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?"

The FCC unanimously adopted an order to offer rural telcos more USF support in exchange for deploying more 25/3 Mbps broadband, as some expected (see 1812100052). The main elements appear largely the same as in a draft (see 1811210032). "Many more rural Americans will have access to high-speed broadband service," said Chairman Ajit Pai. A key lawmaker and RLEC groups praised the rate-of-return USF item -- which includes a reconsideration order and Further NPRM -- approved at commissioners' meeting Wednesday.

To improve FCC mapping, Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel suggested "three C’s of broadband cartography." They are coordination with state public service commissions and the departments of Commerce and Agriculture and Ag's Rural Utilities Service; having correct information; and creative ideas like a Mobility Fund (MF) pre-auction audit by Universal Service Administrative Co. Friday's announcement of an FCC probe of carrier accuracy for MF Phase II broadband maps (see 1812070048) "is a welcome development," she told a Pew event Tuesday according to prepared remarks, but "we have a mess on our hands." So "while this investigation proceeds, we have a golden opportunity to revisit our wireless deployment data and rethink how we populate our maps," she said. It's good that earlier in 2018, the FCC, after more than three years, updated the National Broadband Map, but the wired broadband map had inaccuracies, she said. Her home was wrongly listed as having broadband services available that it actually lacked, she said. The agency declined to comment.

To improve FCC mapping, Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel suggested "three C’s of broadband cartography." They are coordination with state public service commissions and the departments of Commerce and Agriculture and Ag's Rural Utilities Service; having correct information; and creative ideas like a Mobility Fund (MF) pre-auction audit by Universal Service Administrative Co. Friday's announcement of an FCC probe of carrier accuracy for MF Phase II broadband maps (see 1812070048) "is a welcome development," she told a Pew event Tuesday according to prepared remarks, but "we have a mess on our hands." So "while this investigation proceeds, we have a golden opportunity to revisit our wireless deployment data and rethink how we populate our maps," she said. It's good that earlier in 2018, the FCC, after more than three years, updated the National Broadband Map, but the wired broadband map had inaccuracies, she said. Her home was wrongly listed as having broadband services available that it actually lacked, she said. The agency declined to comment.

The California Public Utilities Commission aims to decide by Q2 on T-Mobile’s $26 billion buy of Sprint, Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen said at a Monday workshop. The CPUC plans at least three public workshops around the state before then, he said. The New York Public Service Commission is also closely scrutinizing the deal. Other states have given OKs more quickly (see 1812030029).

The FCC will investigate if top wireless carriers submitted incorrect coverage maps in violation of Mobility Fund Phase II rules, Chairman Ajit Pai said Friday. The commission suspended the window for responding to MF-II challenges until the probe’s conclusion. Carriers said they'll cooperate. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, state commissioners and rural competitive carriers welcomed investigation, saying more work is needed.

The FCC will investigate if top wireless carriers submitted incorrect coverage maps in violation of Mobility Fund Phase II rules, Chairman Ajit Pai said Friday. The commission suspended the window for responding to MF-II challenges until the probe’s conclusion. Carriers said they'll cooperate. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, state commissioners and rural competitive carriers welcomed investigation, saying more work is needed.

An FCC declaratory order to clarify wireless messaging as a Title I information service, rather than a more regulated telecom service, appears headed to a 3-1 vote Wednesday, with a dissent expected by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, industry officials said. Twilio sought Communications Act Title II classification for texting in 2015, after the FCC classified broadband as a Title II service (see 1510130040).

CBP plans to make use of the new entry type meant for low-value shipments as part of the next blockchain "use case" involving intellectual property rights licensing, said Vincent Annunziato, director of CBP’s Business Transformation and Innovation Division. "We figured out a way to make it so we're tying in the data that we're getting off the licensing to the entry," he said of the test while speaking on a panel during the stakeholder's forum of the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council on Dec. 5. "And we're using that new type 86 that hasn't come out yet so a lot of the companies will get a chance to experiment." The new type 86 entry is planned as a way to handle de minimis shipments in the Automated Broker Interface, with a pilot program expected during calendar year 2019 (see 1810200002).