Localities, Others Oppose Positive ATC Finding Based on Mobile; Telcos, Cable Cite Progress
Localities and others urged the FCC not to find advanced telecom capability (ATC) is being adequately deployed based on weakened standards, including that mobile service is a sufficient substitute for faster, fixed service. Large industry parties continued to support a finding that broadband-like ATC is being deployed in "reasonable and timely fashion" to all Americans pursuant to a Telecom Act Section 706 mandate. Replies on a notice of inquiry were posted last week and Tuesday in docket 17-199 (see 1709220034, 1709250009 and 1709210061). Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel recently voiced alarm the FCC might soften its current ATC speed benchmark by deciding 10/1 Mbps mobile service is an adequate substitute for 25/3 Mbps fixed service (see 1709200042).
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"Local governments strongly oppose any Section 706 Report that would erroneously conclude that American communities and consumers are adequately served by the presence of either fixed or mobile broadband," said Boston; Portland, Oregon; Anne Arundel County, Maryland; and the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission of Oregon. They said "robust wired and wireless access" are both needed, and "any effort to consider lower speed metrics to be 'good enough' should also be abandoned." They also chastised "contradictory" broadband provider efforts to tout deployment "successes" in the proceeding while calling localities "obstacles" in infrastructure proceedings, saying the agency "should not be fooled." NATOA agreed with a letter from 45 Democratic U.S. senators and representatives voicing concern about lowering the 25/3 Mbps benchmark (see 1709190033).
The Entertainment Software Association said "ATC requires access to both fixed and mobile broadband capability," the fixed benchmark should be at least 25/3 Mbps, and "non-speed network performance characteristics -- especially latency" should be incorporated into the commission's standards. Concerned that mobile wireless broadband upload speeds be sufficient for alarm-monitoring services, ADT urged the FCC not to conclude that 1 Mbps upstream is adequate. New America's Open Technology Institute (here), the Communications Workers of America (here), and Georgia Tech's Center for Advanced Communications Policy and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Inclusive Technologies (here) said the mandate should require the presence of both mobile and fixed ATC. The California Public Utilities Commission filed late initial comments urging the FCC to keep its 25/3 Mbps fixed benchmark and not declare wireless a substitute.
Telco and cable parties continued to paint a positive picture. Several said the FCC's job was to measure progress, not to examine whether all Americans have ATC. Many commenters agree both fixed and mobile ATC "are being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion," said AT&T, urging the agency to reclassify broadband as a Communications Act Title II service. A report with "useful information on the incremental progress of broadband deployment would be much more valuable than the results-oriented and agenda-driven exercise engaged in by the previous Commission," said Comcast. It agreed the ATC mandate was being met and said the agency should focus on promoting broadband, especially in unserved areas.
CTIA said mobile deployment continues to be reasonable and timely. Commenters back "an evaluation of whether mobile wireless services are meeting consumers’ expanding needs, not whether such services achieve arbitrary benchmark levels," the group said. Mobile Future said advanced telecom services are being deployed adequately, "particularly" mobile services.
The FCC should keep its 25/3 fixed benchmark and act to promote rural deployment, NTCA said. The Fiber Broadband Association said the commission should measure progress by whether all-fiber networks are being deployed adequately, but the Wireless ISP Association opposed that. Hughes Network Systems (here) and WorldVu Satellites (here) plugged satellite broadband.
Educational and library groups urged the FCC to ensure its E-rate program promotes broadband to schools and libraries. The Schools, Health & Libraries Coalition also called for spurring broadband to rural healthcare clinics. Tribal interests said ATC wasn't being deployed adequately to their communities.