The FCC Wireline Bureau revealed details of its...

technologies such as cable, fiber, DSL, or fixed wireless providers like WISPs,” check if they provide voice and then publish a list of census blocks lacking an unsubsidized provider and eligible for CAF, bureau Chief Julie Veach explained in an FCC blog post Thursday (http://fcc.us/109gerU). She described a challenge framework intended to “expedite resolution of disputes” that “includes collecting specific and consistent information, on a form, of facts and evidence ranging from census tract identifiers to advertisements for service and customer data.” The bureau plans to collect challenges, review them and issue public notices seeking any rebuttals, she said. The challenge order was released and adopted Thursday (http://bit.ly/10VVOnG). “We particularly encourage state public utility commissions and broadband mapping authorities to participate in the challenge process and provide any information they believe to be relevant to our consideration of which census blocks should be eligible for the offer of Phase II model-based support,” it said. NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield judged these to be “significant developments in the continuing debate over how to create regulatory certainty and build a broadband future for consumers and businesses located in the most rural areas,” she said in a statement. “Given that the FCC is already implementing a broadband-oriented Connect America Fund for consumers in areas served by larger carriers, it’s encouraging to finally see progress toward tailored updates that would enable smaller carriers to also respond more effectively to the broadband demands of their customers.” She praised the “greater clarity” on the reporting requirements for companies. The American Cable Association also praised the order. “The FCC’s approach is particularly reasonable because it establishes a presumption that cable operators shown on the National Broadband Map to be offering broadband speeds of 3 Mbps/768 kbps in a census block and also offering voice service in that area satisfy the FCC’s other non-speed criteria for deeming an area as served,” said ACA President Matt Polka. “Price cap carriers then appropriately have the burden to prove that the cable operator’s service does not meet at least one of these criteria.”