ISPs expect wide participation in the first phase of the $20 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auctions FCC Chairman Ajit Pai signaled he wants in 2020, they said in interviews this month. RDOF replaces the Connect America Fund phase II USF program that supports deployment in high-cost, sparsely populated areas (see 1907110031). "We'll start to see the pace of things quicken in 2020," said Mike Saperstein, USTelecom vice president-policy and advocacy.

ISPs expect wide participation in the first phase of the $20 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auctions FCC Chairman Ajit Pai signaled he wants in 2020, they said in interviews this month. RDOF replaces the Connect America Fund phase II USF program that supports deployment in high-cost, sparsely populated areas (see 1907110031). "We'll start to see the pace of things quicken in 2020," said Mike Saperstein, USTelecom vice president-policy and advocacy.

The FCC said rural broadband experiment applicant Northeast Rural Services demonstrated good cause for waiver of default rules that would have allowed Universal Service Administrative Co. to collect all disbursed funds from its program participation, in an order in Thursday's Daily Digest and on docket 14-259. The Wireline Bureau directed USAC seek repayment on a study area basis. But Lake County, Minnesota, the order said, "failed to demonstrate good cause for waiver of the commission's default rules to permit it to retain a percentage of its disbursed support based on the average amount of disbursed support per location reported as served as of its 15-month milestone." It said the county permanently defaulted on its obligations. The municipality didn't comment. The locality petitioned for relinquishment of RBE status after it agreed to sell its broadband network (see 1905200043).

The FCC said rural broadband experiment applicant Northeast Rural Services demonstrated good cause for waiver of default rules that would have allowed Universal Service Administrative Co. to collect all disbursed funds from its program participation, in an order in Thursday's Daily Digest and on docket 14-259. The Wireline Bureau directed USAC seek repayment on a study area basis. But Lake County, Minnesota, the order said, "failed to demonstrate good cause for waiver of the commission's default rules to permit it to retain a percentage of its disbursed support based on the average amount of disbursed support per location reported as served as of its 15-month milestone." It said the county permanently defaulted on its obligations. The municipality didn't comment. The locality petitioned for relinquishment of RBE status after it agreed to sell its broadband network (see 1905200043).

House Commerce Committee leaders raised concerns about lack of detail on the FCC’s recently announced plan to ditch Mobility Fund Phase II and repurpose $9 billion in USF funds for that program and others over the next 10 years for a new 5G Fund (see 1912040027). Several lawmakers raised concerns about the proposal at a House Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight hearing earlier this month (see 1912050043). The “5G Fund must be allocated responsibly,” said House Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., and others in Thursday's letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “The way that this fund is structured can make the difference between connecting unserved and underserved Americans or deepening the digital divide.” House Communications Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, also signed. “Goals of [MF-II] remain unmet” so it “is critical that areas that lack 4G LTE coverage -- or any connectivity -- are not left behind in a rush to advance well intended efforts to deploy 5G,” the lawmakers said. “The design and execution of any new fund must be carefully constructed to succeed where [MF-II] failed.” They sought information on what “safeguards” the agency will “put in place to ensure that areas eligible for support are based on reliable coverage data,” along with how the commission will determine which services qualify for 5G Fund support and potential performance benchmarks. The FCC is "pleased" House Commerce leaders are "‘encouraged that the FCC plans to dedicate $9 billion in Universal Service Fund support’ to expand mobile broadband in rural areas as well as the wide range of support for the creation of the 5G Fund," a spokesperson emailed. "The questions they raise are important ones that the Commission will resolve through a notice-and-comment rulemaking to be launched early next year."

House Commerce Committee leaders raised concerns about lack of detail on the FCC’s recently announced plan to ditch Mobility Fund Phase II and repurpose $9 billion in USF funds for that program and others over the next 10 years for a new 5G Fund (see 1912040027). Several lawmakers raised concerns about the proposal at a House Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight hearing earlier this month (see 1912050043). The “5G Fund must be allocated responsibly,” said House Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., and others in Thursday's letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “The way that this fund is structured can make the difference between connecting unserved and underserved Americans or deepening the digital divide.” House Communications Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, also signed. “Goals of [MF-II] remain unmet” so it “is critical that areas that lack 4G LTE coverage -- or any connectivity -- are not left behind in a rush to advance well intended efforts to deploy 5G,” the lawmakers said. “The design and execution of any new fund must be carefully constructed to succeed where [MF-II] failed.” They sought information on what “safeguards” the agency will “put in place to ensure that areas eligible for support are based on reliable coverage data,” along with how the commission will determine which services qualify for 5G Fund support and potential performance benchmarks. The FCC is "pleased" House Commerce leaders are "‘encouraged that the FCC plans to dedicate $9 billion in Universal Service Fund support’ to expand mobile broadband in rural areas as well as the wide range of support for the creation of the 5G Fund," a spokesperson emailed. "The questions they raise are important ones that the Commission will resolve through a notice-and-comment rulemaking to be launched early next year."

The FCC Wireline Bureau adopted E-rate 2020 funding year eligible services list as proposed in August (see 1908020016), said an order for docket 13-184 in Tuesday's Daily Digest. It declined "several requests that are beyond the scope of this proceeding." The bureau asked Universal Service Administrative Co. to open the FY 2020 E-rate application filing window in 45 days. Recommended changes to E-rate applications are a separate proceeding (see 1911180012). Last week, the FCC 5-0 made permanent a five-year budget cycle for E-rate category 2 (see 1912030065).

The FCC Wireline Bureau adopted E-rate 2020 funding year eligible services list as proposed in August (see 1908020016), said an order for docket 13-184 in Tuesday's Daily Digest. It declined "several requests that are beyond the scope of this proceeding." The bureau asked Universal Service Administrative Co. to open the FY 2020 E-rate application filing window in 45 days. Recommended changes to E-rate applications are a separate proceeding (see 1911180012). Last week, the FCC 5-0 made permanent a five-year budget cycle for E-rate category 2 (see 1912030065).

Internecine clashes in the mental health crisis and social service communities over what three digits to use for a nationwide suicide prevention hotline are seemingly over. There's general acceptance -- sometimes grudging -- of 988, experts told us. Many see its selection as inevitable given the support on Capitol Hill and at the FCC. Commissioners vote Thursday on a draft NPRM proposing 988 (see 1911210049).

Three Democratic 2020 presidential hopefuls proposed or restated plans Friday to guarantee universal broadband access and other tech and telecom priorities. Many of the leading Democratic candidates have proposed multibillion-dollar funding for broadband deployments, with a special focus on increasing service to rural consumers (see 1909040061). Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wants to ensure “every American household will have affordable, high-speed internet by the end of his first term” if he's elected president. “Our tax dollars built the internet and access to it should be a public good for all, not another price gouging profit machine for Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon,” he said in the plan. He would “instruct the FCC to regulate broadband internet rates” and “work with Congress to codify net neutrality protections into law to prevent a future FCC from repealing them once again” as it did in rescission of 2015 rules. Sanders committed to “appoint members of the FCC who will use [Communications Act] Title II authority to promote competition, choice, and affordability for broadband service.” He would establish “a dedicated, accelerated last-mile fund through the Department of Agriculture’s [Rural Utilities Service] to provide capital funding to connect all remote rural households and businesses and upgrade outdated technology and infrastructure, prioritizing funding for existing co-ops and small rural utilities.” Sanders also wants to pre-empt all state-level laws “that limit or bar” municipal broadband. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., “will work to codify strong net neutrality principles and make immediate progress in her first 100 days by using federal contracting requirements to encourage broadband providers to honor net neutrality principles and promote a free and open internet,” her campaign blogged. Klobuchar would also “push for” legislation similar to her Social Media Privacy and Consumer Rights Act (S-189) “to require companies to notify users within 72 hours when their data has been breached and offer meaningful remedies for people whose data has been compromised.” Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., also wants to “guarantee access to broadband.” He would “close the digital divide once and for all by making unprecedented federal investment for broadband in rural areas and Indian Country, updating and increasing flexibility in existing federal programs to better serve rural needs, automatically enrolling low-income families into the FCC Lifeline program, investing in rural cooperatives, and passing his Community Broadband Act to push back on efforts by [ISPs] to restrict or prohibit municipal and cooperatively-owned broadband that could lower costs and improve access” (see 1703280022). Free Press Policy Manager Dana Floberg lauded the Sanders and Klobuchar plans.