The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling against the FCC's Universal Service Fund contribution mechanism "should spur reform in Congress," Free State Foundation Director-Policy Studies Seth Cooper blogged Friday (see 2407300053). Congress "should act promptly to make the USF program fiscally sustainable and constitutionally sound" through direct appropriations, Cooper wrote, adding that broadband should be "intelligibly" defined as a service eligible for support. Cooper suggested requiring that "major online companies" contribute "under principles that limit subsidy amounts." There's "widespread agreement that universal service should support broadband access," Cooper said: "Congress should replace the amorphous definition of universal service as an evolving level of services that are consistent with the public interest." Should direct appropriations not be feasible, Cooper suggested amending Communications Act Section 254 to include Big Tech companies that "benefit immensely" from universal service.

Rather than wait for congressional action on georouting of 988 calls, the FCC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration should "take immediate, decisive action," mental health organizations said in a docket 18-336 filing Thursday. The advocates said that while the agencies have encouraged wireless carriers and industry associations to identify a 988 georouting solution, "it is simply not enough -- especially when we know there are existing solutions at the ready today." Signers of the letter include the American Psychiatric Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and American Mental Health Counselors Association. The FCC 5-0 adopted a 988 georouting NPRM in April (see 2404250054).

OMB approved for three years collection of information associated with the FCC's revised rules for numbering authorization applications, a notice in Thursday's Federal Register said. Commissioners approved the modified rules in September for interconnected VoIP providers seeking direct numbering access (see 2309210055).

Tropical Storm Debby left .5% of Florida and .1% of South Carolina cellsites down, an improvement from .9% and .4%, respectively, on Tuesday, the FCC said in Wednesday’s disaster information reporting system report (see 2408060053). 17,344 cable and wireline subscribers lack service, down from 22,422 Tuesday. No TV stations were reported down, but one FM station remains down in Florida, along with another FM station redirected. Tuesday’s report listed one TV station down.

NTIA released its second dashboard on broadband deployment and funding data Wednesday (see 2407300025). The new tool includes spending data on 70 programs from 12 agencies at the state and federal level. The funding is broken down by appropriated, obligated and outlayed support, a news release said. The agency also released a report analyzing the $11.4 billion in federal broadband spending during FY 2022.

Forty-four Florida and twenty-seven South Carolina counties remain in the disaster area of Tropical Storm Debby, the FCC said in Tuesday’s disaster information reporting system report (see 2408050040). The alert encompasses Tampa, Tallahasee, Jacksonville and Charleston. No public safety answering points were reported as down. In the affected counties, .9% of Florida and .4% of South Carolina cellsites were reported down, a slight improvement from Monday, and 22,422 cable and wireline subscribers are without service, a large improvement from 82,858 Monday. One Florida TV station and one FM station were reported down, along with one FM station redirected. Monday’s report listed two TV stations down.

While a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling rejecting the FCC’s USF contribution methodology calls the entire USF into question, it also offers an “opportunity” for change, Joe Kane, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation director-broadband and spectrum policy, blogged Tuesday. Some experts say the case is likely headed for U.S. Supreme Court review (see 2407260044). “For years, policymakers have acknowledged the need to overhaul the USF because of its ballooning fees, potential for waste, and outdated priorities,” Kane said in a Broadband Breakfast blog: “Now, with its legal foundation in question, Congress has a clear mandate to reallocate funding to vital broadband programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), while eliminating outdated and redundant initiatives.”

The FCC initiated the disaster information reporting system (DIRS) for 44 Florida counties in anticipation of Hurricane Debby making landfall, a public notice said Sunday. The alert encompasses much of northern Florida, including Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Tampa. In addition, it activated the mandatory disaster response initiative (MDRI) for facilities-based mobile wireless providers in the affected area, which requires companies to allow reasonable roaming and cooperate in service restoration during disasters. On Monday, the commission expanded the DIRS and MDRI requirements to 27 counties in South Carolina. Monday’s DIRS report shows 1% of cellsites down in the affected counties, and 82,858 cable and wireline subscribers without service. Two TV and one FM stations were reported down; no AM stations were listed as out of service and one FM station redirected. The FCC also issued public notices on priority communications services and emergency contact procedures for licensees that need special temporary authority. The Public Safety Bureau issued a reminder for entities clearing debris and repairing utilities to avoid damaging communications infrastructure. Hurricane Debby became Tropical Storm Debby Sunday. T-Mobile issued a statement that they're working with FEMA and local emergency operations centers to prioritize restoration efforts.

The USF quarterly contribution factor for Q4 2024 will likely increase from 34.4% to 34.6%, analyst Billy Jack Gregg wrote in an email Saturday (see 2408020048). Gregg said overall projected demand will jump by $6.7 million to $2.114 billion, caused by increases in demand for the rural health and E-rate programs. Gregg also noted that annual revenue in 2023 was the lowest in USF history.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Appeals Court affirmed a lower court ruling Friday in response to Core Communications' appeal against AT&T concerning an access service charges dispute (docket 23-3022). The district court "gave effect to the plain and unambiguous terms of the tariff," the ruling said, and Core's "right to fees thereunder have been left entirely undisturbed." The court said that Core may recover such fees "to the extent that Core provides services covered by the tariff" (see 2405230009). "In this case, however, as the district court correctly concluded, Core did not provide such covered services," the ruling said.