Latinos are least likely to adopt broadband but three times more likely than the general population to rely on cellphones as their only access to the Internet, said a report (http://xrl.us/bmsg5b) that the National Hispanic Media Coalition released Wednesday. About 45 percent of Latino homes have adopted broadband, compared to almost 69 percent of white homes and almost half of African-American homes, NHMC reported. Latinos also tend to have higher mobile phone bills than any other group, probably because they use mobile data apps almost twice as much as whites do, said the report. Average cellphone bills for whites were $88 per month and for African Americans $95, compared to $104 per month for Latinos. Based on the data in its report, NHMC suggested policy changes such as reforming the Universal Service Fund, preserving competition in the wireless industry, preserving the open Internet over fixed and mobile services, and protecting consumers from predatory business practices.

The FCC Wireline Bureau got two proposed cost models for its proposed methodology for distributing universal service support under the Connect America Fund, the bureau said Wednesday (http://xrl.us/bmsgi2). The models were received in response to a public notice inviting parties to submit forward-looking cost models to estimate the costs of deployment of broadband-capable networks in high-cost areas. The model proposed by USTelecom (http://xrl.us/bmsgiw) uses underlying network topologies based on output from the CostQuest Loop costing model. USTelecom said its model “acknowledges and accommodates the substantial diversity across geography, business needs, and among consumers.” The other model, proposed by the Alaska Communications Systems Group (http://xrl.us/bmsgiy), “estimates the cost to provide broadband in Alaska that a national broadband cost model will not,” ACS said. The company said its model takes into account “unique” Alaskan features, such as a limited road system and lack of an Internet peering location, which would require middle-mile transport via undersea cable.

Latinos are least likely to adopt broadband but three times more likely than the general population to rely on cellphones as their only access to the Internet, said a report (http://xrl.us/bmsg5b) that the National Hispanic Media Coalition released Wednesday. About 45 percent of Latino homes have adopted broadband, compared to almost 69 percent of white homes and almost half of African-American homes, NHMC reported. Latinos also tend to have higher mobile phone bills than any other group, probably because they use mobile data apps almost twice as much as whites do, said the report. Average cellphone bills for whites were $88 per month and for African Americans $95, compared to $104 per month for Latinos. Based on the data in its report, NHMC suggested policy changes such as reforming the Universal Service Fund, preserving competition in the wireless industry, preserving the open Internet over fixed and mobile services, and protecting consumers from predatory business practices.

Universal Service Fund contribution reform is on the way, but likely at a slower pace than expected last year, after the commission wrapped up distribution reform. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski told the House Communications Subcommittee Thursday he expects work to start within six months.

Rural telecom companies protested the FCC’s Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation revamp efforts, in testimony at a hearing Wednesday of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Healthcare. Witnesses also complained about high administrative costs to apply for federal grants and loans. Subcommittee leaders urged accelerated broadband buildout, particularly in rural areas. Chairman Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., urged passage of her bill (HR-2128) to stop the federal government from imposing penalties on health care providers who can’t make electronic prescriptions.

AT&T’s proposed buy of T-Mobile “clearly” crossed a line and posed a risk to competition, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said Monday at a Silicon Flatirons conference on “The Digital Broadband Migration.” Genachowski also indicated the FCC may reopen its receiver standards inquiry.

The White House renewed an emphasis on wireless broadband in President Barack Obama’s FY 2013 budget, released Monday (www.budget.gov). “High-speed, wireless broadband is fast becoming a critical component of business operations and economic growth,” the budget said. “The United States needs to lead the world in providing broad access to the fastest networks possible.” The budget also proposes significant funding for cybersecurity research. In total, the 2013 budget proposes $140.8 billion for federal R&D, 1.4 percent more than the 2012-enacted level. The overall increase is the same as the rate of inflation.

The White House renewed an emphasis on wireless broadband in President Barack Obama’s FY 2013 budget, released Monday (www.budget.gov). “High-speed, wireless broadband is fast becoming a critical component of business operations and economic growth,” the budget said. “The United States needs to lead the world in providing broad access to the fastest networks possible.” The budget also proposes significant funding for cybersecurity research. In total, the 2013 budget proposes $140.8 billion for federal R&D, 1.4 percent more than the 2012-enacted level. The overall increase is the same as the rate of inflation.

The launch of ViaSat-1 gives Viasat a new chance to convince regulators of satellites of their usefulness in bringing broadband to hard-to-reach areas, said Tom Moore, ViaSat senior vice president, in an interview Friday. Satellite companies have increased the push in recent years for increased government recognition of them as broadband providers. The new satellite marks a shift for ViaSat, which has its origins as a satellite system components manufacturer, though the purchase of WildBlue in 2009 has helped with the transition, said Moore. Moore co-founded WildBlue.

Windstream and Frontier want the FCC to clarify that last year’s Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation order did not reduce rates for toll traffic originating on the public switched telephone network and terminating on the Internet, said ex parte filings (http://xrl.us/bmrffc, http://xrl.us/bmrffg). Traditional intrastate access rates should apply to this originating traffic, Kathleen Abernathy, Frontier’s chief legal officer, told Wireline Bureau Chief Sharon Gillett. That echoed comments made in its petition for reconsideration and clarification, filed jointly with Windstream. Windstream also urged the FCC to reconsider its “one unserved location per $775” deployment requirement for Connect America Fund Phase I support. That rule would require that each $775 in incremental support be able to fund a high-speed connection reliable enough for VoIP calling. Windstream asked that this requirement be replaced with a more targeted accountability mechanism, which it said would account for differences in individual companies’ service territories and “ensure that companies are not punished as a result of having deployed broadband aggressively in rural areas,” according to the filing.