Executives at Liberty Mobile in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands spoke with all four FCC commissioners to oppose proposals in an FCC Further NPRM on extending USF support to eligible mobile and fixed carriers in both territories (see 2210270046). In recent comments, industry raised similar concerns (see 2212120053). A proposed 75% reduction in Stage 2 support “would undermine the Commission’s goals of universal service and competition,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 18-143. “The Liberty representatives discussed the Unique Characteristics of Puerto Rico and USVI … which increase the cost of their mobile networks.”

The Rural Wireless Association urged the FCC to explore “potential alternatives” to a 5G Fund for rural areas, in a meeting with Wireline Bureau and Office of Economic and Analytics staff. “RWA described how its members have deployed and are operating mobile networks in areas not served by the nationwide providers, providing needed connectivity to their customers and the public generally,” RWA said in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 20-32. “In many cases, this could not have been done without the Universal Service Fund support the carriers receive through the Mobility Fund, and now those carriers are using their USF support to upgrade to 5G coverage,” the filing said: “RWA explained that the current 5G Fund framework risks undermining this progress, stranding those networks, and wasting current USF support because it lacks a reasonable transition between the legacy support mechanism and a future 5G Fund.” Broadband data collection maps “appear to contain significant overstatement of coverage in rural areas, as was the case with prior mapping efforts,” the group said.

Nebraska legislators may consider allowing municipal broadband. Sen. Justin Wayne (D) introduced a bill (LB-26) Thursday that would allow municipal broadband on a retail or wholesale basis within its own jurisdiction if located in an underserved or unserved area. “A municipality may initiate the process of developing a broadband network by conducting a feasibility study and ordering the preparation of a resolution of intent to develop such broadband network … by a vote of the majority of the members of the governing body of the municipality,” it said. Under a separate state bill (LB-63) introduced Thursday by Sen. Eliot Bostar (D), Nebraska would withhold state USF support from any telecom company using equipment or services deemed to pose a national security threat. The proposed law would rely on a list published by the FCC Public Safety Bureau. Another Nebraska bill introduced Thursday would authorize licensing of dark fiber by any state agency or political subdivision. LB-61 by Sen. Tom Brandt (R) would also eliminate Nebraska Public Service Commission jurisdiction over certain violations and appeals.

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission seeks applications for two telecom affordability programs funded by USF, the PSC said Wednesday. Applications for the $500,000 nonprofit access and $250,000 Lifeline outreach grant programs are due March 1, the PSC said. The first program is for nonprofits to propose affordable access projects for low-income households, people with disabilities and customers in high-cost areas. The programs “are fundamental to the PSC’s mission of ensuring equitable access to telecommunications services for all Wisconsinites,” said Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq.

USTelecom asked Congress to "stay closely engaged" with the Biden administration and states to ensure broadband funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act results in "maximum program effectiveness," in a letter Tuesday. The group is seeking legislation to "help ensure timely infrastructure permitting" and "appropriate oversight" of grant recipients. It also asked that the FCC's affordable connectivity program be made permanent: "While most customers enjoy faster speeds and lower broadband prices, those struggling financially need additional assistance." Congress should work with the FCC to expand the contribution base for the USF, USTelecom added, noting edge providers and platforms are "the greatest beneficiaries of high-speed networks." The group also sought action on public-private cybersecurity partnerships, privacy protections and eliminating the tax on federal broadband grants.

The feud over whether content providers should pay for use of telco networks ratcheted up after Deutsche Telekom (DT) sued Meta for compensation and European internet exchange points urged the European Commission not to regulate fees. The two sides published dueling reports last year, and the EC promised to launch a consultation on the matter (see 2210130001).

Supporters of FCC nominee Gigi Sohn have gotten indications the Biden administration wants to renominate her in January, but there’s been no definitive word this will happen amid uncertain internal Senate dynamics. That lack of clarity in part stems from Senate leaders not yet being able to guarantee Sohn would get as swift a confirmation process as the White House and others want, lawmakers and lobbyists said in interviews. The Senate failed to hold any floor votes on Sohn before the chamber left town just before Christmas, and it won’t return until just before the 118th Congress gavels in Tuesday. Sohn’s 2022 confirmation process stalled in March after the Commerce Committee tied 14-14 on advancing her to the floor (see 2203030070). Biden first nominated her in October 2021 (see 2110260076).

Rural Wireless Association representatives warned of problems if removing insecure equipment from carrier networks isn’t fully funded by Congress (see 2212150076). “Due to uncertainty about the timing and availability of Reimbursement Program funding, Reimbursement Program participants are finding it difficult even to borrow the funds needed to remove, replace, and destroy their covered equipment,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 18-89. “The difficulty in finding lenders has forced many to halt the removal, replacement, and destruction of equipment, leaving networks to deteriorate as time goes on and service to be lost as Universal Service funds cannot be used to upgrade the networks that contain covered equipment,” RWA said: “Without the ability to obtain funds to replace equipment, providers experience reduction in network coverage in otherwise unserved areas.” RWA met with FCC Wireline Bureau staff. SI Wireless, NTCH Cleartalk, PTCI, Widelity, Strata Networks and Americrew were also at the meeting. RWA also reported on a call with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on the 5G Fund. RWA members said they "deployed and are operating mobile networks in areas not served by the nationwide providers, providing needed connectivity to their customers and the public generally though roaming agreements and E-911 services,” said a filing in docket 20-32: “In many cases, this could not have been done without the Universal Service Fund … support the carriers receive through the Mobility Fund, and now those carriers are using their USF support to upgrade to 5G coverage. RWA said the current 5G Fund framework risks undermining this progress, stranding those networks, and wasting current USF support because it lacks a reasonable transition between the legacy support mechanism and a future 5G Fund.”

Telephone companies must allow New York state customers to use preferred names and pronouns, under a new Home Energy Fair Practices Act regulation adopted Thursday by the New York Public Service Commission. All utilities in New York state, including telephone service providers, must "provide residential customers and applicants for residential service with an option to request the use of a preferred name and/or preferred pronouns in all written or oral communications," the rule said. "These regulations continue our advancement for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society,” said New York PSC Chair Rory Christian. “Acknowledging a person’s gender identity is an essential step along that path.” Also Thursday, commissioners unanimously supported adopting a draft order to require local exchange carriers to notify customers at least 45 days before transitioning their service to fiber from copper (docket 22-C-0540). Also, commissioners agreed to renew the state USF through December 2026 but freeze it to current recipients (docket 15-M-0742). ILECs seeking to further extend the fund must petition the PSC by Sept. 1, 2025, and include at least one alternative that would target support to at-risk consumers rather than the ILEC as a whole. Any ILEC seeking state USF funding after 2026 must file location and financial data showing availability of competitive and substitute services by Dec. 31, 2025. In the same docket, commissioners decided to allow nine small ILECs facing revenue losses from the FCC’s mandated phase out of intercarrier compensation charges to get additional state USF support.

FCC commissioners and panelists at the Practising Law Institute’s Institute on Telecommunications Policy & Regulation Thursday outlined expectations for 2023 involving employment data collection, enforcement and the USF, but many speakers were focused on cyber and national security, such as compromised apps and obsolete devices. “It’s time to turn our attention to the millions of wireless devices in our country that are insecure,” said Commissioner Nathan Simington. “There’s an industry-wide acquiescence to careless practices.”