The alternative connect America cost model (ACAM) broadband coalition urged the FCC Wireline Bureau Friday to "exercise its discretion to utilize the entirety of the $1.33 billion annual budget authorized" for the enhanced ACAM program. Doing so would "maximize support levels" and ensure that "sufficient support dollars are available for use in the post-implementation adjustment process," the group said in a letter posted Friday in docket 10-90 (see 2307240064). NTCA also asked the FCC to raise the minimum support level from 50% to 75% for ILEC-only served locations. The higher threshold for ongoing support for currently served locations should "provide a reasonable reserve to address the kinds of concerns identified by the commission," the group said.
The FCC wants comments by Sept. 18, replies Oct. 2, on an NPRM and notice of inquiry on its legacy rate-of-return support programs, said a notice for Friday's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the items in July and approved a related order modifying the alternative connect America cost model (ACAM) program (see 2307240064).
A coalition of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction winners asked the FCC this week to grant RDOF winners supplemental funding and relief from letter of credit requirements. "Due to the impacts of [COVID-19] along with new, multi-billion dollar federal fiscal policies and pandemic-prompted broadband deployment funding programs, construction costs have skyrocketed," said a petition posted Thursday in docket 19-126 (see 2306210066). The coalition also asked the FCC to consider "providing a short amnesty period that allows RDOF winners to relinquish all or part of their RDOF winning areas without forfeitures or other penalties."
An FCC order establishing an enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM) program is effective Thursday, said a notice for that day's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the order in July (see 2307240064).
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appointed additional members to the North American numbering council, said a public notice Monday in docket 23-1 (see 2303080039). The first meeting of the rechartered NANC will take place virtually on Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. EDT.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by Sept. 11, replies Sept. 26, on whether it should extend its waiver of letter of credit rules for the Connect America Fund Phase II and rural broadband experiment support recipients in 2020 and 2021, said a public notice Friday in docket 10-90.
The proposed North American Numbering Plan Administration Fund size for FY24 will be $8.68 million with a contribution factor of 0.0001047, said an FCC Wireline Bureau public notice Thursday in docket 92-237 (see 2208080064).
The FCC Wireline Bureau approved Aureon's refund plan and ended its tariff investigation, in an order Tuesday in docket 18-60. Commissioners approved an order last year requiring the company to submit certain cost and demand data needed to calculate refunds to its customers (see 2202180054).
Comments are due by Sept. 8, replies Sept. 25, in docket 23-62 on proposed revisions to the FCC's annual reports and certifications for providers of incarcerated people's communications services, per a notice in Wednesday's Federal Register (see 2303290072).
The FCC Wireline Bureau released "illustrative results" for the enhanced alternative connect America cost model adopted last month (see 2307240064). “These results utilize three different combinations of per-location funding caps for unserved locations and funding percentages for locations already deployed by the incumbent local exchange carrier,” said a Monday notice from the bureau: “These results are based on Version 2 of the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric and incorporate currently served locations from Version 2 of the Broadband Data Collection.”