The GOP leads on the House and Senate Communications subcommittees were noncommittal in interviews before a Wednesday House Commerce Oversight Subcommittee hearing about what kind of modifications they would like for the FCC’s affordable connectivity program. Current estimates peg ACP as likely to exhaust the initial $14.2 billion in funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act during the first half of 2024, perhaps as early as Q1. The Commerce Oversight hearing highlighted partisan fault lines over how much Congress should modify the existing federal broadband funding apparatus.
NTIA released a new online tool and two reports highlighting federal investments in broadband programs Monday. The reports, mandated by the Access Broadband Act, include a description of the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth's work, how many households were served by universal service programs or federal broadband support, and a "framework to guide future estimates of the economic impact of broadband deployment efforts," said a news release. The reports "show how federal agencies across the Biden-Harris Administration are working together to target funding through the Internet for All initiative and close the digital divide,” said NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson: “We will provide high-speed internet service to everyone by focusing on access, affordability and equity.” The report's findings included a substantial increase of $11.8 billion in investments from FY 2020 to FY 2021. More funding also went to digital inclusion or adoption efforts compared to infrastructure deployment and mapping. "This Broadband shift in outlays represents a change in priorities to connect underserved communities but also part of the maturation cycle as broadband investments begin to impact communities and economic activity," per the report. The dashboard includes spending data from 13 agencies and funding by program at the state level. It also reports tribal broadband funding for the first time. The dashboard showed tribal entities residing in Oklahoma received a "significant concentration" of funding, about 59.3% of total tribal broadband funding.
A possible path to averting Alaska USF’s June 30 termination emerged in comments last week at the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. The Department of Law (DOL) told the RCA it would consider approving an extension on an emergency basis if the commission fixes legal defects with an earlier proposal to extend the AUSF sunset by three years. Meanwhile, telecom companies and public advocates warned of rate increases and degraded service if commissioners allow the fund to die.
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is accepting applications for $14 million in broadband grants through the state rural universal service fund, the agency said Friday. Projects must support at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. Expanding broadband to rural areas is important, said Commissioner James Ellison.
California’s connections-based method “is directly at odds” with the FCC’s revenue-based mechanism for USF contribution, T-Mobile and subsidiaries argued at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In an opening brief Monday, they urged the court to reverse a U.S. District Court for Northern California decision and direct the lower court to issue a preliminary injunction against the California Public Utilities Commission decision that took effect April 1.
Representatives of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition met with staff for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on a petition SHLB filed with the Consortium for School Networking seeking an extension of Emergency Connectivity Fund service delivery dates. SHLB “reiterated that the Commission should extend the deadline to allow applicants that have received or will receive funding commitments to use all of the committed funding for two reasons: (1) it appears that there is enough funding remaining to cover all pending demand and (2) even if there was not enough funding, it is unlikely [the Universal Service Administrative Co.] could identify unused funding fast enough to turn around and distribute it to other applicants,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 21-93.
The FCC proposed fines of $8.8 million against 22 applicants in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction for apparently violating agency requirements by defaulting on their bids last year between May 3 and Dec. 16. Two applicants also failed to submit audited financial paperwork, resulting in additional fines. “The FCC provided clear guidance in its rules and notices on the monetary forfeitures associated with defaults in Auction 904,” the FCC said Monday: “The bid defaults prevented 2,994 census block groups in 31 states and an estimated 293,128 locations from receiving new investments in broadband infrastructure.” Leading the list, California Internet, a CLEC, faces a fine of more $3 million and Connect Everyone, a wholly owned subsidiary of Starry, a fine of more than $3.8 million. Some proposed fines were less than $10,000. “Not following the rules has consequences,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “For those who failed to meet their obligations, today’s action shows the Commission takes seriously its commitment to hold applicants accountable and ensure the integrity of our universal service funding.”
The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously supported $9.3 million in California Advanced Services Fund broadband adoption grants (resolution T-17773) at a livestreamed meeting Thursday. Commissioners also voted 5-0 for a $1 million local agency technical assistance grant (resolution T-17785). The CPUC made adoption grants to 11 projects including by California State University, Los Angeles County and Thai Community Development Center. Santa Barbara County won the local assistance grant. "It's not enough to just build broadband infrastructure,” said Commissioner Darcie Houck. “We also have to ensure that community members have the digital literacy to utilize what broadband can provide for them." Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma praised the “wide-ranging” nature of the adoption grant awardees. Commissioner Karen Douglas also applauded the grants. "We all share the sense of urgency about the importance of removing socioeconomic barriers to broadband adoption, and this resolution takes some really important steps that help move that goal forward.” Also at the meeting, the CPUC unanimously approved a consent agenda that included an item revoking operating authority of seven telephone companies for failing to comply with annual reporting or performance bond requirements (Resolution T-17784).
Rural healthcare program participants and advocates welcomed FCC proposals on the program's rate determination rules, whether to reinstate the support cap for satellite services, and how providers can receive funding as soon as they become eligible. Comments were posted through Tuesday in docket 17-310. Commissioners adopted the NPRM in January, which also sought comments on how to revise the FCC’s Form 466 to improve data collection efforts (see 2301260041).
Carriers got part of what they asked for in response to an FCC Further NPRM proposing to extend USF support to eligible mobile and fixed carriers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, approved by commissioners 4-0 in October (see 2210270046). The FCC on Wednesday approved a transitional support period of up to 24 months for mobile services. For fixed services, the agency extended the phase-down of frozen support at its current monthly amount until Dec. 31, 2025.