Big ISPs warned the California Public Utilities Commission that proposed price and speed requirements could discourage participation in a $2 billion last-mile federal funding account (FFA) required by the state’s $6 billion broadband law. Consumer and local government groups debated how best to prioritize funds in other comments posted Tuesday and Wednesday on a proposed decision (PD) up for vote at the commission’s April 7 meeting (see 2203020062).
The California Public Utilities Commission may vote April 21 on a state LifeLine proposed decision to implement a 2021 law to require various LifeLine enrollment and recertification processes, and adopt other staff recommendations. The Monday proposal in docket R.20-02-008 would eliminate "use of a PIN for all renewals completed through database matching and for all participants with personal identification information on file as of the date the renewals suspension concludes," and "implement recertification without a Commission-issued PIN for participants without a database match or personal identification information on file by" Dec. 31, 2023. Also in the LifeLine docket Monday, Administrative Law Judge Stephanie Wang sought comment on a staff proposal on interaction among California LifeLine, federal Lifeline and the federal affordable connectivity program. Comments are due April 14, replies April 28. Wang asked if staff is right that the $30 ACP subsidy provides affordable wireless and broadband without needing a California LifeLine subsidy, and that minimum prices for wireline voice and broadband bundles meeting federal Lifeline minimum service standards “generally exceed” combined ACP, Lifeline and LifeLine support. Wang also wants feedback on other aspects of staff’s plan, including a proposal to use ACP subsidies to reduce state costs and use savings to expand access to voice-broadband bundles, and a suggestion to set a LifeLine specific support amount of zero dollars to wireless service plans that receive an ACP subsidy but keep the current SSA for wireline plans even if they get an ACP subsidy.
Verizon subsidiary Tracfone's ability to offer the FCC affordable connectivity program monthly discount for all services "is a particularly heavy lift," the carrier said as it sought a 60-day waiver of the program requirement. Tracfone's systems "are not designed to apply a discount ... and then assess the remaining post-discount amount to the customer," Verizon said , in a petition posted Tuesday in docket 21-450. The provider "does not have that capability because it historically has not offered discounts." Tracfone would need "several weeks" to test those systems. Verizon noted Tracfone "has enrolled over 270,000 new ACP-eligible consumers" so far.
Emergency broadband benefit and affordable connectivity program spending often goes more toward upgrading existing wireline ISP subscribers’ services than toward bringing connectivity to the unconnected, ISPs and digital equity interests told us. The FCC didn't comment.
Industry disagreed whether the FCC should pause some of its high-cost Universal Service Fund programs amid the recent $65 billion federal broadband support from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, in reply comments posted Friday in docket 21-476 (see 2202180046). Others debated whether to expand the fund's contribution base or turn to direct congressional appropriations. The FCC sought comments on USF's future as part of its report to Congress due by Aug. 12.
The National Lifeline Association asked the FCC Wireline Bureau to clarify that its and the Enforcement Bureau's authority to "suspend a participating provider's [affordable connectivity program] enrollments and hold participating provider funding based on the 'adequate evidence' standard is limited," said a petition for reconsideration and clarification posted Thursday in docket 21-450. The authority "should be a last resort to be invoked," NaLa said, asking that "minor infractions or improper payments" don't result in such a penalty. NaLa also sought reconsideration of the requirement that participating providers offering a connected device "provide price information for at least one of the analogous devices from a major retailer." It asked that providers be allowed to provide two retail prices from any retailer to substantiate their claim for market value.
Industry and advocates asked the FCC for some flexibility in its affordable connectivity program outreach grants and to prioritize nonprofit organizations, in comments posted Thursday in docket 21-450. The FCC also sought comments on its proposed pilot program to boost enrollment among households in public housing communities and on how to determine eligibility for an up to $75 monthly benefit for households living in high-cost areas.
Cox will double the download speed of its low-cost ConnectAssist and Connect2Compete broadband programs to 100 Mbps at month's end, it said Wednesday. The upgrade comes at no additional cost, it said. It said it's expanding eligibility for the low-cost broadband to meet Affordable Connectivity Program criteria.
Staff at state commissions pushed forward USF update efforts. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is seeking comment and plans a meeting soon on draft legislation to update Oklahoma USF (OUSF) into a broadband-focused subsidy, the OCC emailed stakeholders Monday. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) posted a staff proposal Friday to use Alaska USF (AUSF) to close the digital divide in places where voice remains the primary form of telecom access. The Oregon Public Utility Commission plans to post a state USF proposal within a week, it said Monday.
The FCC Wireline Bureau warned providers participating in the affordable connectivity program against engaging in “improper enrollment tactics” identified by the Office of Inspector General in its March advisory on ACP and Lifeline-eligible consumers, said a public notice Friday in docket 21-450. Providers "must immediately stop using deceptive language, bring their application processes into compliance, and give consumers a choice as to which program benefit or benefits they wish to apply to their broadband service," the notice said. The bureau will refer any potential violations to the Enforcement Bureau and directed the Universal Service Administrative Co. to "conduct program integrity reviews" of enrollment and onboarding practices of Lifeline providers participating in ACP.