Communications Services for the Deaf asked the FCC to grant its petition to waive certain rules for the affordable connectivity program's outreach grants. The group sought a waiver to allow contractors of broadband providers to receive grants, telling an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel the prohibition "fails to consider the purpose or functions of the contracts," said an ex parte filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-450. CSD asked the FCC to also consider adopting a "more narrowly tailored rule" exempting "non-profit, disability-centered organizations that provide accessibility services to broadband providers."
The National Lifeline Association asked the FCC to revise the Lifeline program so it's "ready to support low-income households' broadband needs" before the affordable connectivity program ends. The FCC and Universal Service Administrative Co. "must also take responsibility for the National Verifier's failure" to prevent instances of waste, fraud and abuse, NaLA told Wireline Bureau staff and an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr in separate meetings, per an ex parte filing Monday in docket 21-450. The group sought "more resources and standardized communications and escalation plans" to improve the Verifier and ensure transparency for consumers applying for the ACP benefit.
No major changes were made to the FCC's final notice of inquiry on caller ID authentication for non-IP networks and the status of the industry's transition to IP, according to our comparison of the draft. Commissioners adopted the item during the agency's October meeting (see 2210270046). The notice included a question about security concerns and the technical feasibility of ATIS' out-of-band caller authentication standard.
NTCA asked the FCC to update the Alternative Connect America Model and Connect America Fund-Broadband Loop Support mechanism "as soon as possible in light of impending deadlines in these programs." The group raised concerns in a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks about challenges rural providers face when "serving rural consumers across far-reaching rural geographies," said an ex parte filing Friday in docket 10-90 (see 2207190056). NTCA's proposals "would help address those challenges and spur expanded delivery of high-quality and reliable services while working in concert with other initiatives aimed at similar goals," it said.
OMB approved the FCC's revised annual data collection for inmate calling services, said a Wireline Bureau public notice Wednesday in docket 12-375 (see 2206270055). Annual reports and certifications are due by April 3.
A coalition of consumer advocacy organizations asked the FCC to require consumer broadband labels be displayed on monthly bills (see 2209090042). Free Press, Consumer Reports, Next Century Cities and Common Cause told an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel the label is "intended to hold ISPs accountable and help consumers avoid hidden fees that often pop up on their monthly bill," per an ex parte filing Tuesday in docket 22-2. The FCC should also require a non-digital label that's accessible to consumers buying broadband for the first time or who don't speak English, the groups said.
The FCC Wireline Bureau Friday denied requests from six providers to keep confidential certain information submitted as part of the broadband data collection. The bureau denied requests from CVEC Fiber about its data on potential service areas, and Massillon Cable TV for its broadband availability supporting data. It also denied requests from Blossom Telephone, IdeaTek Telecom and Lincoln County Telephone for fixed broadband coverage methodology data. Silver Star's confidentiality request for its fixed broadband coverage methodology and broadband availability supporting data was denied. The bureau granted ERC Broadband's request for confidential treatment of its subscription data.
Sorenson asked the FCC to reconsider certain parts of its June order on video relay services, in a petition posted Friday in docket 03-123 (see 2206300058). It sought reconsideration of the requirement that VRS providers "terminate service to unregistered customers after the two-week grace period" and that a porting-in VRS provider "reverses an unregistered customer’s porting process after the two-week grace period." Removing a phone and routing number "renders the user's service inoperable," Sorenson said, and "just because some users cannot complete verification within two weeks does not mean that they should lose access to essential VRS services entirely." A porting-in provider should also be allowed to continue providing service during re-verification "provided that the porting-in provider does not seek compensation until such time as the consumer is re-verified," Sorenson said.
Industry groups asked the FCC to ensure the affordable connectivity program's annual data collection is "streamlined and efficient for the benefit of consumers and providers," per an ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 21-450 (see 2207260070). NTCA, USTelecom, CTIA, NCTA and ACA Connects met with Wireline Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics staffers. The groups said a subscriber-level collection "would run afoul" of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and be "difficult, if not impossible" to define the requirement. It would also "have a chilling effect among subscribers who do not wish to turn over their personal data," the groups said, suggesting the FCC collect aggregated data at the state level on price and subscription rates of ACP service offerings.
The FCC committed nearly $78 million in additional Emergency Connectivity Fund support Wednesday, totaling nearly $6.1 billion to date (see 2210050063). The new funding will support applications from the first and third application filing windows, said a news release. “As the school year progresses, we need to make sure that kids can connect with teachers and homework assignments when classes finish for the day,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.