Rural broadband providers want the FCC to update or clarify eligibility requirements for applicants in its upcoming Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auctions to award up to $20 billion in USF dollars to companies that can deliver high-speed broadband to unserved and underserved parts of rural America (see 1908010060). In comments posted through Monday on docket 19-126, industry groups differed on whether and how to expand the pool of applicants that could receive the federal funding to deliver high-speed internet service to remote communities.

Rural broadband providers want the FCC to update or clarify eligibility requirements for applicants in its upcoming Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auctions to award up to $20 billion in USF dollars to companies that can deliver high-speed broadband to unserved and underserved parts of rural America (see 1908010060). In comments posted through Monday on docket 19-126, industry groups differed on whether and how to expand the pool of applicants that could receive the federal funding to deliver high-speed internet service to remote communities.

The FCC should let phone providers eliminate the line-item fee on USF contributions for inmate calling service customers making interstate and international calls, said comments posted through Tuesday in docket 19-232. Network Communications International last month petitioned for forbearance from the fees (see 1908160040). The Human Rights Defense Center said "excessive fees collected under the pretense of USF contribution requirements must be overturned to facilitate fair and equitable jail and prison telephone access." Wright Petitioners said it's "fundamentally unfair and a violation of the FCC's Universal Service directives to require ICS customers to contribute" to the USF "when a significant portion of these very same ICS customers actually receive assistance from the programs supported and maintained" through that fund. The Prison Policy Initiative said exempting ICS carriers from USF contributions "would be a tremendous savings to the low-income users of these services" without a material effect on USF operations. Securus said "the unique hardship that incarceration imposes on both inmates and their family members, who are often the ones actually paying for ICS calls, creates a strong basis for distinguishing between ICS and other telecommunications services." It said the benefits of forbearance outweigh the slightly increased contribution burden to users of other telecom services. The ICS provider said if the FCC grants the petition, it should update the language in Form 499-A instructions to include a reference to "assessable U.S. telecommunications services for which the contribution obligation has been forborne." The USF contribution factor rises to 25 percent for Q4 under a recent proposal (see 1909130003). Absent forbearance, the increasingly high fees subject vulnerable populations to costs they struggle to afford, said Pay Tel Communications. Worth Rises said the FCC should require correctional telecom providers to pay USF fees but prohibit them from passing those fees to their customers. Inmate Calling Solutions entirely backs the NCIC petition.

Stakeholders interviewed last week want the FCC to delay further Lifeline changes and promptly answer an industry petition requesting a pause on stricter minimum broadband service standards set for Dec. 1 (see 1906280012). A proposed order and Further NPRM has stirred some concern, as the poor could lose access to mobile broadband if the cost to provide new minimum service levels exceeds incentives from federal reimbursements.

House Communications Subcommittee members voiced near-universal interest in legislation to improve the federal government's collection of broadband coverage data, as expected (see 1909100064). Subcommittee members' support likely sets the stage for a swift potential markup of a combined bill soon. Witnesses backed a package that includes all or part of the five bills House Communications examined, including the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (Data) Act (HR-4229).

House Communications Subcommittee members voiced near-universal interest in legislation to improve the federal government's collection of broadband coverage data, as expected (see 1909100064). Subcommittee members' support likely sets the stage for a swift potential markup of a combined bill soon. Witnesses backed a package that includes all or part of the five bills House Communications examined, including the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (Data) Act (HR-4229).

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Andrew Place shares stakeholder worries from initial comments to the FCC NPRM on capping the USF at $11.42 billion. The “hard cap” could reduce "needed support for the continuous deployment of broadband access networks and services," he replied in docket 06-122, on his behalf and not the PUC's. It could "create an artificial and unnecessary competition for funding resources between the constituent programs," he said. Place noted the FCC's plan came without "finalizing its long-standing proceeding on the reform of the federal USF contribution base and methodology in conjunction with the corresponding referral to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service." Other replies posted earlier this week raised similar points (see 1908270053).

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Andrew Place shares stakeholder worries from initial comments to the FCC NPRM on capping the USF at $11.42 billion. The “hard cap” could reduce "needed support for the continuous deployment of broadband access networks and services," he replied in docket 06-122, on his behalf and not the PUC's. It could "create an artificial and unnecessary competition for funding resources between the constituent programs," he said. Place noted the FCC's plan came without "finalizing its long-standing proceeding on the reform of the federal USF contribution base and methodology in conjunction with the corresponding referral to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service." Other replies posted earlier this week raised similar points (see 1908270053).

An Arizona municipality apparently seeks U.S. funding for facilities served now by local ISPs. FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly asked Cochise County Schools Superintendent Jacqui Clay for answers by Sept. 21, copying Universal Service Administrative Co. CEO Radha Sekar. The county’s Education and Technology Consortium issued a request for proposals last August, under the FCC E-rate program, to build a wide area network to deliver fiber-based broadband to all the locality's schools and libraries, O'Rielly wrote Monday, in a letter released Tuesday. The consortium now seeks funding for new fiber buildouts to the county’s 46 school and library locations, "even though most of these schools and libraries already have a fiber-based" connection, he added. The RFP also sought bids for eight county government locations ineligible for E-rate, he said. The consortium apparently seeks "an astronomical level of funding for fiber construction to the private residence of the Cochise Technology District Superintendent," he wrote: The contract for $29 million of public funding "appears to lead to wasteful and duplicative" spending. After bids from two national providers, the consortium gave the contract to "a provider with barely any facilities in the area and will need to either overbuild existing fiber networks or lease capacity from incumbent providers," O'Rielly wrote. The companies weren't identified, and O'Rielly's office didn't ID them upon our request. Clay's deputy and USAC didn't comment.

An Arizona municipality apparently seeks U.S. funding for facilities served now by local ISPs. FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly asked Cochise County Schools Superintendent Jacqui Clay for answers by Sept. 21, copying Universal Service Administrative Co. CEO Radha Sekar. The county’s Education and Technology Consortium issued a request for proposals last August, under the FCC E-rate program, to build a wide area network to deliver fiber-based broadband to all the locality's schools and libraries, O'Rielly wrote Monday, in a letter released Tuesday. The consortium now seeks funding for new fiber buildouts to the county’s 46 school and library locations, "even though most of these schools and libraries already have a fiber-based" connection, he added. The RFP also sought bids for eight county government locations ineligible for E-rate, he said. The consortium apparently seeks "an astronomical level of funding for fiber construction to the private residence of the Cochise Technology District Superintendent," he wrote: The contract for $29 million of public funding "appears to lead to wasteful and duplicative" spending. After bids from two national providers, the consortium gave the contract to "a provider with barely any facilities in the area and will need to either overbuild existing fiber networks or lease capacity from incumbent providers," O'Rielly wrote. The companies weren't identified, and O'Rielly's office didn't ID them upon our request. Clay's deputy and USAC didn't comment.