The FCC Enforcement Bureau proposed fines against 12 phone companies for failing to timely submit phone number disconnection information to the reassigned number database, said a news release Monday. The bureau issued notices of apparent liability to BendTel, Claro Puerto Rico, Communications Plus, Data Network Solutions, Fort Mojave Telecom, Integrated Path, Local Access, Palo Communications, Point Broadband Fiber, Salsgiver Telecom, Stratford Mutual and Swayzee FiberHawk. “We are using every tool we can to combat illegal robocalls. For our efforts to be successful, carriers need to play their part and follow the rules,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “When they fail to do so, we will not hesitate to act as these first-of-their-kind enforcement actions make abundantly clear.”
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended its waiver of letter of credit rules for Connect America Fund Phase II recipients until Dec. 31, 2023 (see 2208230066). The waiver applies to recipients that have met their deployment obligations, said an order Monday in docket 10-90.
OMB approved additional information collection for a May FCC order on gateway providers and foreign-originated robocalls, said a notice for Monday’s Federal Register (see 2211170035). Rules requiring gateway providers to accept calls from foreign providers using North American numbering plan resources only if that provider's filing appears in the robocall mitigation database, plus rules requiring intermediate and voice service providers to accept calls from a gateway provider if their filing appears in the database, are effective Jan. 11. Compliance with the rules takes effect April 12.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau ordered telecom companies to stop carrying robocall traffic from UrthAccess after a cease-and-desist letter the bureau sent the company on apparent illegal robocall traffic about student loans (see 2211100079). The bureau also partially waived reporting obligations if a provider terminates a "customer relationship with the student loan robocall operation or blocks all traffic from Urth Access," said an order Thursday. “We will continue to deploy all of the tools in our arsenal to eliminate bad actors’ access to U.S. communications networks in furtherance of their schemes," said Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan Egal.
An FCC order requiring inmate calling services providers to provide access to all telecom relay services in jurisdictions with an average daily population of at least 50 incarcerated individuals takes effect Jan. 9, said a notice for Friday's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the order during the agency's September meeting (see 2209290017).
The FCC committed nearly $54 million in additional Emergency Connectivity Fund support Wednesday. The new funding will support about 100 schools, 10 libraries and two consortiums from all three application windows, said a news release.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel visited Isleta and Laguna pueblos in New Mexico Tuesday to discuss tribal library broadband connectivity with tribal leaders and library representatives. The visit "aims to amplify agency efforts to ensure tribal library institutions have equitable access to E-rate," said a news release. The FCC's changes to ensure tribal libraries' access to the program and tribal libraries pilot program "will provide one-on-one help to Tribal libraries throughout the sign-up and benefit process and help make participating in E-rate easier," Rosenworcel said (see 2210200046).
The FCC Wireline Bureau denied Primary Healthcare Centers' request for review of eight funding requests denied by the Universal Service Administrative Co. for FY 2016. In an order Monday in docket 02-60, the bureau agreed with USAC's decision that PHC "failed to comply" with the rural healthcare telecom program rules because "the rates for the funding requests were not calculated consistent with commission rules." The bureau also denied PHC's request for a waiver of telecom program rules that prevented it from receiving support.
The Universal Service Administrative Co. projected USF Q1 revenue will be $8.75 billion, said a filing Friday in docket 06-122. That's about "$125.7 million more than the previous quarter," emailed analyst Billy Jack Gregg, noting the quarterly contribution factor will rise from 28.9% to 32.6% (see 2211030028).
The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau will host a series of virtual office hours to answer questions about the affordable connectivity program's outreach grants and application process, said a public notice Wednesday in docket 21-450. Office hours will be from 12-1 p.m. EST Dec. 1, Dec. 16, and Jan. 4.