ORLANDO -- The FCC should extend the Mobility Fund II challenge process by more than three months to fix a deficient process, said a NARUC resolution cleared Monday by the Telecom Committee and Tuesday by the board. At NARUC's annual meeting (see 1811130035), the committee voted unanimously for the resolution after tweaking some language to address other commissioners’ concerns. Idaho Commissioner Paul Kjellander will step down as Telecom Committee chairman to join NARUC leadership, he said Monday.

Two tech trade group representatives played down the value of consumer data during Tuesday’s FTC policy hearing (see 1810310052). Another industry official argued too much focus is on drawbacks of big-data collection, not enough on benefits.

Two tech trade group representatives played down the value of consumer data during Tuesday’s FTC policy hearing (see 1810310052). Another industry official argued too much focus is on drawbacks of big-data collection, not enough on benefits.

A Philippines-based company is looking to establish itself as the blockchain-based loyalty program for the crypto generation, Appsolutely CEO Patrick Palacios told us Monday. Palacios, in New York to meet with journalists and potential partners, is targeting fledgling cryptocurrency and blockchain student organizations at universities, hoping to establish its Loyal Wallet app as the loyalty reward program provider for small- to medium-sized businesses looking to create a millennial following. Appsolutely is also partnering with gift card company CashStar, he said. “We want to globalize loyalty points,” said Palacios, saying the borderless ecosystem allows users to accrue and use points in participating countries using its LoyalCoin cryptocurrency. “There should be one coalition program where you can earn and redeem points anytime, anywhere and everywhere in any country in the world.” Customers download the Loyal Wallet app for Android or iOS devices to receive a discount or free item from a participating merchant. They can redeem points for goods or services or hold LoyalCoin with the hope the value grows, he said. Partners include 7-Eleven, Philippine Air Lines, FamilyMart and bubble tea company Gong Cha. Though crypto and blockchain won’t be mainstream for a number of years, the company hopes to get in on the ground floor of an emerging trend. Retailers join the loyalty program as part of a free trial; once the company sees a sales uptick that it can tag to a Loyal Wallet purchase -- at least 10 percent of transactions -- it charges the retailer per transaction. The company is building its U.S. business development operation in Santa Monica, California, Palacios said. A primary challenge is overcoming companies’ concern over blockchain and cryptocurrency, said Palacios, saying regulations protect the process. He cited Know Your Customer regulatory requirements that "you are who you say you are" where banks obtain information about the identity and address of their customers along with the use of two-factor authentication to prevent fraud. Palacios said he funded his company with $12 million raised over three months in an initial coin offering of LoyalCoin.

The USF contribution factor could drop in Q1 to 19.7 percent, from Q4's 20.1 percent, of carrier U.S. interstate and international (long-distance) telecom end user revenue, said industry consultant Billy Jack Gregg's email update Friday, citing a Universal Service Administrative Co. demand projection in FCC docket 06-122. But the factor could be higher than 19.7 percent if the long-term decline in the industry's revenue base continues in Q1, he said, noting an expected 2018 base of $51 billion would be the lowest in USF history. USAC's Q1 revenue projection is due at the end of November. Overall, USF demand for Q1 was $2.02 billion, $34.4 million less than in Q4, with a high-cost fund decrease of $51.6 million the biggest factor, he said.

A Philippines-based company is looking to establish itself as the blockchain-based loyalty program for the crypto generation, Appsolutely CEO Patrick Palacios told us Monday. Palacios, in New York to meet with journalists and potential partners, is targeting fledgling cryptocurrency and blockchain student organizations at universities, hoping to establish its Loyal Wallet app as the loyalty reward program provider for small- to medium-sized businesses looking to create a millennial following. Appsolutely is also partnering with gift card company CashStar, he said. “We want to globalize loyalty points,” said Palacios, saying the borderless ecosystem allows users to accrue and use points in participating countries using its LoyalCoin cryptocurrency. “There should be one coalition program where you can earn and redeem points anytime, anywhere and everywhere in any country in the world.” Customers download the Loyal Wallet app for Android or iOS devices to receive a discount or free item from a participating merchant. They can redeem points for goods or services or hold LoyalCoin with the hope the value grows, he said. Partners include 7-Eleven, Philippine Air Lines, FamilyMart and bubble tea company Gong Cha. Though crypto and blockchain won’t be mainstream for a number of years, the company hopes to get in on the ground floor of an emerging trend. Retailers join the loyalty program as part of a free trial; once the company sees a sales uptick that it can tag to a Loyal Wallet purchase -- at least 10 percent of transactions -- it charges the retailer per transaction. The company is building its U.S. business development operation in Santa Monica, California, Palacios said. A primary challenge is overcoming companies’ concern over blockchain and cryptocurrency, said Palacios, saying regulations protect the process. He cited Know Your Customer regulatory requirements that "you are who you say you are" where banks obtain information about the identity and address of their customers along with the use of two-factor authentication to prevent fraud. Palacios said he funded his company with $12 million raised over three months in an initial coin offering of LoyalCoin.

Experts see the FCC orbital debris rules re-examination, on Nov. 15's tentative agenda, as a good start in facing increased worries about space junk. It may be a long process. Given complexity of debris mitigation, "these changes in the rules are not likely to result in a sudden sea change," emailed P.J. Blount, University of Mississippi air and space law adjunct professor.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) asked the FCC to permanently lift its E-rate amortization policy or extend suspension another four years. In 2014, the FCC suspended Universal Service Administrative Co.’s policy requiring E-rate applicants amortize upfront special construction charges over years. The commission increased an applicant’s discount rate up to an additional 10 percent to match state funding. The suspension expires June 30. New Mexico previously sought extension (see 1609020036). Illinois wants to extend a $16.3 million appropriation for connecting schools and libraries to broadband, said Rauner’s office and the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology Wednesday's letter in docket 13-184. “Failure to extend the suspension of the amortization policy will have a chilling effect on further construction of high speed networks to school districts most in need.” It would limit districts to $500,000 in special construction costs and restrict them from seeking further matching funds for 15 years, Illinois said. E-rate support won’t be used to overbuild or duplicate Connect America Fund support, the state said.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) asked the FCC to permanently lift its E-rate amortization policy or extend suspension another four years. In 2014, the FCC suspended Universal Service Administrative Co.’s policy requiring E-rate applicants amortize upfront special construction charges over years. The commission increased an applicant’s discount rate up to an additional 10 percent to match state funding. The suspension expires June 30. New Mexico previously sought extension (see 1609020036). Illinois wants to extend a $16.3 million appropriation for connecting schools and libraries to broadband, said Rauner’s office and the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology Wednesday's letter in docket 13-184. “Failure to extend the suspension of the amortization policy will have a chilling effect on further construction of high speed networks to school districts most in need.” It would limit districts to $500,000 in special construction costs and restrict them from seeking further matching funds for 15 years, Illinois said. E-rate support won’t be used to overbuild or duplicate Connect America Fund support, the state said.

A CLE heard criticism of FCC broadband mapping inaccuracies and of an AT&T executive appearing to some to celebrate a municipal network's struggles. Many at Thursday's Wolters Kluwer event agreed the maps need improvement, including Mississippi Public Service Commission Chairman Brandon Presley (D). He has a related draft NARUC resolution (see 1810310035). "The maps are completely inaccurate" and some providers claim to have service in places where they don't, he said: "We’re finding problems throughout our district," which covers about a third of Mississippi. Best Best law firm's Gerard Lederer, who represents municipalities, said "we simply would like to have facts. ... We really need to know where to fill in the gaps. If you don’t have agreement on that, I’m not sure how you can pursue the goal" of universal-type availability. The FCC has defended its process, and declined to comment now. An Oct. 24 tweet from AT&T Mississippi President Mayo Flynt that "another one bites the dust" on Opelika, Alabama, selling its "broadband business for big loss" also drew scrutiny Wednesday. USTelecom Vice President-Law and Policy Diane Griffin Holland said that, speaking personally, "We should not necessarily poke fun at or have a visceral reaction where a municipality seeks to take the initiative to deploy broadband." She thinks public-private partnerships could "take sort of the best of both worlds" to perhaps get "us closer to ubiquitous deployment." Mayo was highlighting AT&T's long-held position that "government-owned networks typically fail at great cost to taxpayers,” a spokesman said. “A number of municipal broadband efforts have failed over the last several years, often at great cost to local taxpayers," a USTelecom spokesman also noted. The group's "position has long been that bringing broadband to unserved areas is essential to closing today’s digital divide," he said. "The best way for municipalities to aid in this effort is through lowering the barriers to private sector deployment and partnering with private companies." As government is funding some projects to fill in digital gaps, some sought higher speeds. Speeds of 10/1 Mbps downstream/upstream may not be sufficient, and the Utilities Technology Council seeks 25/3 or higher, said General Counsel Brett Kilbourne. Many customers of utilities in sparsely populated areas buy 50 Mbps and above, even when slower speeds are available, he said. "Folks in rural areas want high speeds just as much as folks in urban areas."