The Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology Services and Security School Wireless E-Rate Consortium asked the FCC to overturn a decision by the Universal Service Administrative Co. that an Excel spreadsheet isn’t considered a valid vendor quote. As a result of that determination, USAC denied E-rate funding for the Wachusett Regional High School, the consortium said in a filing posted Friday. The consortium said it was surprised by the decision. “We disagree with USAC’s analysis and conclusion,” the group said in docket 02-6. “We contend that the Excel spreadsheet quote is valid documentation from the service provider and the information was sufficient to determine the eligibility of the products and services."

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology Services and Security School Wireless E-Rate Consortium asked the FCC to overturn a decision by the Universal Service Administrative Co. that an Excel spreadsheet isn’t considered a valid vendor quote. As a result of that determination, USAC denied E-rate funding for the Wachusett Regional High School, the consortium said in a filing posted Friday. The consortium said it was surprised by the decision. “We disagree with USAC’s analysis and conclusion,” the group said in docket 02-6. “We contend that the Excel spreadsheet quote is valid documentation from the service provider and the information was sufficient to determine the eligibility of the products and services."

The federal government appeared Friday evening to be on the verge of a partial shutdown due to disagreement between the Senate and president and a supportive House majority over the inclusion of $5 billion in border wall funding in a continuing resolution to temporarily fund government through Feb. 8. A CR set to expire at midnight Friday covers funding for the FCC, FTC and the departments of Commerce and Homeland Security and others.

The federal government appeared Friday evening to be on the verge of a partial shutdown due to disagreement between the Senate and president and a supportive House majority over the inclusion of $5 billion in border wall funding in a continuing resolution to temporarily fund government through Feb. 8. A CR set to expire at midnight Friday covers funding for the FCC, FTC and the departments of Commerce and Homeland Security and others.

Next-generation 911 spending was nearly $200 million, less than 7 percent of total 911 fees collected, with 35 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia reporting such programs in 2017, the FCC reported Wednesday. Sixteen states said they deployed statewide emergency services IP networks (ESInets), 13 reported regional ESInets and 11 said they had local-level ESInets. Respondents said 1,381 public safety answering points were text-capable by the end of 2017 and projected another 1,103 PSAPs would be by year-end 2018. The District and 15 states spent funding on PSAP cybersecurity in 2017, but 30 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported they didn’t. States diverted nearly 10 percent of $2.9 billion in 911 fee revenue for unrelated purposes in 2017. For the first time, every jurisdiction responded for this year’s report, so some exact comparisons may not be possible. The FCC flagged Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, West Virginia and the U.S. Virgin Islands as responsible for the $285 million in diverted revenue. Representatives for them didn't comment. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Commissioner Mike O’Rielly shined a light on the problem. O’Rielly is pleased all responded, saying moving money "short-changes call centers and prevents necessary upgrades.” While NG-911 expenditures are low, that most states have those programs is “a step in the right direction in realizing that we do need to deploy” it, National Emergency Number Association CEO Brian Fontes told us. He expects states participating to rise further this year, noting California’s recent request for proposals and Utah’s RFP a few months ago. PSAP cybersecurity spending is “unfortunately” not universal, the NENA chief said: There’s “a lot of work to be done” there.

FCC staff granted one and denied six requests to waive a deadline for USF Rural Health Care Program participants that failed to submit an invoice on time. Petitioners asked for review of Universal Service Administrative Co. decisions. The Wireline Bureau granted the request of Indiana Telehealth Network (ITH), which "demonstrated that it was unable to file the Healthcare Connect Fund invoice form on a timely basis due to a USAC technical system issue," said Thursday's order in docket 02-60. It denied requests of six petitioners that "failed to present compelling explanations for their delay in seeking reimbursement": Charter Advanced Services, Charter Communications, Charter FiberLink CC VIII, Charter Fiberlink CCO, District Health Department No. 10 and Hancock Rural Telephone (also ITH).

TracFone got support from industry and public interest groups for the FCC to address “serious shortcomings” in the Lifeline national verifier being deployed by Universal Service Administrative Co. Commission and industry officials said it’s not clear if FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will press for further action, especially since his agency is reining in the program as part of changes to the USF (see 1806060031). Without FCC action, mass de-enrollments will start Jan. 2, commented the National Lifeline Association in docket 17-287. Lifeline funds are used to pay for government-subsidized services including broadband for the poor. The national verifier needs an application programming interface to work properly, stakeholders say.

States diverted nearly 10 percent of $2.9 billion in 911 fee revenue for unrelated purposes in 2017, the FCC reported Wednesday. For the first time, every jurisdiction responded for this year’s report, so some exact comparisons may not be possible. The FCC flagged Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, West Virginia and the U.S. Virgin Islands as responsible for the $285 million in diverted revenue.

Rural Wireless Association General Counsel Carri Bennet defended RWA's dispute with T-Mobile on the carrier’s Mobility Fund Phase II data submissions to the FCC (see 1812170019). "In ex parte meetings with the FCC, RWA’s members reported that T-Mobile’s MF II maps were overstated,” Bennet emailed. “Some of RWA’s members have challenged these maps and the data submitted in the [Universal Service Administrative Co.] portal support these challenges. In addition, RWA members observed during drive testing that T-Mobile’s coverage increased as time went on and testing continued. This increased coverage occurred after the Jan. 4, 2018, deadline for filing the maps. The discrepancy appears to be a timing factor. Was the coverage there on or before Jan. 4?"

Rural Wireless Association General Counsel Carri Bennet defended RWA's dispute with T-Mobile on the carrier’s Mobility Fund Phase II data submissions to the FCC (see 1812170019). "In ex parte meetings with the FCC, RWA’s members reported that T-Mobile’s MF II maps were overstated,” Bennet emailed. “Some of RWA’s members have challenged these maps and the data submitted in the [Universal Service Administrative Co.] portal support these challenges. In addition, RWA members observed during drive testing that T-Mobile’s coverage increased as time went on and testing continued. This increased coverage occurred after the Jan. 4, 2018, deadline for filing the maps. The discrepancy appears to be a timing factor. Was the coverage there on or before Jan. 4?"