Some industry groups said mobile and fixed broadband are considered complementary, not substitute services, in docket 20-60 comments this week for the FCC's communications market competitiveness report to Congress. Measuring available broadband access must be done by looking at both fixed and mobile service availability, Incompas said, criticizing using form 477 data for measurement and saying broadband services should be counted only if physically available. It also urged a separate assessment of business data services. NTCA said universal support in rural areas should target both fixed and mobile networks. Policies often protect incumbents from new competition, an example being Communications Act Section 224 -- granting nondiscriminatory access to investor-owned utility poles -- not covering providers that aren't carriers or cable ISPs, said Google Fiber. It said state laws barring or limiting municipal broadband mean new entrants can't negotiate public-private partnerships or use those muni open access networks. New entrants that aren't telecom carriers or video programming providers with a state or local franchise also have difficulty getting access to public rights of way, it said. Rural Digital Opportunity Fund rules need to be technology neutral and satellite broadband shouldn't be blocked from competing for high-cost customers, Hughes said.

There's no consensus whether mobile and fixed communications services are complementary or substitutes in docket 20-60 comments this week for the FCC's communications market competitiveness report to Congress. The agency got requests for further smoothing access to poles and rights of way for wireline broadband access.

With COVID-19 disproportionately affecting minority and disadvantaged communities, the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment's working groups adjusted their focus to grapple with the pandemic, according to work plans presented Tuesday at the group’s teleconferenced first meeting under its new charter. Along with reacting to the virus, the committee’s working groups laid out plans for workshops and events aimed at increasing diversity among communications companies. “When the country catches a cold, the most vulnerable catch the flu,” said Brookings Institution Fellow Nicol Turner-Lee and Diversity in Tech WG chair.

Industry, policymakers and consumer advocates are seeking new ways to expand Lifeline enrollment and benefits in response to the public health and economic crisis, we're told. Some advocates are pursuing emergency funding to provide a more robust residential broadband Lifeline benefit to meet the demands of working and learning at home. Stay-at-home orders put restraints on Lifeline promotion and enrollment.

Industry, policymakers and consumer advocates are seeking new ways to expand Lifeline enrollment and benefits in response to the public health and economic crisis, we're told. Some advocates are pursuing emergency funding to provide a more robust residential broadband Lifeline benefit to meet the demands of working and learning at home. Stay-at-home orders put restraints on Lifeline promotion and enrollment.

Commissioners approved an NPRM Thursday on the proposed 5G Fund over partial dissents by Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, as expected (see 2004200063). Both said the NPRM offers a false choice and the FCC can’t rely on bad maps or wait until 2023 or later to start offering support. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly supported the NPRM, but also had concerns. Members met via teleconference, for the second month during COVID-19.

Commissioners approved an NPRM Thursday on the proposed 5G Fund over partial dissents by Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, as expected (see 2004200063). Both said the NPRM offers a false choice and the FCC can’t rely on bad maps or wait until 2023 or later to start offering support. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly supported the NPRM, but also had concerns. Members met via teleconference, for the second month during COVID-19.

Some want more clarity about the FCC's role regulating broadband, said comments posted through Tuesday. The agency asked to refresh dockets including 17-287, on how broadband service's reclassification as an information, not telecom, service affects authority over Lifeline, pole attachment agreements and public safety. Commenters disagreed whether the FCC should reconsider based on the public safety considerations.

The FCC appears to be split 3-2 on the 5G Fund NPRM, scheduled for a vote Thursday. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks are said to be concerned about Chairman Ajit Pai's proposed approach. Rosenworcel questioned that approach when it was unveiled earlier this month (see 2004010065).

The California Public Utilities Commission plans a broadband workshop Thursday about changes to the California Advanced Services Fund, the agency said last week as it received comments and replies on CASF issues including coronavirus response in docket R.12-10-012. Revamp CASF, the Greenlining Institute commented Wednesday. “The broadband landscape has changed significantly since 2012, and CASF’s goal of universal connectivity is more important than ever.” The California Emerging Technology Fund agreed: “The same sense of urgency needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic should be brought to the ongoing administration of CASF.” CASF "funding should not be awarded in areas where infrastructure already is funded by federal or any other public programs,” the California Cable & Telecommunications Association commented. Target it to “the build out of infrastructure only in areas that remain unserved.” CCTA complained mapping and challenge process sometimes lead to flagging served areas as unserved. Don't stop matching support with “other grants, loans, local government bonds or private contributions for broadband projects,” countered the Rural County Representatives of California. The Utility Reform Network agreed applications should be able to combine state and federal funding. The Central Coast Broadband Consortium local government group said there’s “no blanket prohibition” on combining grant sources, though there’s “properly a prohibition on a grantee receiving payment from one grant source for an eligible expense that has already been paid by another.” The COVID-19 “pandemic has brought to the forefront glaring gaps in digital equity -- broadband availability and affordability and digital literacy,” the state library replied on CASF and the virus. “Augmenting, as we are now, is a powerful stopgap, but it is only part of the long-term solution.” Thursday’s webcast begins at 10 a.m. PDT.