LAS VEGAS -- Commissioner Mignon Clyburn wants the FCC to move forward on a new mobility fund, to pay for wireless buildout in underserved areas. But an aide to Chairman Tom Wheeler said the agency still is considering only what to do next on the fund. Clyburn has been advocating a Phase II, building on Phase I launched five years ago (see 1510080024).

LAS VEGAS -- Commissioner Mignon Clyburn wants the FCC to move forward on a new mobility fund, to pay for wireless buildout in underserved areas. But an aide to Chairman Tom Wheeler said the agency still is considering only what to do next on the fund. Clyburn has been advocating a Phase II, building on Phase I launched five years ago (see 1510080024).

The FCC should extend suspension of the E-rate amortization policy for two more years and increase the discount rate for nonrecurring broadband constructions costs where states provide matching funds, said New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) in an Aug. 10 letter posted Friday. In 2014, the FCC suspended Universal Service Administrative Co.’s policy requiring E-rate applicants to amortize upfront special construction charges over multiple years. Also, the commission increased an applicant’s discount rate up to an additional 10 percent to match state funding. The actions “spurred school districts and states, in partnership with service providers, to invest in fiber build projects that almost certainly would not have been completed in the absence of the Commission’s efforts,” Martinez said. But the upfront, nonrecurring costs of fiber networks are still too high for most school districts, she said. She proposed the FCC provide a 90 percent discount when states provide 10 percent of construction costs: “The proposed changes will provide the time and resources for states and school districts to work with service providers to extend fiber optic networks to schools that need them.”

The FCC should extend suspension of the E-rate amortization policy for two more years and increase the discount rate for nonrecurring broadband constructions costs where states provide matching funds, said New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) in an Aug. 10 letter posted Friday. In 2014, the FCC suspended Universal Service Administrative Co.’s policy requiring E-rate applicants to amortize upfront special construction charges over multiple years. Also, the commission increased an applicant’s discount rate up to an additional 10 percent to match state funding. The actions “spurred school districts and states, in partnership with service providers, to invest in fiber build projects that almost certainly would not have been completed in the absence of the Commission’s efforts,” Martinez said. But the upfront, nonrecurring costs of fiber networks are still too high for most school districts, she said. She proposed the FCC provide a 90 percent discount when states provide 10 percent of construction costs: “The proposed changes will provide the time and resources for states and school districts to work with service providers to extend fiber optic networks to schools that need them.”

Some FCC members of each party voted for and against an Alaska plan for broadband-oriented USF support to fixed and mobile providers in high-cost areas of the state served by rate-of-return telcos and their wireless affiliates. The commission adopted the Alaska Telephone Association's (ATA) "consensus plan" with "minor modifications," said the 3-2 order and Further NPRM released Wednesday in docket 10-90. Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Ajit Pai dissented. Pai said the plan would provide $1.5 billion in support over 10 years. A separate Alaska price-cap USF draft order is pending.

Some FCC members of each party voted for and against an Alaska plan for broadband-oriented USF support to fixed and mobile providers in high-cost areas of the state served by rate-of-return telcos and their wireless affiliates. The commission adopted the Alaska Telephone Association's (ATA) "consensus plan" with "minor modifications," said the 3-2 order and Further NPRM released Wednesday in docket 10-90. Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Ajit Pai dissented. Pai said the plan would provide $1.5 billion in support over 10 years. A separate Alaska price-cap USF draft order is pending.

FCC staff announced two new filing windows for seeking USF rural healthcare support for the 2016 funding year that began July 1, plus another window for the 2017 funding year. The program provides subsidies for rural healthcare telecom services and broadband connectivity. An initial March 1-June 1 filing window drew $35.5 million in requests, with the program operating on a first-come, first-served basis since then, said a Wireline Bureau public notice Friday in docket 02-60. A new filing window is Sept. 1-Nov. 30, with no funding requests accepted through Jan. 31 the PN said. Universal Service Administrative Co. will process all the requests to that point; if there's still funding available under the FCC $400 million annual cap for the program, which the bureau expects, a third funding request window will run Feb. 1-April 30, with the possibility of a new window after that, it said. It also announced an overlapping initial filing window of Feb. 1-April 30 for the funding year that begins on July 1, 2017. The PN said demand for rural healthcare USF support has been growing and could reach the $400 million cap during one of the windows for this funding year, which would require USAC to divvy up support to qualifying requests on a "pro-rata basis" for that window.

FCC staff announced two new filing windows for seeking USF rural healthcare support for the 2016 funding year that began July 1, plus another window for the 2017 funding year. The program provides subsidies for rural healthcare telecom services and broadband connectivity. An initial March 1-June 1 filing window drew $35.5 million in requests, with the program operating on a first-come, first-served basis since then, said a Wireline Bureau public notice Friday in docket 02-60. A new filing window is Sept. 1-Nov. 30, with no funding requests accepted through Jan. 31 the PN said. Universal Service Administrative Co. will process all the requests to that point; if there's still funding available under the FCC $400 million annual cap for the program, which the bureau expects, a third funding request window will run Feb. 1-April 30, with the possibility of a new window after that, it said. It also announced an overlapping initial filing window of Feb. 1-April 30 for the funding year that begins on July 1, 2017. The PN said demand for rural healthcare USF support has been growing and could reach the $400 million cap during one of the windows for this funding year, which would require USAC to divvy up support to qualifying requests on a "pro-rata basis" for that window.

Incumbent Senate Commerce Committee members up for 2016 re-election believe telecom policy merits intensive legislative attention and oversight, but vary on whether voters know much about it and take it in account at the ballot box. Some senators insisted in interviews that voters care about broadband connectivity and related issues, with multiple lawmakers considering telecom part of economic development. Others said the technical nature of the policy reduces its value in winning votes.

Incumbent Senate Commerce Committee members up for 2016 re-election believe telecom policy merits intensive legislative attention and oversight, but vary on whether voters know much about it and take it in account at the ballot box. Some senators insisted in interviews that voters care about broadband connectivity and related issues, with multiple lawmakers considering telecom part of economic development. Others said the technical nature of the policy reduces its value in winning votes.