The VON Coalition tried to hold off an impending order giving states the right to assess Universal Service Fund levies on nomadic VoIP providers, said an ex parte notice filed by the group late Tuesday. Executive Director Glenn Richards said he met with Commissioner Meredith Baker’s new wireline adviser, Brad Gillen, and Chairman Julius Genachowski’s wireline adviser Zac Katz and argued that the FCC’s 2004 Vonage preemption order ought to keep states from levying their own USF fees on nomadic carriers. Last month, at eighth-floor urging, Kansas and Nebraska amended their request for a declaratory ruling on nomadic VoIP by deleting requests to make any USF assessments retroactive. This clears the way for a declaratory order, which FCC and industry officials had expected to already have been issued. State officials indicated they may still seek retroactive payments (CD Sept 21 p6). This has the VON Coalition worried. “The commission must make clear that it is changing (and not simply clarifying) the law, or there … may be unnecessary litigation,” Richards said.

The FCC gave interested parties until Thursday to comment on two separate appeals, each of which challenge the commission’s decision in the Corr Wireless Order (CD Sept 7 p1). Both SouthernLINC and Allied Wireless Communications asked the commission to review the Corr decision. Oppositions to SouthernLINC’s petition were due Tuesday but oppositions on Allied’s petition aren’t due until Friday. The commission changed the comment deadline for both petitions to Thursday.

CEO F.J. Pollak and others representing TracFone stressed at meetings last week with FCC Wireline Bureau Chief Sharon Gillen and Deputy Chief James Schlichting a need for “uniform rules governing the Lifeline enrollment eligibility certification and verification practices” of all eligible telecommunications carriers, said an ex parte filing. They also “discussed potential changes to the Universal Service Fund and 911 compliance matters,” the ex parte said.

A new GAO report found that broadband availability is similar across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, including the U.S., but adoption varies more and is influenced by cost, income, computer ownership and other demographic factors. Increasing adoption in the U.S. won’t be easy, but recommendations in the FCC National Broadband Plan are consistent with the approach adopted in a number of other OECD countries, GAO found. The report was prepared at the direction of the leaders of the House Commerce Committee.

A new GAO report found that broadband availability is similar across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, including the U.S., but adoption varies more and is influenced by cost, income, computer ownership and other demographic factors. Increasing adoption in the U.S. won’t be easy, but recommendations in the FCC National Broadband Plan are consistent with the approach adopted in a number of other OECD countries, GAO found. The report was prepared at the direction of the leaders of the House Commerce Committee.

A new GAO report found that broadband availability is similar across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, including the U.S., but adoption varies more and is influenced by cost, income, computer ownership and other demographic factors. Increasing adoption in the U.S. won’t be easy, but recommendations in the FCC National Broadband Plan are consistent with the approach adopted in a number of other OECD countries, GAO found. The report was prepared at the direction of the leaders of the House Commerce Committee.

Capitol Hill aides urged patience from those seeking a Telecom Act revamp by Congress. A rewrite will happen, but Congress doesn’t want to rush it, said Danny Sepulveda, senior adviser to Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass. Other priorities next year include wireless spectrum and oversight of the broadband stimulus program, aides told a panel discussion Tuesday by the Free State Foundation.

Capitol Hill aides urged patience from those seeking a Telecom Act revamp by Congress. A rewrite will happen, but Congress doesn’t want to rush it, said Danny Sepulveda, senior adviser to Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass. Other priorities next year include wireless spectrum and oversight of the broadband stimulus program, aides told a panel discussion Tuesday by the Free State Foundation.

The FCC has made “a lot of progress” but still has “a lot of work to do” implementing the National Broadband Plan, Chairman Julius Genachowski told One Economy’s 10th anniversary gala Thursday night. One Economy gave Genachowski its Metcalfe Digital Opportunity Award, but Genachowski invited the commission’s broadband team up to the stage to accept the honor. FCC priorities include revamping the Universal Service Fund, setting up incentive auctions and recovering underused spectrum, “empowering” broadband consumers and promoting competition, and increasing broadband adoption, Genachowski said. “Broadband benefits our society more every day, while the cost of digital exclusion for those left behind skyrocket.” Government should focus on modernizing USF to support broadband, One Economy Chairman Rey Ramsey told reporters. “That money is going to help more than replace what NTIA” had been providing under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he said. It’s “doubtful” the next Congress will fund another broadband grant program, he said. Comcast Executive Vice President David Cohen told the event the cable company plans to add 50 Digital Connector sites by year-end. The program, created with One Economy, teaches digital literacy to teens and young adults. Comcast expects the new sites to impart Internet skills to 1,500 young adults by December 2011, Cohen said.

The FCC has made “a lot of progress” but still has “a lot of work to do” implementing the National Broadband Plan, Chairman Julius Genachowski told One Economy’s 10th anniversary gala Thursday night. One Economy gave Genachowski its Metcalfe Digital Opportunity Award, but Genachowski invited the commission’s broadband team up to the stage to accept the honor. FCC priorities include revamping the Universal Service Fund, setting up incentive auctions and recovering underused spectrum, “empowering” broadband consumers and promoting competition, and increasing broadband adoption, Genachowski said. “Broadband benefits our society more every day, while the cost of digital exclusion for those left behind skyrocket.” Government should focus on modernizing USF to support broadband, One Economy Chairman Rey Ramsey told reporters. “That money is going to help more than replace what NTIA” had been providing under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he said. It’s “doubtful” the next Congress will fund another broadband grant program, he said. Comcast Executive Vice President David Cohen told the event the cable company plans to add 50 Digital Connector sites by year-end. The program, created with One Economy, teaches digital literacy to teens and young adults. Comcast expects the new sites to impart Internet skills to 1,500 young adults by December 2011, Cohen said.