The Senate Commerce Committee plans to mark up on Wednesday a Democratic bill that would restore the FTC’s Section 13(b) authority to seek equitable monetary relief, as expected (see 2205030056). The Consumer Protection Remedies Act (S-4145), led by Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., would restore the 13(b) authority, which the Supreme Court stripped last year (see 2104220068). Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., signed on as cosponsors. Cantwell initially sought GOP support for the bill (see 2106210054) with committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss. Also on the agenda: the Funding Affordable Internet with Reliable Contributions Act (S-2427) and the Network Equipment Transparency Act (S-3692). S-2427 would direct the FCC to study “the feasibility of funding Universal Service Fund through contributions supplied by edge providers” like Google-owned YouTube and Netflix (see 2107210067). S-3692 would require the FCC to determine as part of future Telecom Act Section 706 broadband deployment reports “whether a lack of network equipment significantly impacted the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability during the applicable year.” The markup will begin at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell.

USTelecom told FCC Wireline Bureau staff it backs NTCA's request for the FCC to extend its waiver of the budget control mechanism for rural cost-based Connect America Fund broadband loop support and high-cost loop support recipients, said an ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 10-90 (see 2204110062). The group said it anticipates universal service support for "several hundred small rural companies and cooperatives over the next twelve-month period will be reduced significantly" once the Universal Service Administrative Co. completes its "recalculation of the impact estimate on the high cost budget."

E-rate groups and industry broadly rejected the FCC’s proposal to establish a centralized online bidding portal for the E-rate program, as expected (see 2112070053). Groups asked the agency to abandon the NPRM, saying the record doesn’t reflect a need for such a change to E-rate, in comments posted Thursday in docket 21-455.

The FCC Wireline Bureau approved the rural healthcare program's FY 2022 funding request review procedures for the telecom program, it said in a letter to the Universal Service Administrative Co. Friday in docket 02-60. The approval is "subject to further modifications" or "instruction from the commission."

Arizona could modify state USF into a rural-focused fund to expand broadband, said Smith Bagley in comments Monday at the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). "A narrowly tailored state universal service fund may be uniquely qualified to understand and address specific local needs in a manner that large temporary federal grant programs cannot.” The ACC could, through a rulemaking, amend Arizona USF rules “to create a rural universal service fund similar to the fund created by the New Mexico Public Utilities Commission,” it said in docket T-00000A-20-0336. Smith Bagley provides wireless and wireline service to tribes in remote parts of Arizona, but some areas in that territory remain unserved, and the company's voice, 3G and 4G networks "cannot be upgraded to 5G without substantial additional investment in wireless equipment and middle-mile fiber connections to its towers,” it said. "In areas with poor demographics and sparse population density (often less than ten people per square mile) there is no business plan supporting these additional investments without assistance from either a universal service mechanism or a grant program specifically designed to encourage investment.” Smith Bagley disagreed with Frontier Communications that the fund should be limited to voice. Tuscon Electric Power and UNS Electric on Friday supported using AUSF for “broadband development in rural and tribal communities, especially those that may be impacted by coal plant closures.” ACC Chairwoman Lea Marquez Peterson sought comments from tribes and cooperatives after only telecom companies commented initially on a possible AUSF update (see 2203280052).

Nontraditional providers are key to expanding broadband and making it affordable, said Commissioner Darcie Houck at a California Public Utilities Commission event Tuesday. At the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) virtual workshop, a municipal broadband panel urged the commission to dismiss industry naysayers.

As NTIA and the states work through the details of the more than $48 billion in connectivity money that will be awarded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the wireless industry is making a concerted push to make sure wireless remains part of the equation. Some state officials remain skeptical of how big of a role wireless will play, and remain focused on fiber. Industry officials are watching closely for NTIA rules due out in May.

Industry counseled against FCC regulation on vulnerabilities to the security and integrity of border gateway protocols (BGP), in early comments on a February notice of inquiry from the FCC (see 2202250062). Cisco and other commenters said the issues are difficult and complex and require an international approach. The notice is part of the FCC’s cybersecurity focus as it looks at vulnerabilities posed by Russian companies (see 2203180051).

With three months to go before the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline begins accepting calls and texts via 988, promotion and efforts at raising public awareness will be decentralized, with a national campaign geared to the public possible next year. 988 services are to be available nationwide effective July 16. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) told us 988 won't be available nationally before then, so it recommends not promoting its use to the public in advance.

Windstream agreed to pay $1.2 million and entered into a consent decree after an investigation into whether the provider violated FCC rural healthcare program rules on the determination of rural rates for services provided from FY 2017 through FY 2020, said an Enforcement Bureau order Tuesday. The settlement includes about $1 million in repayment to the Universal Service Fund and a $200,000 fine. Windstream "failed to use any of the three rate-setting methods available to service providers" and "has not been able to provide the commission with documents sufficient to demonstrate the processes used to set its rural rates," the order said. Windstream agreed to implement "enhanced compliance measures" as part of its participation in the program. “To facilitate the proper distribution of funds for these limited and invaluable resources, we vigorously pursue violations of the commission’s rural healthcare rules to ensure that funds designated for rural areas and health care providers are available to program participants with no entity receiving an improper or disproportionate share,” said acting Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal. Windstream is "pleased that this matter has concluded," emailed a spokesperson.