The FCC got a mixed response to a Competitive Carriers Association petition seeking FCC clarification that broadband data collection (BDC) filings can be certified by a qualified engineer who isn't a licensed professional engineer (PE) accredited by a state licensure board (see 2205170073). Replies were posted Thursday in docket 19-195. Many commenters support CCA but “they fail to show that a declaratory ruling is warranted or provide support for the argument that the public interest is served by relaxing the certification requirement,” the Rural Wireless Association said. CCA asked the FCC “to adopt a brand new definition” and “such a request must be made via a petition for rulemaking, which is subject to its own requirements and governed by the Administrative Procedure Act,” RWA said. Leave the requirement in place, said the Nebraska National Society of Professional Engineers. Similar government programs have similar requirements, the group said: “This is done to ensure that … projects are constructed in a manner that meets all local, state, federal and in some cases international, regulations and requirements. It also ensures that the networks are designed in such a way as to meet the speed and data rate performance requirements that the service provide[r]s are advertising.” NCTA supported CCA. NCTA said it “appreciates the need to ensure the accuracy of the mapping data submitted to the Commission [but] the individual most familiar with the preparation and development of that data and thus in the best position to certify to its accuracy may not have the requisite professional designation.” Most groups representing providers support CCA, the Wireless ISP Association said. Opponents “ignore the realities of the marketplace and conflate the requirements of building infrastructure with the more routine task of certifying network coverage based on parameters established by the Commission,” WISPA said. The current PE shortage “will result in many providers being unable to get the required engineering certification, and, consequently, being unable to make their BDC filings timely, if at all; or, incurring unduly burdensome costs to enlist a PE,” ACA Connects said. “The response to CCA’s petition by trade associations, broadband service providers, and individual commenters reflects widespread support for the Commission’s policy objectives, and a shared commitment to accurate and granular data collection as a crucial component of broadband deployment,” CCA said.

Facing a deluge of federal and state spending aimed at closing the digital divide, broadband internet access service providers and network construction contractors foresee a logjam of work orders. Some tell us they anticipate what could be significant delays in work to extend networks to unserved rural areas.

Louisiana, New Hampshire, Virginia and West Virginia will receive a combined $582.8 million for broadband projects connecting more than 200,000 homes and businesses, as part of the first tranche of money from the Treasury Department-administered $10 billion American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, Treasury said Tuesday. The department approved $219.8 million in broadband money for Virginia, $176.7 million for Louisiana, $136.3 million for West Virginia and $50 million for New Hampshire. The COVID-19 pandemic “turned so many aspects of life online from work to school and laid bare the urgency of closing the digital divide for all Americans -- especially those living in rural, Tribal, and low-income communities,” said Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo. “Treasury’s broadband funding represents a significant step in the Biden-Harris Administration’s unprecedented investment to increase access to high-speed internet and reduce broadband bills for every American household and business.” The White House highlighted the Treasury money as part of a combined $25 billion in broadband funding included in ARPA. ACA Connects, Incompas and New America’s Open Technology Institute hailed Treasury’s approval of the money.

ACA Connects' incoming president Grant Spellmeyer (see 2205170043) plans to spend much of the rest of 2022 meeting members and learning about the industry and issues, he said in an ACA video interview this week. "I don't come to this position with a whole bunch of plans to remake the association," he said. "[It has] a great reputation, a great team. I want to build on that."

ACA Connects names Grant Spellmeyer, from UScellular, president-CEO, succeeding Matt Polka, leaving in July (see this section, May 3); Spellmeyer joins organization June 1 … National Spectrum Consortium announces Joe Kochan, ex-NTIA, as executive director (see 2205170062) ... Nokia promotes Grace Koh to vice president-government affairs, North America, which includes leading the Washington office, and Jeffrey Marks to vice president-global technology policy and regulatory affairs … The Center for Industry Self-Regulation names Justin Connor, ex-Association of Corporate Counsel, its inaugural executive director.

Industry and consumer advocacy organizations disagreed on the severity of digital discrimination and on potential solutions, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 22-69. The FCC sought comments on how to combat digital discrimination as required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law directed the FCC to adopt rules that prevent discrimination based on income, race, ethnicity, color, religion or national origin.

Grant Spellmeyer, UScellular vice president-government affairs, will take over the reins of ACA Connects when President Matt Polka leaves in July, the trade group said Tuesday. Spellmeyer "is highly respected for his knowledge and thought leadership. He understands the challenges ACAC members face every day, and he has the expertise to advocate on our behalf to influence positive change," said Patty Jo Boyers, Boycom Vision president and ACA board chairwoman.

NTIA released notices of funding opportunity Friday for applicants interested in its broadband, equity, access and deployment, middle-mile grant, and state digital equity planning grant programs funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The agency cited “end-to-end fiber-optic architecture” as priority broadband projects and encouraged states to give the greatest consideration to subgrantees committed to providing 1 Gbps services at an affordable rate as part of the BEAD program.

Multistate broadband internet access service (BIAS) providers are facing challenges navigating the federal and state grant processes for the growing array of digital divide grant and subsidy programs, though some foresee that forest getting easier to navigate. We were told the complexity of applications could put a chill on the number of providers applying. Sizable attention will be paid to how detailed the NTIA guidance is on the broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program established by the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), they said.

The Biden administration’s Monday announcement (see 2205060046) that 20 ISPs committed to offer low-income households broadband plans with download speeds of at least 100 Mbps at no more than $30 per month got a mixed reception among communications policy stakeholders. All of the participating ISPs -- which include Altice, AT&T, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Frontier, Mediacom and Verizon -- were already part of the FCC’s affordable connectivity program that subsidizes qualifying households’ broadband up to $30 per month. The White House said the participating ISPs cover more than 80% of the U.S. population.