Rural healthcare providers and the telecommunications companies that service them raised concerns in docket 17-310 about a draft report and order on promoting telehealth in rural America that the FCC has on its agenda for its Aug. 1 meeting (see 1907120003). Some are asking the agency to include recommended revisions before the commissioners vote, while others want to delay the vote altogether, until the September or October meeting, to give stakeholders more time to weigh in.

Proposed changes to how the FCC collects broadband deployment data should be some improvement over the oft-criticized Form 477-centric approach, though it also opens a potential can of worms with its crowdsourcing component, experts told us. Others see a catastrophic failure in the agency's not bringing retail pricing data into the mix. "It's tweaking a broken system," said Penn State telecom professor Sascha Meinrath. The proposal's on the FCC agenda for Aug. 1 (see 1907110071).

Rural healthcare providers and the telecommunications companies that service them raised concerns in docket 17-310 about a draft report and order on promoting telehealth in rural America that the FCC has on its agenda for its Aug. 1 meeting (see 1907120003). Some are asking the agency to include recommended revisions before the commissioners vote, while others want to delay the vote altogether, until the September or October meeting, to give stakeholders more time to weigh in.

Proposed changes to how the FCC collects broadband deployment data should be some improvement over the oft-criticized Form 477-centric approach, though it also opens a potential can of worms with its crowdsourcing component, experts told us. Others see a catastrophic failure in the agency's not bringing retail pricing data into the mix. "It's tweaking a broken system," said Penn State telecom professor Sascha Meinrath. The proposal's on the FCC agenda for Aug. 1 (see 1907110071).

INDIANAPOLIS -- There are alternatives to Congress and the FCC requiring carriers and others to remove from their networks equipment made by Chinese telecom gear makers, NARUC was told. Though some state commissioners later expressed skepticism, industry panelists (see 1:30 p.m. event listing) largely backed monitoring networks of U.S. companies for cyberattacks, including from Huawei or ZTE, and testing all equipment before installation for vulnerabilities. Stakeholders generally want testing and monitoring across the board, not limited to one company or manufacturers based in one country.

The Universal Service Administration Co. has enough funding to meet estimated demand from E-rate category one and two applicants for the 2019 funding year, the FCC Wireline Bureau said in a public notice Wednesday. The funding cap for the E-rate program this year, adjusted for inflation, is $4.15 billion (see 1903080060), but an additional $1 billion is available in unused funds from the previous year. USAC estimates demand for the funding year is $2.896 billion, including an estimated $1.191 billion for category one services and $985 million devoted to category two spending (see 1906240027).

The Universal Service Administration Co. has enough funding to meet estimated demand from E-rate category one and two applicants for the 2019 funding year, the FCC Wireline Bureau said in a public notice Wednesday. The funding cap for the E-rate program this year, adjusted for inflation, is $4.15 billion (see 1903080060), but an additional $1 billion is available in unused funds from the previous year. USAC estimates demand for the funding year is $2.896 billion, including an estimated $1.191 billion for category one services and $985 million devoted to category two spending (see 1906240027).

State commissioners hope the FCC takes note of coming NARUC resolutions (see 1907100028) on delaying some further changes to a billion dollar federal subsidy for poor people to get phone and broadband services. In interviews before their Sunday-Wednesday meeting to consider two such draft proposals, some expressed optimism the federal regulator might make changes midway through program revisions begun under the last presidential administration. Another telecom resolution, advocating no overall USF budget, lacks a sponsor and won't move forward unless it adds one, stakeholders noted this week.

Organizations that are working with artificial intelligence have, on average, four such projects in place, said a Gartner report Monday. It canvassed 106 information technology “professionals,” and found 59 percent said their companies already have AI “deployed today,” it said. “We see a substantial acceleration in AI adoption this year,” said Gartner. “The rising number of AI projects means that organizations may need to reorganize internally to make sure that AI projects are properly staffed and funded.” Respondents said their organizations expect to add six more AI projects in the next 12 months, and another 15 within the next three years, said Gartner. Improving the customer experience was the “top motivator” for deploying AI, it said. A lack of skilled staff was top deployment challenge, cited by 59 percent of respondents, it said. “Finding the right staff skills is a major concern whenever advanced technologies are involved. Skill gaps can be addressed using service providers, partnering with universities, and establishing training programs for existing employees.”

Organizations that are working with artificial intelligence have, on average, four such projects in place, said a Gartner report Monday. It canvassed 106 information technology “professionals,” and found 59 percent said their companies already have AI “deployed today,” it said. “We see a substantial acceleration in AI adoption this year,” said Gartner. “The rising number of AI projects means that organizations may need to reorganize internally to make sure that AI projects are properly staffed and funded.” Respondents said their organizations expect to add six more AI projects in the next 12 months, and another 15 within the next three years, said Gartner. Improving the customer experience was the “top motivator” for deploying AI, it said. A lack of skilled staff was top deployment challenge, cited by 59 percent of respondents, it said. “Finding the right staff skills is a major concern whenever advanced technologies are involved. Skill gaps can be addressed using service providers, partnering with universities, and establishing training programs for existing employees.”