The Biden administration said Thursday it expects deliberations over how to respond to Senate Republicans’ infrastructure counteroffer to continue into Friday, amid conflicting evaluations about prospects for a deal (see 2105190069). House Commerce Committee Republicans bowed the American Broadband Act to counter President Joe Biden’s proposal to spend $100 billion on broadband. The counterproposal includes $65 billion. More than 40 groups and companies launched the Broadband Equity for All coalition to press lawmakers to create a permanent federal broadband benefit program to succeed the FCC-administered $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program.
Citing the impact of COVID-19 on incarcerated people and their families, FCC commissioners unanimously approved an order and Further NPRM Thursday to cut interstate rates for inmate calling services (see 2105120031). It’s “not the last action we will take because there is more that needs to be done,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel during Thursday’s meeting.
Global Data Systems agreed to pay $180,000 for not meeting FCC filing requirements as a USF contributor, said an Enforcement Bureau consent decree Wednesday. The VoIP provider admitted to failing to timely file certain reporting worksheets, customer proprietary network information certifications and advanced telecom capability data 2011-20. It admitted it failed to respond to a letter of inquiry. Global Data didn't comment.
The National Tribal Telecommunications Association asked staff of FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks for relief from USF's budget control mechanism, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 10-90. “Negative cash flow brought about by the BCM would make it difficult to serve these tribal communities with viable and affordable communications services.” (Correction: A previous version of this item incorrectly reported the commissioner's first name.)
Texas legislators' attempt to stabilize state USF is nearing the finish. The Senate Rural Affairs Committee voted 8-0 Tuesday for HB-2667 to expand the TUSF contribution base to include VoIP providers, while redefining high-cost areas. RLECs had sued the Public Utility Commission for not acting to prevent insolvency (see 2103290060).
Oklahoma’s USF administrator will extend temporary emergency funding for increased bandwidth at schools, libraries and healthcare facilities through Sept. 30, Oklahoma Corporation Commission Public Utility Division Director Brandy Wreath wrote stakeholders Monday. The COVID-19 support was to end June 30, after earlier extensions (see 2007290055).
Nebraska's Public Service Commission voted 4-1 to expand the state USF’s connections-based method for residential services to now include business and government lines. At another Tuesday meeting, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission delayed shifting to a per-line monthly surcharge from a revenue-based mechanism.
The Texas House passed a state USF bill to expand the contribution base to include VoIP. The House voted 127-21 Tuesday for an amended HB-2667. The bill and a Senate version in that chamber’s Commerce Committee (SB-1246) are meant to stabilize a Texas USF that’s running out of cash (see 2103290060). The House voted 138-7 the same day for a bill (HB-1505) to update pole attachment rules for broadband deployment on poles owned by electric cooperatives. A similar measure (SB-1283) is in the Senate Transportation Committee. Monday, the House voted 125-21 for a constitutional amendment (HJR-2) creating two state funds, administered by the Texas Water Development Board, to support projects that enhance reliability and resiliency of utilities and broadband providers. The Senate has an identical bill (SJR-62) in the Commerce Committee.
The FCC Wireline Bureau granted Hargray's transfer of control request to Cable One, said a public notice Friday. It's subject to conditions adopted in the Hargray/ComSouth order because some of Hargray's subsidiaries receive cost-based USF and alternative Connect America cost model I support (see 1805110048).
Don’t adopt state USF connections-based contribution, the Voice on the Net Coalition replied Friday in California Public Utilities Commission docket R.21-03-002. “Though imperfect, the revenue-based model is consistent with the current federal structure, complies with existing California law and, unlike the per-line model, will not cause disruptions to any group of ratepayers or changes to the accounting and billing systems of contributing service providers.” Big wireless carrier comments warned against the change, while some wireline companies and consumer advocates supported connections (see 2104060029).