Mulling effects of the FCC Lifeline order, the District of Columbia telecom regulator gave more time for comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) about changes required by the federal order adding broadband support to the low-income fund (see 1609260067). The comments were due Monday, but the D.C. Public Service Commission extended the deadline to Oct. 17, and reply comments to Oct. 31 from Oct. 17. “Due to the requirement that the rule changes required by the Lifeline Modernization Order be in effect by December 1, 2016, there can be no further extensions of time for this NOPR,” the commission said in the Friday notice. Meanwhile, the Kentucky Public Service Commission previewed changes to Lifeline in a news release Monday. "The PSC is currently examining the future of the Kentucky Universal Service Fund (KUSF), which provides the state portion of the Lifeline subsidy," the Kentucky commission said. "The KUSF had been rapidly depleted in recent years, prompting the PSC in March to temporarily increase the surcharge in order to keep the fund solvent while determining its long-term viability." Revenue from contributions to state USFs has declined in multiple jurisdictions, our July canvassing found (see 1607010010).

The FCC said two resources were issued to help rural rate-of-return telcos determine their capital investment allowances (CIA) for new broadband-oriented USF support mechanisms. Universal Service Administrative Co. "published illustrative results showing each carrier’s allowance had CIA ... been applied to each carrier’s 2015 investment," said a Wireline Bureau public notice in docket 10-90 and Monday's Daily Digest. It said USAC also published "a worksheet that allows a carrier to calculate the CIA based on its own inputs. Using this worksheet, a carrier may replicate the illustrative 2015 results, calculate its 2017 allowance, or test alternate investment plans." To help rural telcos decide whether to opt into model-based Connect America Fund subsidy support, the bureau in another public notice said it released a spreadsheet and other information (with links included) about unsubsidized competitors and broadband deployment in incumbent study areas.

Mulling effects of the FCC Lifeline order, the District of Columbia telecom regulator gave more time for comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) about changes required by the federal order adding broadband support to the low-income fund (see 1609260067). The comments were due Monday, but the D.C. Public Service Commission extended the deadline to Oct. 17, and reply comments to Oct. 31 from Oct. 17. “Due to the requirement that the rule changes required by the Lifeline Modernization Order be in effect by December 1, 2016, there can be no further extensions of time for this NOPR,” the commission said in the Friday notice. Meanwhile, the Kentucky Public Service Commission previewed changes to Lifeline in a news release Monday. "The PSC is currently examining the future of the Kentucky Universal Service Fund (KUSF), which provides the state portion of the Lifeline subsidy," the Kentucky commission said. "The KUSF had been rapidly depleted in recent years, prompting the PSC in March to temporarily increase the surcharge in order to keep the fund solvent while determining its long-term viability." Revenue from contributions to state USFs has declined in multiple jurisdictions, our July canvassing found (see 1607010010).

The FCC said two resources were issued to help rural rate-of-return telcos determine their capital investment allowances (CIA) for new broadband-oriented USF support mechanisms. Universal Service Administrative Co. "published illustrative results showing each carrier’s allowance had CIA ... been applied to each carrier’s 2015 investment," said a Wireline Bureau public notice in docket 10-90 and Monday's Daily Digest. It said USAC also published "a worksheet that allows a carrier to calculate the CIA based on its own inputs. Using this worksheet, a carrier may replicate the illustrative 2015 results, calculate its 2017 allowance, or test alternate investment plans." To help rural telcos decide whether to opt into model-based Connect America Fund subsidy support, the bureau in another public notice said it released a spreadsheet and other information (with links included) about unsubsidized competitors and broadband deployment in incumbent study areas.

Three million people, 575,000 square miles of area and 750,000 road miles in the U.S. have no 4G LTE coverage or only coverage from a carrier receiving universal service support, said Jon Wilkins, chief of the Wireless Bureau, as the FCC released numbers Friday, based on Form 477 data. “These are the areas where our analysis shows there is a clear need for an ongoing subsidy to either expand 4G LTE coverage or continue coverage on a subsidized basis.” The FCC is starting to work on a new phase of a mobility fund. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told the Competitive Carriers Association annual meeting recently (see 1609200058) the release was coming and would show a mobility fund is necessary since too many locations remain unserved by LTE. Wilkins said the data is much improved over what was available to the FCC when it launched the initial mobility fund. “Our analysis shows that just under one and a half million people, approximately 470,000 square miles, and 550,000 miles of road in the U.S. do not have 4G LTE coverage," Wilkins said in a blog post. "We can overlay the actual area coverage data with publicly available data on universal service subsidies to determine at a sub-census block level where 4G LTE service is available only from a provider receiving support -- an indication that continuing support for service in those areas is needed.” It’s a positive development that the Wireless Bureau acknowledges the need to support mobile broadband through the USF, said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. As the FCC works toward a new mobility fund, it should “prioritize expanding service nationwide without stranding thousands of rural Americans who rely on service that is currently provided through USF support,” he said. “To meet Congress’s mandate of ‘reasonably comparable services in urban and rural areas,’ seamless wireless service must be available from a consumer’s carrier of choice to reach critical public safety services including 911.” The Form 477 data isn’t the “last word” on service availability, with Wheeler and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn urging more-accurate and comprehensive measurements using the latest technologies and methods available, he said. “We appreciate the inclusion of a challenge process to make sure that the data used for any final decisions appropriately reflect the real on-the-ground services available to consumers,” he said. “CCA will continue to work with the FCC to ensure mobile broadband is available for all Americans, especially those in rural areas.” The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) applauded the FCC decision to analyze coverage in a census tract beyond the center point. Meanwhile, the USF program needs to continue to support mobile voice, the group said in a news release. “RWA is also pleased that the Bureau has committed to implementing a challenge process to allow service providers to contest coverage determinations,” RWA said. “RWA encourages the Bureau to ensure that this process is robust, and provides all parties (not just very large entities with nearly unlimited technological and personnel resources) sufficient time and opportunity to participate.”

Three million people, 575,000 square miles of area and 750,000 road miles in the U.S. have no 4G LTE coverage or only coverage from a carrier receiving universal service support, said Jon Wilkins, chief of the Wireless Bureau, as the FCC released numbers Friday, based on Form 477 data. “These are the areas where our analysis shows there is a clear need for an ongoing subsidy to either expand 4G LTE coverage or continue coverage on a subsidized basis.” The FCC is starting to work on a new phase of a mobility fund. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told the Competitive Carriers Association annual meeting recently (see 1609200058) the release was coming and would show a mobility fund is necessary since too many locations remain unserved by LTE. Wilkins said the data is much improved over what was available to the FCC when it launched the initial mobility fund. “Our analysis shows that just under one and a half million people, approximately 470,000 square miles, and 550,000 miles of road in the U.S. do not have 4G LTE coverage," Wilkins said in a blog post. "We can overlay the actual area coverage data with publicly available data on universal service subsidies to determine at a sub-census block level where 4G LTE service is available only from a provider receiving support -- an indication that continuing support for service in those areas is needed.” It’s a positive development that the Wireless Bureau acknowledges the need to support mobile broadband through the USF, said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. As the FCC works toward a new mobility fund, it should “prioritize expanding service nationwide without stranding thousands of rural Americans who rely on service that is currently provided through USF support,” he said. “To meet Congress’s mandate of ‘reasonably comparable services in urban and rural areas,’ seamless wireless service must be available from a consumer’s carrier of choice to reach critical public safety services including 911.” The Form 477 data isn’t the “last word” on service availability, with Wheeler and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn urging more-accurate and comprehensive measurements using the latest technologies and methods available, he said. “We appreciate the inclusion of a challenge process to make sure that the data used for any final decisions appropriately reflect the real on-the-ground services available to consumers,” he said. “CCA will continue to work with the FCC to ensure mobile broadband is available for all Americans, especially those in rural areas.” The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) applauded the FCC decision to analyze coverage in a census tract beyond the center point. Meanwhile, the USF program needs to continue to support mobile voice, the group said in a news release. “RWA is also pleased that the Bureau has committed to implementing a challenge process to allow service providers to contest coverage determinations,” RWA said. “RWA encourages the Bureau to ensure that this process is robust, and provides all parties (not just very large entities with nearly unlimited technological and personnel resources) sufficient time and opportunity to participate.”

New York and FCC officials discussed ways broadband providers could "step into the shoes" of price-cap telcos that declined Connect America Fund Phase II support in various states. "This approach would encourage states to commit their own funds for broadband deployment, minimizing additional burdens on the federal Universal Service Fund and increasing the likelihood of bringing broadband to affected states," said an Empire State Development filing in docket 10-90 on a phone call its representatives and an aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) had with an aide to Chairman Tom Wheeler and Wireline Bureau officials: "It would also provide significant cost efficiencies and financial synergies that cannot be achieved under any of the alternative approaches proposed by the Commission" in a May Further NRPM (see 1605250046). New York and other states have pressed the FCC to keep planned CAF II reverse auction subsidies in the states where price-cap ILECs declined offers of support (see 1605200066 and 1607220057).

New York and FCC officials discussed ways broadband providers could "step into the shoes" of price-cap telcos that declined Connect America Fund Phase II support in various states. "This approach would encourage states to commit their own funds for broadband deployment, minimizing additional burdens on the federal Universal Service Fund and increasing the likelihood of bringing broadband to affected states," said an Empire State Development filing in docket 10-90 on a phone call its representatives and an aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) had with an aide to Chairman Tom Wheeler and Wireline Bureau officials: "It would also provide significant cost efficiencies and financial synergies that cannot be achieved under any of the alternative approaches proposed by the Commission" in a May Further NRPM (see 1605250046). New York and other states have pressed the FCC to keep planned CAF II reverse auction subsidies in the states where price-cap ILECs declined offers of support (see 1605200066 and 1607220057).

Rate-of-return telcos must file FCC Form 508 by Monday with Universal Service Administrative Co. to receive subsidies under the commission's new Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support mechanism, said a Wireline Bureau public notice Monday in docket 10-90. The PN noted the previously expected filing deadline of Oct. 1 (see 1609200015) was changed because that's a Saturday. Carriers must report projected broadband-only loop costs and revenue on revised Form 508, which was approved by the Office of Management and Budget, the PN said. The cost and revenue projections are for the first six months of 2017, not 2016 as the PN indicated, said an FCC spokesman, who said an erratum was coming to note the correction. OMB also approved Form 507 (for reporting broadband loop counts) and Form 509 (for reporting actual cost and revenue), which must be filed pursuant to a schedule in FCC rules, the PN said. Form 507 is due July 31 and Form 509 is due Dec. 31, said the spokesman.

Rate-of-return telcos must file FCC Form 508 by Monday with Universal Service Administrative Co. to receive subsidies under the commission's new Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support mechanism, said a Wireline Bureau public notice Monday in docket 10-90. The PN noted the previously expected filing deadline of Oct. 1 (see 1609200015) was changed because that's a Saturday. Carriers must report projected broadband-only loop costs and revenue on revised Form 508, which was approved by the Office of Management and Budget, the PN said. The cost and revenue projections are for the first six months of 2017, not 2016 as the PN indicated, said an FCC spokesman, who said an erratum was coming to note the correction. OMB also approved Form 507 (for reporting broadband loop counts) and Form 509 (for reporting actual cost and revenue), which must be filed pursuant to a schedule in FCC rules, the PN said. Form 507 is due July 31 and Form 509 is due Dec. 31, said the spokesman.