Hospitals and rural clinics in Michigan and Wisconsin are seeking a waiver for their analog business lines during FY 2019 and FY 2020 due to Universal Service Administrative Co.'s "failure to use common sense in the creation of rational rates" for the healthcare connect fund program, said USF Consultants President Michael O'Connor.

E-rate applicants and service providers may submit an invoice up to 120 days after the Universal Service Administrative Co. issues a letter approving a post-commitment request or granting an appeal of a previously denied or reduced funding request, said a new order by the FCC Wireline Bureau. The order in Friday's Daily Digest also allows relief to be requested regardless of whether applicants or providers were unable to file an invoice while awaiting a post-commitment decision and file a waiver request. It also waived the existing invoice rule for program participants that were unable to submit an invoice while awaiting a post-commitment decision and filed a pending request for a waiver during FY 2016. This is "the right thing to do right now," said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. She also expressed disappointment the commission didn't take more action.

E-rate applicants and service providers may submit an invoice up to 120 days after the Universal Service Administrative Co. issues a letter approving a post-commitment request or granting an appeal of a previously denied or reduced funding request, said a new order by the FCC Wireline Bureau. The order in Friday's Daily Digest also allows relief to be requested regardless of whether applicants or providers were unable to file an invoice while awaiting a post-commitment decision and file a waiver request. It also waived the existing invoice rule for program participants that were unable to submit an invoice while awaiting a post-commitment decision and filed a pending request for a waiver during FY 2016. This is "the right thing to do right now," said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. She also expressed disappointment the commission didn't take more action.

Expect to see fewer big interagency spectrum disputes under the President Joe Biden administration, and the FCC taking a lot more action on delegated authority, with the commissioners being split 2-2, agency watchers said in a Georgetown University-hosted webinar Thursday looking at likely policy issues for the next commission. Many said the 2-2 commission won't inherently lead to political deadlock.

The FCC voted 5-0 Thursday, as expected (see 2012080070), to put in place a system to replace insecure equipment from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE in U.S. networks. Commissioners agreed the FCC still has work to do. Congress hasn't funded a program to pay for the equipment removed. The Rural Wireless Association noted that the order doesn’t require carriers to replace equipment until replacement is funded.

Two California lawmakers with competing broadband bills last session will co-author a single bill to revamp and fund the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D) Monday introduced SB-4 (see 2012030032). Gonzalez’s previous bill stalled in the Assembly, where member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D) had a different CASF bill (see 2008310034). "We each made great individual progress this year in building support for universal connectivity in, and funding for, both urban and rural communities,” said Aguiar-Curry. “Together ... we will deliver a 21st Century program that will support advances in distance learning, telehealth services, remote work, and small business.” Other supporters, all Democrats, include Senate Majority Leader Robert Hertzberg; Sens. Mike McGuire, Scott Wiener, Anna Caballero, Henry Stern, Nancy Skinner and Maria Elena Durazo; and Assembly members Buffy Wicks, Eduardo Garcia, Lorena Gonzalez, Luz Rivas and Wendy Carrillo. SB-4 would require the California Public Utilities Commission prioritize projects in unserved areas with at most 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds, with a goal of upgrading those places to at least 100 Mbps downstream. It would remove the existing 2022 funding sunset on CASF and require a maximum surcharge of 23 cents monthly per access line. The CPUC raised the CASF surcharge to 1.019% of intrastate revenue in October. The California Cable & Telecommunications Association has no position yet. It looks forward to working with Gonzalez "on broadband policy that will benefit all Californians," emailed CCTA President Carolyn McIntyre.

Two California lawmakers with competing broadband bills last session will co-author a single bill to revamp and fund the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D) Monday introduced SB-4 (see 2012030032). Gonzalez’s previous bill stalled in the Assembly, where member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D) had a different CASF bill (see 2008310034). "We each made great individual progress this year in building support for universal connectivity in, and funding for, both urban and rural communities,” said Aguiar-Curry. “Together ... we will deliver a 21st Century program that will support advances in distance learning, telehealth services, remote work, and small business.” Other supporters, all Democrats, include Senate Majority Leader Robert Hertzberg; Sens. Mike McGuire, Scott Wiener, Anna Caballero, Henry Stern, Nancy Skinner and Maria Elena Durazo; and Assembly members Buffy Wicks, Eduardo Garcia, Lorena Gonzalez, Luz Rivas and Wendy Carrillo. SB-4 would require the California Public Utilities Commission prioritize projects in unserved areas with at most 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds, with a goal of upgrading those places to at least 100 Mbps downstream. It would remove the existing 2022 funding sunset on CASF and require a maximum surcharge of 23 cents monthly per access line. The CPUC raised the CASF surcharge to 1.019% of intrastate revenue in October. The California Cable & Telecommunications Association has no position yet. It looks forward to working with Gonzalez "on broadband policy that will benefit all Californians," emailed CCTA President Carolyn McIntyre.

The arrival of the Biden administration will change fortunes for interest groups and think tanks. Political science experts and interest group insiders told us that groups that had the ear of the White House and President Donald Trump's officials likely will focus now on working on members of Congress with whom they're more ideologically aligned, plus states.

The Senate Commerce Committee appeared on track before its Wednesday meeting to advance FCC nominee Nathan Simington’s confirmation to the full chamber. That's despite continued uncertainty about whether panel member Dan Sullivan of Alaska will join other Republicans in backing the nominee. Opponents of Simington’s confirmation claim President Donald Trump picked him to displace Commissioner Mike O’Rielly because the nominee supports the push for a rulemaking on its Communications Decency Act Section 230 interpretation (see 2011100070).

The Senate Commerce Committee appeared on track before its Wednesday meeting to advance FCC nominee Nathan Simington’s confirmation to the full chamber. That's despite continued uncertainty about whether panel member Dan Sullivan of Alaska will join other Republicans in backing the nominee. Opponents of Simington’s confirmation claim President Donald Trump picked him to displace Commissioner Mike O’Rielly because the nominee supports the push for a rulemaking on its Communications Decency Act Section 230 interpretation (see 2011100070).