broadband companies, who also were not part of negotiations on the proposal, also criticized it Monday. Consumer groups and states’ rights advocates expressed concerns, while executives representing small and mid-sized cable operators expressed support for elements of the plan.
A breakaway group of rural telcos organized a last-ditch effort to keep their trade associations from signing on to a USTelecom-brokered agreement on Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation regime reforms. “It is simply a bad deal for rural America!” said a draft letter circulated by the Rural Broadband Alliance’s Diane Smith and Stephen Kraskin.
The FCC wouldn’t distribute Universal Service Fund cash for broadband in areas where any ISP already sells Internet service, under a USTelecom-brokered industry agreement that could be made public as early Friday (CD July 22 p3), industry and FCC officials told us. Talks are still going on, they said Monday. Under the agreement, which USTelecom has been calling a “framework,” VoIP wouldn’t be classified either as telecom or information service, and VoIP carriers would be required to pay interstate access rates for all non-local calls, the officials said. Comcast and other major cable operators continue to evaluate the USTelecom proposal, and it’s possible they'll join it, industry officials said.