The FCC declared a Connect America Fund Phase I challenge process concluded for 185 previously unidentified census blocks in Virginia served by Consolidated Communications' FairPoint. The commission invited challenges to determine if unsubsidized competitors served any of the 185 census blocks with data speeds of at least 3 Mbps downstream and 768 kbps upstream as of April 27 (see 1804300027). "Having received no challenges, we now conclude this process and direct the Universal Service Administrative Company not to recover the support associated with the previously unidentified census blocks, to the extent that FairPoint has otherwise satisfied its deployment obligations with respect to those blocks," said a Wireline Bureau public notice in Wednesday docket 10-90.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) asked for FCC help to free up $32.4 million in E-rate discounts that she said is being withheld from her state by Universal Service Administrative Co. "Payments have been held for fifteen months, no new funding commitments are being issued, and nearly six months have passed since USAC requested information from Alabama," she told Chairman Ajit Pai in a letter posted Tuesday in docket 13-184. "USAC has not provided any rationale or justification for withholding the E-rate payments." Alabama is concerned about the delays affecting 1,376 school and library sites and 692,515 students that rely on E-rate discounts, she said. The FCC is reviewing the letter, said a spokesman Wednesday. USAC and Ivey's office didn't comment.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) asked for FCC help to free up $32.4 million in E-rate discounts that she said is being withheld from her state by Universal Service Administrative Co. "Payments have been held for fifteen months, no new funding commitments are being issued, and nearly six months have passed since USAC requested information from Alabama," she told Chairman Ajit Pai in a letter posted Tuesday in docket 13-184. "USAC has not provided any rationale or justification for withholding the E-rate payments." Alabama is concerned about the delays affecting 1,376 school and library sites and 692,515 students that rely on E-rate discounts, she said. The FCC is reviewing the letter, said a spokesman Wednesday. USAC and Ivey's office didn't comment.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposed hiking a USF Rural Health Care cap by 43 percent, from $400 million to $571 million per year, to reflect inflation since program inception in 1997. He circulated a draft order to increase the cap for the current (2017) funding year ending June 30, index the program for inflation going forward and allow unused funds from prior years to be carried forward to future years, said a release Wednesday. It noted recent demand exceeded the budget, creating uncertainty for participants. Rural healthcare (RHC) and telco interests welcomed the announcement.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposed hiking a USF Rural Health Care cap by 43 percent, from $400 million to $571 million per year, to reflect inflation since program inception in 1997. He circulated a draft order to increase the cap for the current (2017) funding year ending June 30, index the program for inflation going forward and allow unused funds from prior years to be carried forward to future years, said a release Wednesday. It noted recent demand exceeded the budget, creating uncertainty for participants. Rural healthcare (RHC) and telco interests welcomed the announcement.

The FCC proposal to bar USF spending on products or services from companies seen as posing a national security risk is meeting with mixed reaction, with disagreements about whether rules should be limited to USF-funded equipment and services or should have broader reach, recent docket 18-89 comments show. Huawei called the rulemaking launched in April (see 1804170038) an "improper and imprudent" blacklist, and some critics questioned the efficacy of the proposed approach. Comments were due Friday, replies July 2.

The FCC proposal to bar USF spending on products or services from companies seen as posing a national security risk is meeting with mixed reaction, with disagreements about whether rules should be limited to USF-funded equipment and services or should have broader reach, recent docket 18-89 comments show. Huawei called the rulemaking launched in April (see 1804170038) an "improper and imprudent" blacklist, and some critics questioned the efficacy of the proposed approach. Comments were due Friday, replies July 2.

The FCC said Friday that as of May 31, 64 entities had access to the Universal Service Administrator Co.'s Mobility Fund Phase II challenge process portal to participate in the process, two days after Chairman Ajit Pai said he would extend the challenge period. Parties with access include 37 carriers required to file Form 477 data, seven state governments, six local governments, 11 tribal government entities and three "other" entities, said a public notice. The Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force and Wireless and Wireline bureaus said they will provide further updates. Pai told lawmakers he backed extending a challenge process window by 90 days for the $4.53 billion Connect America Fund Mobility Fund II, and he directed the task force "to figure out the procedural steps necessary" to do that. "By lengthening the period during which challenges can be submitted, challengers will have an opportunity to conduct additional tests, which in turn means a more accurate map for carrying out the Mobility Fund Phase II auction," Pai wrote, responding Wednesday to a bipartisan letter the same day from Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and 29 Senate colleagues posted Thursday (exchange here).

The FCC said Friday that as of May 31, 64 entities had access to the Universal Service Administrator Co.'s Mobility Fund Phase II challenge process portal to participate in the process, two days after Chairman Ajit Pai said he would extend the challenge period. Parties with access include 37 carriers required to file Form 477 data, seven state governments, six local governments, 11 tribal government entities and three "other" entities, said a public notice. The Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force and Wireless and Wireline bureaus said they will provide further updates. Pai told lawmakers he backed extending a challenge process window by 90 days for the $4.53 billion Connect America Fund Mobility Fund II, and he directed the task force "to figure out the procedural steps necessary" to do that. "By lengthening the period during which challenges can be submitted, challengers will have an opportunity to conduct additional tests, which in turn means a more accurate map for carrying out the Mobility Fund Phase II auction," Pai wrote, responding Wednesday to a bipartisan letter the same day from Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and 29 Senate colleagues posted Thursday (exchange here).

Two more IP captioned telephone service providers opposed a draft order's cuts in their compensation rate, though they suggested smaller cuts as a backup. CaptionCall said the FCC shouldn't reduce a $1.95 per minute rate by 10 percent in each of the next two funding years -- to $1.75 on July 1, and to $1.58 on July 1, 2019 -- but the Sorenson Communications subsidiary floated a $1.75 rate for two years if the agency insists on an interim rate. ClearCaptions suggested $1.85 for FY 2018-19 and $1.75 for FY 2019-20. Hamilton previously offered a $1.75 rate for both years (see 1805250056). The draft seeks to reduce IP CTS funding approaching $1 billion per year.