The House Communications Subcommittee plans a Nov. 30 FCC oversight hearing that will scrutinize President Joe Biden’s “Broadband Takeover,” the Commerce Committee said Tuesday. The announcement's tone likely presages a major focus on the FCC’s pursuit of a new net neutrality rulemaking that largely mirrors the commission’s rescinded 2015 rules and a reclassification of broadband as a Communications Act Title II service (see 2310190020), lobbyists told us. Meanwhile, two senior House Commerce members -- Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Bill Johnson, R-Ohio -- announced they’re not seeking reelection in 2024.

Telecom companies raised concerns about adding state USF goals on service quality and other issues in comments posted Monday at the Nebraska Public Service Commission. And as the PSC considers sweeping Nebraska USF (NUSF) changes, Charter Communications warned that it might be unlawful to support broadband with a fund designed for telecom services. Small rural companies said the fund should support ongoing costs that make networks expensive in remote areas even after they are deployed.

Some ISPs tell Wall Street they aren't expecting notable subscriber losses should funding run out for the Affordable Connectivity Program. They expect to keep subs -- though at perhaps lower speed tiers and cheaper service offerings. Advocates say ACP helps make connectivity affordable for current subscribers and ensures accessibility items that the broadband equity, affordability and deployment (BEAD) program addresses translate into adoption.

FCC commissioners voted 3-2 Wednesday to adopt rules aimed at curbing digital discrimination (see 2310250070). The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-mandated order takes steps to facilitate equal access to broadband and investigate instances of discrimination. The commission also adopted a Further NPRM seeking comment on additional measures the FCC can take to advance equal access.

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Congress should continue “lifeblood connectivity” provided through the affordable connectivity program (ACP), Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chairman Stephen DeFrank said in an interview at this week’s NARUC meeting. Expect broadband, universal service and pole attachments to be key issues for the state PUC in the year ahead, he said. Industry officials debated possible USF changes during a Tuesday panel.

The FCC announced a proceeding Monday proposing to establish a schools and libraries cybersecurity pilot program that would allow the commission to "obtain valuable data concerning the cybersecurity and advanced firewall services that would best help K12 schools and libraries address the growing cyber threats and attacks against their broadband networks and data," said an NPRM. Comments are due 30 days after Federal Register publication, 60 days for replies, in docket 23-234. “This pilot program is an important pathway for hardening our defenses against sophisticated cyberattacks on schools and ransomware attacks that harm our students and get in the way of their learning,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “Protecting our students is a critically important task and one that touches on the mission of several federal agencies." The proposed pilot program calls for an investment of up to $200 million over three years funded by the Universal Service Fund, per a news release. It would be separate from the E-rate program to "ensure gains in enhanced cybersecurity don’t come at a cost of undermining E-rate’s success." The pilot program would also provide funding to eligible K-12 schools and libraries to "defray the qualifying costs of receiving the cybersecurity and advanced firewall services needed to protect their E-rate-funded broadband networks and data from the growing number of school and library-focused cyber events."

Look to June as a major tipping point when Dish Network has sufficient scale in its 5G network and enough devices on that network to start turning a corner, company officials said Monday in a call with analysts as it announced Q3 financial results. Chairman Charlie Ergen said he was decreasingly optimistic about an 800 MHz deal with T-Mobile but hadn't written the prospects off. Liberty Latin American said it was buying Dish spectrum assets and 120,000 prepaid mobile subscribers in the Caribbean for $256 million, with Dish saying the deal frees it up to focus more on the continental U.S.

NTIA released a conditional waiver of the broadband, equity, access and deployment program's letter of credit requirement Wednesday. More than 300 groups in September urged the agency to remove the requirement, citing potential limitations on small providers' participation (see 2309060022).

The FCC authorized more than $18.3 billion in enhanced alternative connect America cost model (ACAM) support for 368 companies Monday (see 2308310047). The 15-year support period will begin Jan. 1, said a news release. The Wireline Bureau directed the Universal Service Administrative Co. to disburse funding to carriers eligible for support in a public notice in docket 10-90.

States are holding off on putting numbers on paper as to what their extremely high-cost per location thresholds are in the broadband equity, access and deployment program, with many states saying their threshold numbers won't come until after they see subgrantee bids. That per interviews and our analysis of BEAD draft initial proposals filed thus far with NTIA. Those threshold numbers likely will differ substantially from state to state, some deployment experts tell us. The threshold number will serve as the tipping point where states can consider non-fiber bids, as beyond that threshold amount fiber is too expensive.