Wireless industry officials plan to laud draft bills on siting and dig once policies that lawmakers circulated last week (see 1703170065), during a Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing. Congress must do even more, they will say, citing inaccurate broadband mapping data and deployment challenges. Witnesses will point to the need for addressing broadband as part of a bigger infrastructure package. The two draft bills involve the many siting provisions the subcommittee put together in 2015, collected in one text, and the dig once policies of the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act offered by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. These ideas typically enjoyed bipartisan support.

Wireless industry officials plan to laud draft bills on siting and dig once policies that lawmakers circulated last week (see 1703170065), during a Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing. Congress must do even more, they will say, citing inaccurate broadband mapping data and deployment challenges. Witnesses will point to the need for addressing broadband as part of a bigger infrastructure package. The two draft bills involve the many siting provisions the subcommittee put together in 2015, collected in one text, and the dig once policies of the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act offered by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. These ideas typically enjoyed bipartisan support.

House Commerce Committee Democrats introduced five broadband-focused bills Thursday, with one already sparking praise from the Competitive Carriers Association. “These bills from Democratic members of our committee will provide a better chance for those who need [broadband] most,” said Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., in a statement. He laid out his vision for the year’s agenda in January. Committee Democrats unveiled a mix of cybersecurity-focused measures earlier this month (see 1703020035).

House Commerce Committee Democrats introduced five broadband-focused bills Thursday, with one already sparking praise from the Competitive Carriers Association. “These bills from Democratic members of our committee will provide a better chance for those who need [broadband] most,” said Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., in a statement. He laid out his vision for the year’s agenda in January. Committee Democrats unveiled a mix of cybersecurity-focused measures earlier this month (see 1703020035).

A key House GOP appropriator resisted the spartan set of domestic spending priorities the Trump administration unveiled Thursday as part of its FY 2018 budget outline. The document offered by President Donald Trump confirmed public media supporters' fears that federal contributions for the CPB would be cut and sparked their widespread outcry. The chief House appropriator who oversees the CPB is interested in preserving the funding, he told us.

A key House GOP appropriator resisted the spartan set of domestic spending priorities the Trump administration unveiled Thursday as part of its FY 2018 budget outline. The document offered by President Donald Trump confirmed public media supporters' fears that federal contributions for the CPB would be cut and sparked their widespread outcry. The chief House appropriator who oversees the CPB is interested in preserving the funding, he told us.

Rural telcos said "illogical and inequitable" application of a USF budget control mechanism (BCM) is hindering rural telco broadband expansion. NTCA and other industry representatives targeted a Universal Service Administrative Co. calculation of reduced high-cost loop support (HCLS) under the BCM. For rate-of-return telcos subject to a "parent trap" rule, they said USAC was multiplying a per-line reduction amount by a carrier's total lines, including acquired lines not eligible for HCLS. "Acquired lines that are not eligible for HCLS have no impact on the demand for HCLS and overall rate-of-return carrier high-cost support, and thus have no bearing on the BCM being effectuated," said accounting firm Moss Adams' filings (here and here) posted Tuesday in docket 10-90 on meetings with aides to all three FCC commissioners and Wireline Bureau staffers. The rural telcos urged the FCC to "restore fairness" by ensuring the BCM per-line component isn't applied to HCLS-ineligible "parent-trapped lines." The officials also "discussed the unintended consequences that the Maximum Average Per Location Construction Project Loop Plant Investment Limitation (Limitation) of the Capital Investment Allowance for rate-of-return carriers may have on broadband investment and deployment," said the filing, which said the rule was eliminating all associated investment, not limiting excess investment. "We also discussed other general concerns that are causing confusion among rate-of-return carriers on the calculation of the Limitation and the additional accounting and regulatory burdens resulting from these calculations."

Rural telcos said "illogical and inequitable" application of a USF budget control mechanism (BCM) is hindering rural telco broadband expansion. NTCA and other industry representatives targeted a Universal Service Administrative Co. calculation of reduced high-cost loop support (HCLS) under the BCM. For rate-of-return telcos subject to a "parent trap" rule, they said USAC was multiplying a per-line reduction amount by a carrier's total lines, including acquired lines not eligible for HCLS. "Acquired lines that are not eligible for HCLS have no impact on the demand for HCLS and overall rate-of-return carrier high-cost support, and thus have no bearing on the BCM being effectuated," said accounting firm Moss Adams' filings (here and here) posted Tuesday in docket 10-90 on meetings with aides to all three FCC commissioners and Wireline Bureau staffers. The rural telcos urged the FCC to "restore fairness" by ensuring the BCM per-line component isn't applied to HCLS-ineligible "parent-trapped lines." The officials also "discussed the unintended consequences that the Maximum Average Per Location Construction Project Loop Plant Investment Limitation (Limitation) of the Capital Investment Allowance for rate-of-return carriers may have on broadband investment and deployment," said the filing, which said the rule was eliminating all associated investment, not limiting excess investment. "We also discussed other general concerns that are causing confusion among rate-of-return carriers on the calculation of the Limitation and the additional accounting and regulatory burdens resulting from these calculations."

NTCA urged prompt FCC action to address concerns about a USF "rate floor" that's having "continuing adverse effects" on consumers of rural telcos. "The rate floor policy yields no benefits with respect to managing universal service fund budgets, but at this point -- after several years of serial rate increases -- is only harmful and disruptive to rural consumers, especially given that the lack of affordable standalone broadband services makes it more difficult for those same rural consumers to cease purchasing voice service even as it becomes increasingly expensive," the rural telco group said in a filing posted Monday in docket 10-90 on a "follow-on" conversation with an aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly. NTCA said "an immediate pause to any further rate floor increase would only help rural consumers and afford the Commission reasonable time to consider on a more informed basis any next steps with respect to the policy."

NTCA urged prompt FCC action to address concerns about a USF "rate floor" that's having "continuing adverse effects" on consumers of rural telcos. "The rate floor policy yields no benefits with respect to managing universal service fund budgets, but at this point -- after several years of serial rate increases -- is only harmful and disruptive to rural consumers, especially given that the lack of affordable standalone broadband services makes it more difficult for those same rural consumers to cease purchasing voice service even as it becomes increasingly expensive," the rural telco group said in a filing posted Monday in docket 10-90 on a "follow-on" conversation with an aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly. NTCA said "an immediate pause to any further rate floor increase would only help rural consumers and afford the Commission reasonable time to consider on a more informed basis any next steps with respect to the policy."