Mescalero Apache Telecom petitioned the FCC to let the carrier show it qualifies for relief from operations expense (opex) limitations under an April order giving tribal-oriented carriers additional USF subsidy support. Mescalero sought to reconsider a prohibition against carriers receiving the extra funding if they deploy 10/1 Mbps broadband to 90 percent or more of tribal housing units. The tribal telco asked "that, consistent with steps the Commission has taken with respect to other high-cost program rules limiting support based on Form 477 deployment data, carriers subject to the 90 percent condition be permitted to submit additional information" to get relief, said a petition Wednesday in docket 10-90. In April, Chairman Ajit Pai and tribal representatives voiced concern the order prevented Mescalero from receiving further funding (see 1804050028 and 1804060042). Mescalero recently lobbied an aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, who sought conditions (see 1805230043). Sacred Wind Communications also filed a petition, asking the FCC Thursday to reconsider the 90 percent cap, and if not, its determination that Sacred Wind is ineligible for relief.
Industry supported a proposed Alaska USF revamp that would sunset the revised AUSF after June 30, 2023, with a comprehensive review to begin by June 30, 2021. At a teleconferenced hearing Wednesday, officials for General Communication, Alaska Communications Systems and other providers largely supported the Regulatory Commission of Alaska proposal based on a plan by the Alaska Telephone Association (see 1805090027). Commissioner Robert Pickett doesn’t like parts of the proposal, including its definition of “remote” and capping the revenue-based USF surcharge at 10 percent rather than 9 percent, but “collectively” finds the plan “somewhat workable.” The Alaska Attorney General Regulatory Affairs and Public Advocacy (RAPA) section recommended clarifying some language in Tuesday comments in docket R-18-001. RAPA doesn’t seek a specific rule addressing an “eroding intrastate contribution base,” but said “the possibility of shifting to a connections-based contribution base needs to be studied through future Commission, industry, and RAPA actions including possible workshops and studies.” Rural providers agree contributions reform is a critical state and federal issue and support looking at connections-based reform in a separate docket, said Moss & Barnett attorney Shannon Heim, representing a coalition of rural carriers. Heim is “unconvinced that there are enough connections in Alaska to make that type of methodology actually work here,” she said. Written comments are due June 15.
U.S. Virgin Islands Public Service Commissioner Johann Clendenin welcomed additional USF funding for his territory in an FCC order and NPRM, which also targets Puerto Rico for funding to restore and improve communications networks damaged by hurricanes (see 1805290028). The U.S. Virgin Islands received "an outpouring" of "significant" support from "the personal efforts of responders who have spent months in relief and recovery efforts," he emailed. "Now in the mitigation phase, the leadership of [FCC] Chairman [Ajit] Pai and his Disaster Team led by Michael Carowitz has enabled a significant opportunity for our critical telecommunications providers to build a more resilient infrastructure." He also cited the "tireless efforts" of Gov. Kenneth Mapp (I) "to articulate the circumstances of our insular Territory" to the federal government. "Together with our congressional Delegate Stacey Plaskett [(D)], a comprehensive framework of assistance is being brought to bear on the myriad challenges to our economy as we seek to emerge stronger from the chaos of the 2017 hurricane season and now prepare for the [imminent] arrival of the 2018 season," he said. Others we queried didn't comment Wednesday. Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón, New Progressive Party, tweeted her thanks Tuesday to the FCC for approving Pai's proposal to target her island with $750 million in assistance. NTIA Administrator David Redl applauded Pai and the FCC in a tweet for providing near-term funding and "establishing long-term funds to rebuild, improve and expand broadband networks on the islands."
Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr highlighted importance of broadband connectivity to precision agriculture processes in a Tuesday opinion piece on the Norfolk (Nebraska) Daily News website meant to coincide with Carr’s visit to the state as part of his Great Plains broadband tour (see 1805250060). Carr and Fischer toured a precision agriculture program at Norfolk’s Northeast Community College after Carr visited officials of startup Quantified Ag at a feedlot in Milford. Carr and Fischer highlighted the Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act (S-2343) and FCC proposed modifications to the USF high-cost program and other broadband connectivity work, as available tools to “help deploy broadband services and expand network accessibility, especially in hard-to-reach, rural areas.” S-2343 would establish a task force to identify internet connectivity gaps in agricultural areas. It would require the agency develop ways to help encourage broadband adoption and precision agriculture in unserved areas (see 1801250059). The Senate Commerce Committee advanced the bill in April (see 1804250048).
Rural telcos asked the FCC to increase their USF support and take other steps to ensure subsidy flows meet statutory mandates and help carriers improve broadband service. Tribal groups said the agency had to do more to support tribal carrier broadband efforts and operations expenses. But NCTA opposed proposals to increase Connect America Fund spending for rate-of-return (RoR) telcos without offsets, and both it and the Wireless ISP Association suggesting using reverse auctions to award some support. Comments on an NPRM attached to an order providing $545 million in new support for RLECs (see 1803230025) were posted Friday and Tuesday in docket 10-90.
The FCC approved enhanced USF support for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help them recover from 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria, as expected (see 1803060039). Commissioners voted 4-1 May 8 to adopt an order and NPRM, which was released Tuesday, with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel partially dissenting and departing Commissioner Mignon Clyburn participating. The agency will make available $750 million in subsidies through an "Uniendo a (Bringing Together) Puerto Rico Fund" and $204 million through a "Connect USVI Fund." About $256 million of it is additional funding, the rest repurposed; and about $64 million will be provided immediately and almost $900 million over the mid-to-long term.
It’s premature to revamp Indiana USF, the telecom industry said in a settlement agreement last week at the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The state regulator March 21 opened its triennial review process for the state USF in docket 45064, with questions including if VoIP should contribute to IUSF and if the fund should support broadband deployment. IUSF is accomplishing universal service objectives and the fund's operation and administration is "adequate and efficient" for contributors and recipients, said the joint filing Thursday by the Indiana Exchange Carrier Association, the Indiana Broadband and Technology Association, CenturyLink and Frontier Communications. “As it remains too soon to determine the full impact of the FCC’s comprehensive USF and ICC reform, the Commission should issue an Order concluding this triennial review and maintaining the status quo with respect to the IUSF.”
Whether voicemail and directory listing services are subject to state USF and other surcharges is outside the scope of the California Public Utilities Commission’s proceeding on whether text messaging is subject to surcharges, CPUC Administrative Law Judge Zita Kline ruled Friday. The ALJ granted the motion to strike by consumer groups in docket 17-06-023. The California Cable and Telecommunications Association asked to include the other services and Wednesday opposed consumer groups’ motion to remove them. Reply briefs are due June 5 in the overall proceeding, the ALJ said Wednesday. In a brief earlier this month, CTIA said text messaging is an information service and thus not subject to surcharges. In February, CPUC staff said text messaging should be surcharged (see 1802210048).
Almost 70 groups asked the FCC to reconsider Lifeline USF proposals that would "weaken" the low-income telecom subsidy program and cause "irreparable harm" to consumers, especially seniors. "Lifeline helps older, low-income Americans find and keep a job, get help in the case of an emergency, to access news and information, and to keep in touch with families, educators and health providers," said a filing Wednesday in docket 17-287 by AARP, United Church of Christ Office of Communication and others. "According to one major provider, nearly a third of Lifeline customers are over the age of 55, and 36 percent are disabled." The groups objected to a proposal to exclude pure resellers and voiced concerns "about the implications of mandatory co-pays and an automatic self-executing budget cap," particularly during the next economic downturn: "Rationing Lifeline benefits and limiting service providers will harm older adults in the U.S., who are already struggling. The FCC must keep the Lifeline program’s focus on people and maintain affordable voice and broadband service for all." Consumer Action, one of the groups, further criticized the Lifeline proposals and noted FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was in South Carolina Thursday. Pai "talks a good game about closing the digital divide, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that nothing he has put on the table would offset the estimated 92,000 people in South Carolina who would lose cell phone or broadband service if the FCC proceeds with the Chairman’s attempts to radically reshape the Lifeline program," said Executive Director Ken McEldowney. An FCC spokeswoman emailed in response to Consumer Action: "This false and ridiculous claim is based on a series of inaccurate assumptions, most notably that no Lifeline participants would switch to a facilities-based provider. Chairman Pai has made it clear that Lifeline is an important program for helping to close the digital divide. It’s therefore important that the FCC take steps to reduce the well-documented waste, fraud, and abuse within the program. Every Lifeline dollar that is wasted is by definition a dollar that can’t be spent connecting low-income Americans with digital opportunity.” The FCC "is working to promote the benefits of broadband service among older Americans," blogged Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Chief Patrick Webre, who said the bureau "is increasing its outreach efforts to seniors, engaging with partners such as the American Library Association in a campaign to help older Americans 'Get Connected.'" The bureau is also launching a "Getting Connected to Broadband" webpage "with seniors in mind while including information relevant to all generations."
Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri met with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on spectrum issues, including the 3.5 GHz citizens broadband service band (see 1805220034 and 1805230013), said a filing in docket 14-177. Suri and Rick Corker, Nokia president North America, also met with Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel. “Innovative spectrum policies [have] unlocked the potential of gigabits of spectrum, including the 3.5 GHz and mmWave bands,” the filing said. “The Commission should move more quickly to get those spectrum bands into the market via auction so that they can be put to use. The Nokia Executives asked that the Commission expedite auctioning mid-band and mmWave spectrum bands, and hold auctions that cover more than one band at a time, which will speed deployment of 5G services to American consumers.” The executives stressed the importance of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band “as the centerpiece for nationwide 5G deployment.” A proposal by Intelsat and SES "to unlock only 100 MHz of spectrum for 5G over 3 years is not sufficient to meet the needs of wireless operators, or to keep the U.S. competitive with the emerging 5G plans in China, Japan and Korea,” they said. They encouraged the FCC to approve this year proposals for spectrum access system administrators in the 3.5 GHz band (see 1805220065), including the telecom manufacturer's SAS submission. As the regulator tries to prevent USF from funding equipment that threatens national security, the firm asked it "not be used to cast uncertainty on the entire industry, including longstanding, well-vetted partners of U.S. government and industry."