A coalition of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) winners urged the FCC to grant a limited waiver of the program's rules concerning a letter of credit and relinquish census block groups in areas that have been or will be overbuilt by federal-funded broadband deployment projects. The coalition said in a meeting with Wireline Bureau staff that waiving the letter of credit rule to one year of support was needed because "unforeseeable cost increases place significant strains on RDOF winners to contribute huge amounts of additional funds for RDOF broadband deployments." The group also urged the commission to "promptly address" potential overbuilding "through its deconfliction process and allow RDOF funding recipients to return such areas ... without financial penalties."
The FCC wants comments by May 28, replies by June 7, in docket 03-123 on Telecom Relay Services Fund compensation formulas, funding requirements and contribution factors from July 1 through June 30 that Rolka Loube Associates proposed, a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau public notice Friday said.
The FCC Wireline Bureau approved the National Exchange Carrier Association's proposed average-schedule interstate settlement disbursements formulas for one-year beginning July 2. An order Friday in docket 23-415 noted that the formulas included "three consumer broadband-only loop" factors instead of one in NECA's filing from the previous year.
The FCC Wireline Bureau announced its annual tariff review plans for LECs, effective July 1, in an order Friday in docket 24-41. The bureau also adopted modifications for its rate-of-return tariff review plan and waived rules requiring that carriers file an access charge tariff for a two-year period.
Alaska Communications Systems settled a nearly $6.3 million fine with the FCC over a rural healthcare program's rules on competitive bidding and rural rate determinations. An Enforcement Bureau order Wednesday said that ACS will make a $5.3 million repayment to the Universal Service Fund and receive a credit of $1 million for "ACS's withdrawal of claims and appeals" for certain funding requests between FY 2015 through 2018.
The FCC Wireline Bureau waived the commission's rules on several unserved locations that aren't subject to an enforceable commitment. An order appeared in Monday's Daily Digest (docket 10-90). The waiver covers enhanced alternative connect America model program locations within West Side Telephone Company's West Virginia study area where ClearFiber is no longer subject to a grant from the Rural Utilities Service, the bureau said. Otherwise, the locations would have been treated as served by ClearFiber due to the company's "federally enforceable commitment." The bureau also released additional guidance for enhanced ACAM recipients about the use of broadband availability data.
The National Lifeline Association raised concerns with FCC Wireline Bureau staff about the potential funding gap in the affordable connectivity program. Many providers will continue reduced or no-cost service offerings "for some period of time in hopes of an ACP funding solution," NaLa said in a letter Friday in docket 21-450. It asked the commission to forego requiring that ACP providers de-enroll subscribers from the national Lifeline accountability database as of June 1. The process of re-enrolling ACP subscribers "would be a tremendous burden on ACP providers and consumers," NaLa said.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren urged the FCC that it continue providing Lifeline funding for tribal households should the affordable connectivity program end. In a letter Friday in docket 21-450, Nygren said the Navajo Nation backed a Smith Bagley petition seeking an increase in tribal Lifeline support (see 2404080030). The temporary increase in support would "keep broadband affordable for tribal households, many of which are located in remote areas and are among the most in need of ACP and Lifeline support," Nygren said.
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities is concerned about the FCC's proposal that would ban bulk billing arrangements between ISPs and building owners (see 2403050069). The group said in a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks and a separate letter to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel that "wholesale elimination of bulk billing would precipitate unintended consequences by having a negative effect on low-income residents." CLPHA noted that some bulk billing arrangements let residents in public housing units receive service at no cost.
Charter Communications told the FCC that several census block groups (CBGs) the company "inadvertently included" were awarded funding through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction. In a letter Wednesday in docket 19-126, the company listed seven CBGs in Missouri and two in Wisconsin. Charter cited pole replacement obstacles last week in its initial letter surrendering dozens of CBGs (see 2404260059).