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.

Don’t cap the overall budget for the various USF programs or alter the USF funding mechanism, asked many replies, worried about prioritizing funds over one another. At least one reply favored halting the fund’s growth at 2018 levels. Replies posted through Tuesday in FCC docket 06-122.

Don’t cap the overall budget for the various USF programs or alter the USF funding mechanism, asked many replies, worried about prioritizing funds over one another. At least one reply favored halting the fund’s growth at 2018 levels. Replies posted through Tuesday in FCC docket 06-122.

Those representing schools and libraries endorsed an FCC plan to update its rules on USF E-rate category 2 spending to make permanent a pilot program that was to expire at the year-end, and asked that it move to a districtwide vs. a building-level budget approach, add to its list of eligible services and lessen filing burdens for applicants, in comments to docket 13-184 posted through Monday (see 1907090074).

Those representing schools and libraries endorsed an FCC plan to update its rules on USF E-rate category 2 spending to make permanent a pilot program that was to expire at the year-end, and asked that it move to a districtwide vs. a building-level budget approach, add to its list of eligible services and lessen filing burdens for applicants, in comments to docket 13-184 posted through Monday (see 1907090074).

Government-supported internet connectivity, already an important market for geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite operators, is set to be a notable driver of business for non-geostationary systems as well, satellite industry officials and experts told us. Except for perhaps the poorest nations, government-backed connectivity is "everywhere and it's growing," said Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg. Telesat announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in July signed with Canada for the country to buy capacity on Telesat's planned low earth orbit (LEO) constellation as part of its universal service goal.

Government-supported internet connectivity, already an important market for geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite operators, is set to be a notable driver of business for non-geostationary systems as well, satellite industry officials and experts told us. Except for perhaps the poorest nations, government-backed connectivity is "everywhere and it's growing," said Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg. Telesat announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in July signed with Canada for the country to buy capacity on Telesat's planned low earth orbit (LEO) constellation as part of its universal service goal.