The record shows new supply chain rules designed to protect U.S. networks are both “legally unsound and factually unjustified,” Huawei replied to the FCC. Commissioners approved rules 5-0 in November barring equipment from Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE in networks funded by the USF, and sought comment on whether to expand the prohibition (see 1911220033). In initial comments last month, industry groups raised concerns (see 2002040047), and replies appeared in docket 18-89 through Wednesday. Last week, the Senate passed the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4998).

There's a need for a new federal broadband plan, with different metrics and tasked outside the FCC, panelists said Tuesday during the Incompas Policy Summit. They commented on the 10-year-old FCC National Broadband Plan.

There's a need for a new federal broadband plan, with different metrics and tasked outside the FCC, panelists said Tuesday during the Incompas Policy Summit. They commented on the 10-year-old FCC National Broadband Plan.

Telecom groups withdrew a 2014 emergency petition for waiver, said a filing posted Friday in docket 10-90. Parties are NTCA, WTA, NECA, Eastern Rural Telecom Association, Frontier Communications and Windstream. They had asked for a pause in intercarrier compensation rates for originating intrastate toll VoIP traffic "until full implementation of Connect America Fund phase II" (see 1407090083). "With five-plus years having passed now and those universal service reforms having been put into effect in the intervening period, the request was somewhat moot," emailed an NTCA spokesperson.

The FCC voted to propose an Oct. 22 auction date for the first phase of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and to release a public notice for docket 20-34 on procedures for its auction 904. That was despite pushback from Democratic Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, as was expected (see 2002270004). They partly dissented. The PN would seek comment on proposals such as how large the eligible bidding areas should be and how much information should be collected in short-form applications.

House Communications Subcommittee leaders are eyeing an early March markup for the Reinforcing and Evaluating Service Integrity, Local Infrastructure and Emergency Notification for Today’s (Resilient) Networks Act (HR-5926) and at least some of the seven other public safety communications measures it will examine Thursday (see 2002200060), industry lobbyists told us. Communications and public safety stakeholders endorsed several of the measures in written testimony. HR-5926 didn’t get universal praise. The hearing begins at 10:30 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn.

Universal Service Administrative Co. sees “good momentum” on the Lifeline national verifier, after a rocky start that state regulators criticized last year, USAC Vice President-Lifeline Michelle Garber told NARUC. The Telecom Committee where she spoke cleared a proposed resolution later Tuesday seeking accurate broadband maps and an unserved focus for the FCC’s forthcoming 5G fund. The committee agreed to an amendment deleting a phrase prescribing the mechanism the FCC should use to ensure maps are accurate, as expected. Both votes were unanimous. The resolution needs NARUC board OK. One year ago, state commissioners grilled USAC officials on high rates of users failing the automated check due to the NV not accessing all databases relevant to determining eligibility. “It was tough,” Garber said now. “There were a lot of things we were saying were coming, but it was hard to see them coming, like a carrier” application programming interface or connection to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services database, she said. “There wasn’t enough communication and transparency.” A "lot changed in the past year,” Garber said. “When we said we wanted to get better, people trusted us and engaged with us to help us do that.” South Dakota Commissioner Chris Nelson, who accused USAC last year of a "bait and switch," this time thanked the administrator for its cooperation. His state's databases remain unconnected, but it's the fault of South Dakota agencies, he said.

Universal Service Administrative Co. sees “good momentum” on the Lifeline national verifier after a rocky start that state regulators criticized last year, USAC Vice President-Lifeline Michelle Garber told NARUC. Garber told Telecom Committee members about progress connecting state databases and refining enrollment and reverification processes.

The FCC will take $31 million from TeleQuality Communications in repayments and forfeitures of USF payment claims to settle violations of competitive bidding and rate rules and for overbilling the rural healthcare program, the agency said Wednesday. Education Networks of America acquired the company in 2018. The Enforcement Bureau consent decree requires TeleQuality designate a compliance officer and file regular compliance reports for five years: The company admitted to giving improper incentives to healthcare providers to encourage them to award contracts to TeleQuality. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks called this "one of the most egregious" violations of USF he can recall. He said the FCC should have taken stronger enforcement action because "the company will simply repay a portion of its ill-gotten gains. In cases of fraud on the Universal Service Fund, it is imperative that the fund be made whole." He suggested the company should be debarred from further RHC participation. "According to the FCC, there were activities from 2015-2017 that were in non-compliance with rules," a TeleQuality spokesperson emailed. "TeleQuality was acquired in January 2018. The new ownership and management ran an internal review and found non-compliance in procedures, which were proactively reported to the FCC. The matter has been settled with the FCC through a consent decree, and TeleQuality looks forward to providing excellent customer service under new ownership."

The FCC got some industry support for new supply chain rules designed to protect U.S. networks. But groups representing rural carriers raised concerns, and Huawei said the proposals aren't legal. Commissioners approved rules 5-0 in November barring equipment from Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE in networks funded by the USF, and sought comment on whether to expand the prohibition (see 1911220033). Commenters urged coordination, especially with the Department of Homeland Security, and regulatory humility. Comments were posted Monday and Tuesday in docket 18-89.