Rep. Richard Nugent, R-Fla., alerted FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to a problem that Wheeler agreed would be cause for great concern. “It has come to my attention that contractors for the Universal Service Fund are setting up booths outside of Veterans Administration locations offering free cellphones with service, implying strongly that it is a government benefit specifically for veterans,” Nugent told Wheeler in a letter. “However, mere months later, the veterans receive a notice that they must provide proof that they meet the income threshold.” He blasted this as “an abuse” of USF intentions, with veterans “misled” and the targeting of veterans disgraceful. Wheeler responded in an Oct. 2 letter released this week. “I am as outraged as you are that agents of a wireless phone company would target veterans with false and misleading information with the goal of scamming those veterans and the Lifeline program,” Wheeler told Nugent. “It is an insult to the veterans who were targeted, and it undermines the integrity of the Lifeline program. We will not stand for it.” Commission staffers have worked with the veterans, who should be held harmless, Wheeler said. Tracfone “has promised that the affected veterans will be able to use the service at least through the end of the year,” Wheeler added. “Tracfone must better police its agents and ensure that they immediately stop this activity, so that no additional veterans are victimized.” He has asked staffers to investigate further and is open to, “if necessary, withholding future remittances to Tracfone.” Wheeler referred the case to the FCC Office of Inspector General “with a request that they work to bring appropriate legal action,” he said. “Our referral of this matter to OIG reflects the gravity of the alleged violations.” Tracfone had no immediate comment.
Frontier Communications’ lobbying in 2015’s third quarter included the “proposed Frontier acquisition of certain Verizon wireline services in CA, FL and TX,” its Q3 lobbying report said. These disclosure reports aren’t due until next week, but several lobbying firms and companies have begun filing theirs in recent days. Frontier didn’t spend any more in Q3 of 2015 than it did in the same quarter in 2014 -- $140,000. The company listed the same number for its lobbying expenses in the first and second quarters of 2015. Frontier’s Jennifer Schneider also lobbied on “consideration of any update to existing telecommunications laws,” “rural broadband deployment and adoption,” “FCC rules and regulations related to universal service and broadband, including Connect America Fund, E-rate, Lifeline and contributions,” cybersecurity and net neutrality, Frontier’s report said. It also lobbied on tax issues.
Frontier Communications’ lobbying in 2015’s third quarter included the “proposed Frontier acquisition of certain Verizon wireline services in CA, FL and TX,” its Q3 lobbying report said. These disclosure reports aren’t due until next week, but several lobbying firms and companies have begun filing theirs in recent days. Frontier didn’t spend any more in Q3 of 2015 than it did in the same quarter in 2014 -- $140,000. The company listed the same number for its lobbying expenses in the first and second quarters of 2015. Frontier’s Jennifer Schneider also lobbied on “consideration of any update to existing telecommunications laws,” “rural broadband deployment and adoption,” “FCC rules and regulations related to universal service and broadband, including Connect America Fund, E-rate, Lifeline and contributions,” cybersecurity and net neutrality, Frontier’s report said. It also lobbied on tax issues.
FORT LAUDERDALE -- FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn made a strong pitch for a permanent mobility fund, during a Thursday keynote address at the Competitive Carriers Association convention. CCA members have pushed hard for a new mobility fund, building on Phase I launched four years ago.
Industry parties and others continued to support FCC proposals to Lifeline USF subsidies to broadband service and revamp administrative oversight, but divisions remain over specifics. In reply comments filed in docket 11-42 responding to initial comments on the FCC’s NPRM (see 1509010073 and 1509040045), parties generally backed giving low-income consumers expanded choice and shifting responsibility for verifying Lifeline subscriber eligibility from telecom carriers to a third party. But there was disagreement over whether the FCC should establish minimum Lifeline standards for broadband/voice service. Numerous tribal groups also filed reply comments urging the FCC to retain and even increase enhanced Lifeline tribal support.
Industry parties and others continued to support FCC proposals to Lifeline USF subsidies to broadband service and revamp administrative oversight, but divisions remain over specifics. In reply comments filed in docket 11-42 responding to initial comments on the FCC’s NPRM (see 1509010073 and 1509040045), parties generally backed giving low-income consumers expanded choice and shifting responsibility for verifying Lifeline subscriber eligibility from telecom carriers to a third party. But there was disagreement over whether the FCC should establish minimum Lifeline standards for broadband/voice service. Numerous tribal groups also filed reply comments urging the FCC to retain and even increase enhanced Lifeline tribal support.
Even as both houses of Congress paved the way Wednesday for short-term government funding, federal agencies' contingency planning in case of another shutdown continued. The release of all agencies' shutdown contingency plans highlights the possible effects of a shutdown if a similar resolution fails to pass in December, observers told us. Industry and agency officials previously told us the FCC has restructured its budget, so there will be funding to allow portions of its website to remain online during a shutdown (see 1509250054). One change from the 2013 shutdown is that many agencies' websites will remain online, we found.
Even as both houses of Congress paved the way Wednesday for short-term government funding, federal agencies' contingency planning in case of another shutdown continued. The release of all agencies' shutdown contingency plans highlights the possible effects of a shutdown if a similar resolution fails to pass in December, observers told us. Industry and agency officials previously told us the FCC has restructured its budget, so there will be funding to allow portions of its website to remain online during a shutdown (see 1509250054). One change from the 2013 shutdown is that many agencies' websites will remain online, we found.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission Public Utility Department is seeking comment on how to resolve problems with special universal services funding from the state USF, the department said in a notice of inquiry earlier this month. The commission is looking for recommendations on payments from the fund that affect telemedicine and Internet access to public schools and public libraries, the NOI said. Some questions ask commenters to address how the school funding should be based, what the target bandwidth for libraries in the state should be, and whether the state should adopt FCC telemedicine values. The commission also is reviewing how to define "public interest," as it can reject a request if there is a lack of it. A hearing is set for Dec. 1.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission Public Utility Department is seeking comment on how to resolve problems with special universal services funding from the state USF, the department said in a notice of inquiry earlier this month. The commission is looking for recommendations on payments from the fund that affect telemedicine and Internet access to public schools and public libraries, the NOI said. Some questions ask commenters to address how the school funding should be based, what the target bandwidth for libraries in the state should be, and whether the state should adopt FCC telemedicine values. The commission also is reviewing how to define "public interest," as it can reject a request if there is a lack of it. A hearing is set for Dec. 1.