The State E-Rate Coordinators Alliance told the FCC it opposes a proposal by Verizon and Verizon Wireless that any-time any-place wireless Internet access should be an eligible service for USF reimbursement (CD June 25 p3). “SECA believed, and still believes, that this proposal represented a major change in E-rate funding and purpose that was so far beyond the scope of the draft [Eligible Services List] process as to not require a reply comment,” the group said in comments filed at the FCC. “However, given supporting reply comments by Qualcomm and the San Diego Unified School District, SECA believes it is important for the Commission to recognize that there is far from universal support for greatly expanded eligibility of wireless Internet services.” The statutory intent of the E-rate program was limited to providing Internet access to schools and libraries, SECA said: “The intention was not to support Internet access, whatever the technology, to all Americans -- as would be implied by providing wireless Internet access for any and all students and library patrons.”

Preparing clients to seek federal broadband funds has helped many communications law practices offset stagnation in other areas, as the recession continues and FCC-related work proves elusive, a Communications Daily survey found. Ten of the 11 communications practices responding said they were getting more business advising parties on whether and how to pursue some of the $7.2 billion in grants and loans. Those billings helped make up for an ebb in work on takeovers and regulatory submissions found in an earlier survey (CD July 1 p3) as well as lessened demand for interactions with an FCC between permanent chairmen Jan. 20 to June 29, many respondents said.

Preparing clients to seek federal broadband funds has helped many communications law practices offset stagnation in other areas, as the recession continues and FCC-related work proves elusive, our survey found. Ten of the 11 communications practices responding said they were getting more business advising parties on whether and how to pursue some of the $7.2 billion in grants and loans. Those billings helped make up for an ebb in work on takeovers and regulatory submissions found in an earlier survey as well as lessened demand for interactions with an FCC between permanent chairmen Jan. 20 to June 29, many respondents said.

The Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee approved a bill Wednesday that would fund the FCC at $335.8 million in FY 2010, the same as the president’s request. The bill was approved by voice vote with debate centered on agencies other than the FCC, whose appropriation is part of the bill’s overall $46.5 billion, with $24.4 billion in discretionary spending and $22.1 billion in mandatory spending. The next step is consideration by the full Senate Appropriations Committee. House and Senate leadership are making a determined push to pass appropriations bills for FY 2010, avoiding the need to pass a continuing resolution as has been the practice in recent years. The House Appropriations Committee approved its Financial Services spending bill late Tuesday. The House bill does not include a $25,480 line item for universal service fund Inspector General audits that were in the FY 2009 bill because there is “ample carryover available” in funds, according to a committee press release. The bill also lists under “program reductions” a line item for $19,000 for the DTV transition, which it said is “largely completed.”

Executives at Hughes and WildBlue said they're pleased with the technology-neutral stance and rural focus of the recently released broadband stimulus grant rules. But important questions about grant allocation procedures and census block statistical information need to be addressed, they said. Lisa Scalpone, WildBlue vice president of legal and government affairs, said she was worried by language in the rules that said the Rural Utilities Service would not fund more than one project in any given geographic area.

The FCC should pay attention to the needs of rural America as the commission works on its national broadband strategy due in Congress by Feb. 17, said a June 26 letter to the agency from the Congressional Rural Caucus. The commitment to increasing broadband deployment must be part of an “ongoing effort to connect our communities,” the letter said. The FCC should offer suggestions on improving interagency information sharing in its report to Congress, it said. The broadband plan also needs to “recognize the need for reform of the Universal Service Fund” to support broadband. “Special efforts should be made to provide predictable, targeted support to achieve the final goal of universal service.”

LONDON -- U.K. public broadcaster BBC is developing an all-purpose set-top box for viewing online programming on a TV. The technology, code-named Project Canvas, will be offered under license to CE makers and other broadcasters around the world. “The time is right for the next step, and it’s Project Canvas,” said Erik Huggers, BBC director of new media and technology, at U.K. CE industry group Intellect’s Driving Digital Value conference last week. “I see Canvas as democratizing access to TV, much as Apple democratized the palmtop. And not just in British living rooms, but in international homes,” Huggers said.

AT&T backed a Verizon challenge to a decision by the Universal Service Administrative Co. related to rural health care support. AT&T said USAC was wrong to seek recovery from Verizon of universal service funds relating to services it performed for a rural health care applicant (CD June 8 p8). The applicant, not the service provider, broke program rules, so Verizon shouldn’t have to pay, said AT&T.

The Association for Rural & Small Libraries urged the FCC to consider public libraries to be “at the heart of broadband distribution,” citing the increasing usage of libraries, libraries’ importance to job creation, economic growth, public safety and more. The comments came in a filing responding to FCC’s inquiry about the national broadband plan. The broadband plan should extend the Universal Service program and encourage better prices for higher bandwidth, it said, saying there are still barriers of limited budgets and limited time that prevent some from receiving the maximum benefit from the program. It said there are limits to funds available for the E-Rate program, and requests have consistently exceeded that limit, asking the FCC to simplify the program. It’s also imperative to consider price as the FCC evaluates broadband access, it said. Almost three-quarters of the public libraries in rural areas provide the only local place for public Internet access, it said, citing the 2008-2009 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study.

NTIA ex parte filings: Anchor institutions need speeds of 100 Mbps or higher to help provide “critical and essential services to the public,” the Schools, Health Providers and Libraries Broadband Coalition told NTIA Chief of Staff Tom Power June 23, according to an ex parte filing. Building “future-proof” broadband connections to anchor institutions can provide “jumping off points” for further high-speed broadband projects, the group said … NTIA should rely on regional planning organizations to help federally funded broadband deployment, the National Association of Regional Councils told the agency June 17 during an ex parte meeting … Sand Cherry Associates, a broadband consulting company, discussed the challenges of national and local broadband mapping with NTIA officials on June 19, according to an ex parte filing. Meanwhile, the Association for Rural & Small Libraries urged the FCC to consider public libraries to be “at the heart of broadband distribution,” citing the increasing usage of libraries, libraries’ importance to job creation, economic growth, public safety and more. The comments came in a filing responding to FCC’s inquiry about the national broadband plan. The broadband plan should extend the Universal Service program and encourage better prices for higher bandwidth, it said, saying there are still barriers of limited budgets and limited time that prevent some from receiving the maximum benefit from the program. It said there are limits to funds available for the e-rate program, and requests have consistently exceeded that limit, asking the FCC to simplify the program. It’s also imperative to consider price as the FCC evaluates broadband access, it said. Almost three-quarters of the public libraries in rural areas provide the only local place for public Internet access, it said, citing the 2008-2009 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study. ----