The wireless industry said the FCC should reject some proposed changes sought by other commenters (see 1805210044), in replies on a cell-booster Further NPRM. In March, commissioners approved an order 5-0 lifting the personal use restriction on consumer cell-signal boosters and approved an FNPRM proposing to eliminate the personal use restriction on wideband boosters and to authorize nonsubscribers to operate boosters, plus other potential changes (see 1803220037). Booster companies urged the FCC to further liberalize the rules.

The FCC approved 3-1 an order to further relax telecom service discontinuance duties and related regulatory processes in an effort to remove barriers and encourage the industry shift from legacy wireline to next-generation, IP-based offerings. Commissioners also voted 4-0 to adopt an order to relieve certain rural telcos of USF contribution obligations on their broadband services to equalize their treatment with other carriers and promote affordability. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel largely dissented on the discontinuance order and concurred on the rural telco USF order.

The FCC approved 3-1 an order to further relax telecom service discontinuance duties and related regulatory processes in an effort to remove barriers and encourage the industry shift from legacy wireline to next-generation, IP-based offerings. Commissioners also voted 4-0 to adopt an order to relieve certain rural telcos of USF contribution obligations on their broadband services to equalize their treatment with other carriers and promote affordability. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel largely dissented on the discontinuance order and concurred on the rural telco USF order.

The FCC declared a Connect America Fund Phase I challenge process concluded for 185 previously unidentified census blocks in Virginia served by Consolidated Communications' FairPoint. The commission invited challenges to determine if unsubsidized competitors served any of the 185 census blocks with data speeds of at least 3 Mbps downstream and 768 kbps upstream as of April 27 (see 1804300027). "Having received no challenges, we now conclude this process and direct the Universal Service Administrative Company not to recover the support associated with the previously unidentified census blocks, to the extent that FairPoint has otherwise satisfied its deployment obligations with respect to those blocks," said a Wireline Bureau public notice in Wednesday docket 10-90.

The FCC declared a Connect America Fund Phase I challenge process concluded for 185 previously unidentified census blocks in Virginia served by Consolidated Communications' FairPoint. The commission invited challenges to determine if unsubsidized competitors served any of the 185 census blocks with data speeds of at least 3 Mbps downstream and 768 kbps upstream as of April 27 (see 1804300027). "Having received no challenges, we now conclude this process and direct the Universal Service Administrative Company not to recover the support associated with the previously unidentified census blocks, to the extent that FairPoint has otherwise satisfied its deployment obligations with respect to those blocks," said a Wireline Bureau public notice in Wednesday docket 10-90.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) asked for FCC help to free up $32.4 million in E-rate discounts that she said is being withheld from her state by Universal Service Administrative Co. "Payments have been held for fifteen months, no new funding commitments are being issued, and nearly six months have passed since USAC requested information from Alabama," she told Chairman Ajit Pai in a letter posted Tuesday in docket 13-184. "USAC has not provided any rationale or justification for withholding the E-rate payments." Alabama is concerned about the delays affecting 1,376 school and library sites and 692,515 students that rely on E-rate discounts, she said. The FCC is reviewing the letter, said a spokesman Wednesday. USAC and Ivey's office didn't comment.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) asked for FCC help to free up $32.4 million in E-rate discounts that she said is being withheld from her state by Universal Service Administrative Co. "Payments have been held for fifteen months, no new funding commitments are being issued, and nearly six months have passed since USAC requested information from Alabama," she told Chairman Ajit Pai in a letter posted Tuesday in docket 13-184. "USAC has not provided any rationale or justification for withholding the E-rate payments." Alabama is concerned about the delays affecting 1,376 school and library sites and 692,515 students that rely on E-rate discounts, she said. The FCC is reviewing the letter, said a spokesman Wednesday. USAC and Ivey's office didn't comment.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposed hiking a USF Rural Health Care cap by 43 percent, from $400 million to $571 million per year, to reflect inflation since program inception in 1997. He circulated a draft order to increase the cap for the current (2017) funding year ending June 30, index the program for inflation going forward and allow unused funds from prior years to be carried forward to future years, said a release Wednesday. It noted recent demand exceeded the budget, creating uncertainty for participants. Rural healthcare (RHC) and telco interests welcomed the announcement.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposed hiking a USF Rural Health Care cap by 43 percent, from $400 million to $571 million per year, to reflect inflation since program inception in 1997. He circulated a draft order to increase the cap for the current (2017) funding year ending June 30, index the program for inflation going forward and allow unused funds from prior years to be carried forward to future years, said a release Wednesday. It noted recent demand exceeded the budget, creating uncertainty for participants. Rural healthcare (RHC) and telco interests welcomed the announcement.

The FCC proposal to bar USF spending on products or services from companies seen as posing a national security risk is meeting with mixed reaction, with disagreements about whether rules should be limited to USF-funded equipment and services or should have broader reach, recent docket 18-89 comments show. Huawei called the rulemaking launched in April (see 1804170038) an "improper and imprudent" blacklist, and some critics questioned the efficacy of the proposed approach. Comments were due Friday, replies July 2.