Commissioners 4-0 OK'd a public notice Thursday designating innovation zones for experimental licenses in Raleigh and Boston, while expanding New York City's, as expected (see 2108030052). Commissioner Geoffrey Starks urged the FCC to provide licensed spectrum for drones. The Raleigh zone is focused on unmanned aircraft systems.
Oklahoma adopted a connections-based contribution method for state USF on an interim basis Thursday. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission voted 2-0, with a concerned third commissioner abstaining, for a proposed order to replace the 6.28% revenue-based monthly fee with a $1.14 per connection surcharge. In Texas, state senators are pushing Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and the Public Utility Commission to act before rates spike for rural customers. Alaska, California and Oregon are mulling changes.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., floated a last-minute bid Thursday to kill a $42.5 billion NTIA-led broadband equity, access and deployment grants program included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and redirect it to the FCC for similar purposes. The amendment appears unlikely to get a floor vote, in line with expectations on other GOP bids to strike or pare back the $65 billion broadband section of the infrastructure substitute to shell bill HR-3684 (see 2108040072).
FCC commissioners approved 4-0 an NPRM on modifying compensation methodology for IP relay service supported by the Telecom Relay Service Fund. It’s the first time in 14 years the commission is considering such new TRS methodology. The current IP relay compensation period ends June 30.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., and Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., believe it’s unlikely the chamber will hold votes on more amendments aimed at striking or paring back language in the $65 billion broadband section of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act filed as a substitute amendment to shell bill HR-3684 (see 2108020061), they told us Wednesday. Senators voted 43-55 Wednesday against one such amendment from Wicker.
FTC Chair Lina Khan’s open meeting approach is drawing the ire of some Senate Republicans. Judiciary Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told us he stands by his vote for Khan’s confirmation. Last week, Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; John Cornyn, R-Texas; Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.; and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., wrote Khan expressing concerns about the “FTC’s level of transparency.” They drew attention to the lack of opportunity for public comment leading to recent party-line votes (see 2107210061 and 2107010081).
Some FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction bidders that received letters allowing them to withdraw certain bids without penalties said in recent interviews they plan to keep their provisionally won bids (see 2107260044). One big RDOF winner, LTD Broadband, told us it may take up the agency on its request. Experts said RDOF Phase II may not start for months as a result.
Inmate calling service providers rejected proposed California limits on intrastate rates and some fees. The California Public Utilities Commission received comments Monday on an interim order, up for a possible Aug. 19 vote, that would include a cap of 7 cents per minute on intrastate rates for debit, prepaid and collect calls (see 2107130047). Consumer groups supported the plan and urged the CPUC to next seek ways to reduce video call and text-messaging costs. Also, the CPUC teed up implementation of the state’s $6 billion broadband law.
Lumen agreed to sell its incumbent LEC business in 20 states to Apollo Global Management for $7.5 billion including debt assumption, the telco announced Tuesday. The carrier would retain its ILEC assets in 16 states, plus its national fiber routes and competitive LEC networks. See our earlier news bulletin about this transaction here.
FCC commissioners are expected to OK a public notice designating new innovation zones for experimental licenses in Raleigh and Boston 4-0 Thursday. The PN hasn’t been controversial and is said to be likely to be approved largely as circulated by acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The draft notice also proposes to expand the New York City zone.