FCC Seeks to Clarify Form 477, HUBB Reporting; Telcos Concerned About Process to Update Data
The FCC offered guidance on the Form 477 and broadband reporting duties of carriers receiving high-cost USF support. The commission in 2016 directed Universal Service Administrative Co. to develop an online system for receiving high-cost carriers' broadband location information and…
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certifications, now called High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB). A Wireline Bureau public notice in docket 10-90 Thursday provided additional guidance and clarifications to carriers on reporting certain details: the "effect of corrected Form 477 data on Connect America Fund-Broadband Loop Support carrier deployment obligations," the "process to demonstrate there are fewer than the required number of locations or that a carrier is fully deployed" and "ongoing HUBB reporting obligations." Major telcos expressed concerns about the process for updating HUBB information, said a USTelecom filing posted Wednesday on a meeting representatives of the group, AT&T, CenturyLink, Frontier Communications, Verizon, Windstream had with FCC and USAC staffers: "We discussed the need to permit providers to make automated updates, including dropping locations, to previously submitted information. The current suggested process of emailing USAC personnel with a detailed explanation for every dropped location who, in turn, will forward that email to FCC staff for their review and approval, is not workable at scale." The officials also discussed approaches to rationalize legacy obligations and USF support with a CAF II broadband auction looming. CenturyLink wasn't able to make certain data changes due to "HUBB portal restrictions," said the telco's filing posted Thursday in docket 14-58. USTelecom and CenturyLink didn't comment Thursday on the PN.