Industry lawyers are watching a pledge by FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly to develop rules to prevent new E-rate-subsidized fiber networks from overbuilding existing USF-funded broadband providers and "stealing" their prime customers, such as schools. Kelley Drye said in a Thursday email blast that "one of the most significant things to watch may be Commissioner O'Rielly's questioning of USAC [Universal Service Administrative Co.] over possible use of USF money to overbuild existing broadband networks." Joel Miller, O'Rielly's chief of staff, emailed us that "Commissioner O'Rielly has made fixing the problem of overbuilding a high priority." Several Texas telcos this week offered suggestions for an FCC rulemaking to oversee the matter (see 1905230005). O'Rielly also calls for legislative fixes to prevent duplicative spending on broadband across federal agencies, and if other agencies and departments become involved, to ensure proper coordination.

The House Commerce Committee is set to get dueling feedback from communications sector stakeholders Wednesday on broadband provisions in the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act (HR-2741). The bill, refiled last week, would allocate $40 billion for broadband projects, $12 billion in grants for implementing next-generation 911 technologies and $5 billion for a loan and credit program for broadband projects. Democrats first filed the bill in 2017 (see 1706020056). The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.

The House Commerce Committee is set to get dueling feedback from communications sector stakeholders Wednesday on broadband provisions in the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (Lift) America Act (HR-2741). The bill, refiled last week, would allocate $40 billion for broadband projects, $12 billion in grants for implementing next-generation 911 technologies and $5 billion for a loan and credit program for broadband projects. Democrats first filed the bill in 2017 (see 1706020056). The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.

Demand for upfront payments and multiyear commitments exceeded a $150 million cap for the first time in the history of the Rural Health Care Fund, said an FCC order Monday to provide full funding for all eligible requests for FY 2018. The agency said in docket 02-60 it has suspended its multiyear commitment rule for participants in the RHC program, which is backed by the Universal Service Administrative Co. and provides broadband assistance to rural healthcare providers. The order instructs USAC to designate contracts associated with multiyear funding requests as "evergreen" to exempt them from annual competitive bidding requirements. The commission extended the filing window for 2019 applications from May 31 to June 30, after some groups were concerned (see 1903190019). "We need to evaluate and better understand the growth in demand for the Healthcare Connect Fund, so we can stay ahead of changes and enable the program to meet the needs of those it serves," said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in an accompanying statement.

Demand for upfront payments and multiyear commitments exceeded a $150 million cap for the first time in the history of the Rural Health Care Fund, said an FCC order Monday to provide full funding for all eligible requests for FY 2018. The agency said in docket 02-60 it has suspended its multiyear commitment rule for participants in the RHC program, which is backed by the Universal Service Administrative Co. and provides broadband assistance to rural healthcare providers. The order instructs USAC to designate contracts associated with multiyear funding requests as "evergreen" to exempt them from annual competitive bidding requirements. The commission extended the filing window for 2019 applications from May 31 to June 30, after some groups were concerned (see 1903190019). "We need to evaluate and better understand the growth in demand for the Healthcare Connect Fund, so we can stay ahead of changes and enable the program to meet the needs of those it serves," said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in an accompanying statement.

The California Public Utilities Commission is taking a fresh look at communications, said members and staff at a commission meeting livestreamed Monday. Commissioners want to better understand future communications needs so they can determine the right role for the state regulator. They highlighted network issues during wildfires and low access among rural and low-income populations as possible issues.

The California Public Utilities Commission is taking a fresh look at communications, said members and staff at a commission meeting livestreamed Monday. Commissioners want to better understand future communications needs so they can determine the right role for the state regulator. They highlighted network issues during wildfires and low access among rural and low-income populations as possible issues.

The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition and other telehealth interests met with officials from the FCC Wireline Bureau about concerns over delayed release of commitment decisions from funding year 2018 under the Healthcare Connect Fund (see 1811280052), said a filing posted Thursday in docket 17-310. SHLB said it also discussed the need to extend the 2019 deadline to apply. John Graham, senior investigator at the University of North Carolina North Carolina Institute for Public Health and who represented the North Carolina Telehealth Network, mentioned how important telemental health services are to preventing drug abuse and suicide in three counties served by a single remaining hospital. Graham said a health department had to suspend some critical clinical and preventive services due to the FY 2018 funding delays from HCF, which helps support needed broadband connectivity. Others attending the May 10 meeting included the New England Telehealth Consortium, Connections Telehealth Consortium, Alaska Communications, California Telehealth Network and Telehealth Funding Connection. The groups mentioned a recent GAO report that Medicare Advantage participants would save an expected $560 million over 10 years through a pending rule change by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that would increase the use of telemedicine and telehealth services: "A robust and well-funded" RHC "is needed to fully realize these and similar savings possible through increased telehealth."

The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition and other telehealth interests met with officials from the FCC Wireline Bureau about concerns over delayed release of commitment decisions from funding year 2018 under the Healthcare Connect Fund (see 1811280052), said a filing posted Thursday in docket 17-310. SHLB said it also discussed the need to extend the 2019 deadline to apply. John Graham, senior investigator at the University of North Carolina North Carolina Institute for Public Health and who represented the North Carolina Telehealth Network, mentioned how important telemental health services are to preventing drug abuse and suicide in three counties served by a single remaining hospital. Graham said a health department had to suspend some critical clinical and preventive services due to the FY 2018 funding delays from HCF, which helps support needed broadband connectivity. Others attending the May 10 meeting included the New England Telehealth Consortium, Connections Telehealth Consortium, Alaska Communications, California Telehealth Network and Telehealth Funding Connection. The groups mentioned a recent GAO report that Medicare Advantage participants would save an expected $560 million over 10 years through a pending rule change by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that would increase the use of telemedicine and telehealth services: "A robust and well-funded" RHC "is needed to fully realize these and similar savings possible through increased telehealth."

During a House Financial Services subcommittee hearing on U.S. sanctions, several panelists painted a grave picture of the state of U.S.-imposed sanctions on Russia, calling for additional, stronger measures and criticizing the Trump administration's removal of sanctions from several Russian companies in January. “You’ve asked whether the current sanctions policy is effective, especially as it relates to Russia,” Daleep Singh, a senior fellow for the Center for a New American Security, told the Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy on May 15. “Forgive me for being blunt, but my answer right now is 'no.'”