The FCC Wireline Bureau announced Monday that some census block groups are now available for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and other program support following Lumen defaults in four states. The bureau said Lumen will be subject to penalties as a result, including loss of further RDOF auction support payments in New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming for defaulting on its service milestones. Lumen remains subject to program rules for the census blocks it defaulted on in Colorado. The bureau also referred Lumen's defaults to the Enforcement Bureau for further consideration.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel noted work the agency has done in recent months that addresses broadband for students following the loss of the emergency connectivity fund and affordable connectivity program in a Monday speech. Speaking to the Consortium of State School Boards Association, Rosenworcel mentioned a July FCC order that lets schools and libraries use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi and an order from 2023 allowing use of E-rate to support school bus Wi-Fi, both of which have been challenged in court (see 2408300027). She also discussed a three-year, $200 million cybersecurity pilot program for schools and libraries that commissioners approved in June (see 2406060043). Republican commissioners dissented on all three items. “Every child needs internet access at home to really thrive,” Rosenworcel said: “This was not true when I was growing up. I didn’t need the internet for homework. All I needed was paper, a pencil, and my brother leaving me alone.” Rosenworcel warned that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' recent 9-7 en banc decision that found the USF contribution factor is a "misbegotten tax” that could undermine FCC education efforts (see 2408140055). The 5th Circuit decision “is misguided and wrong,” she said. “It reflects a lack of understanding of the statutory scheme that helped create the world’s best and most far-reaching communications network” and “that is why we are asking the Supreme Court to overturn” the decision.
The FCC has rejected proposed caps on or phase-in of increased regulatory fees for space and earth station fee payers for FY 2024. In its FY 2024 regulatory fees order in Monday's Daily Digest, the agency said a cap or phase-in would mean more regulatory fees on all other regulatory fee payers, though they don't get the benefit of additional Space Bureau staff devoted to oversight and regulation of satellites. Members of the satellite industry issued multiple calls for phasing in the fee hikes stemming from establishing the Space Bureau (see 2407300027).
California should shut down AT&T’s deregulation bid, consumer groups argued in briefs to the California Public Utilities Commission Friday. After denying AT&T relief from carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations in June (2406200065), the state commission is weighing AT&T’s separate application to relinquish its eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation (docket A.23-03-002). AT&T claimed that the CPUC has no choice but to grant the application for statewide relief.
With Congress back for a three-week sprint before Election Day, Competitive Carriers Association CEO Tim Donovan remains convinced lawmakers will fully fund a program that removes unsecure gear from U.S. networks. In an interview, Donovan also said he expects at least some groups will seek reconsideration of the FCC’s recent order creating a 5G Fund.
Disney's demand for a "clean slate" provision and a covenant not to sue in its retransmission consent negotiations should be declared bad-faith negotiating, DirecTV told the FCC in a complaint filed Sunday. DirecTV also indicated another complaint, about Disney's bundling demands, could follow.
Petitions to deny Skydance’s proposed $8 billion purchase of Paramount Global and its 28 CBS-owned TV stations are due Oct. 7 in docket 24-275, said an FCC public notice Friday establishing a pleading cycle for filings on the deal. Oppositions to the petitions are due Oct. 27, replies Nov. 1. Announced in July (see 2407080025), the transaction isn’t expected to run into regulatory hurdles. Paramount has said the deal is expected to close by September 2025.
The FCC Wireline Bureau reminded recipients of funds through the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program that they must file their next status update on or before Oct. 7. The notice was posted on Friday in docket 18-89.
The Pennsylvania Prison Society asked the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to vacate and set aside some of the FCC's order on incarcerated people's communications services. In a protective petition filed Thursday (docket 24-2647), the group challenged the FCC's decision regarding whether IPCS providers can recover certain safety and security costs in their rates (see 2408230012). It filed a protective petition for review because "PPS believes that only the portion" of the order was published in the Federal Register and is currently reviewable. The portion of the order PPS is challenging has not been published yet. "In the event this or another court deems the entire order to be reviewable at this time, this protective petition for review would be operative," PPS said in its petition.
Comments are due Oct. 7, replies Nov. 5, in docket 17-258, on an August NPRM from the FCC asking about further changes to rules for the citizens broadband radio service band, said a Friday notice in the Federal Register. The FCC adopted initial CBRS rules in 2015, launching a three-tier model for sharing 3.5 GHz spectrum, while protecting naval radars. The NPRM explores further changes (see 2408160031).