ATIS and the Session Initiation Protocol Forum released SIP code 603+ Thursday as a new standard for call blocking notifications (see 2206030050). It "balances the need to provide legitimate callers with a mechanism to seek redress if they have been inappropriately blocked against the desire to limit feedback to malicious callers," said ATIS CEO Susan Miller. SIP code 603+ is "the best, shortest and least-costly path to implementation and success," SIP Forum Board Chairman Richard Shockey. The new standard, which was approved Aug. 16, is "primarily developed for, and to be adopted by, US voice service providers," said a report by the groups.
OMB approved the public information collection for the FCC's May order requiring voice service providers and gateway providers to respond to traceback requests, said a notice for Wednesday's Federal Register (see 2205190023). The rule is effective Sept. 23.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by Sept. 21, replies Oct. 6, in docket 10-90 on whether it should extend its letter of credit rules for Connect America Fund Phase II recipients beyond Dec. 31, said a public notice in Tuesday's Daily Digest. It also wants comments on a proposal to extend the waiver for recipients that "meet the first mandatory build out deadline" as of Dec. 31.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants nominations by Oct. 24 for six positions on the Universal Service Administrative Co.'s board of directors, said a public notice Monday in docket 96-45. Nominations, for three-year terms, are being sought for representatives for commercial mobile radio service providers, cable providers, E-rate-eligible schools, E-rate eligible libraries, ILECs and state consumer advocates.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by Sept. 21, replies Oct. 6, on the E-rate program's proposed eligible services list for FY 2023, said a public notice Monday in docket 13-184. The bureau didn't recommend specific changes to the proposed list, the notice said (see 2112200044).
OMB approved for three years a disclosure requirement for the FCC's February order on marketing agreements in multi-tenant environments, said a notice for Monday's Federal Register (see 2202150047). Compliance for new contracts is required as of Monday and existing contracts as of Sept. 26, the notice said.
Brightspeed plans to expand fiber to 14,000 customers in Beaufort County, South Carolina by the end of 2023, and reach another 36,000 state customers in coming years, the company said Tuesday. Brightspeed’s network is in 20 states and includes ILEC assets that Apollo bought from Lumen. The deal recently got all state regulatory approvals but still needs an FCC green light (see 2206290041). Brightspeed earlier detailed fiber plans in several other states (see 2208100027).
Completed 2023 urban rate surveys are due by Sept. 17, said an FCC Wireline Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics public notice Monday in docket 10-90. The FCC notified providers required to complete the survey on Monday.
The Alternative Connect America Model (ACAM) Broadband Coalition met with FCC Wireline Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics staff about the coalition’s proposed modifications to the ACAM I and ACAM II programs, per an ex parte filing posted Friday in docket 10-90 (see 2207190056). The group said density “plays a major role in ACAM company costs” and “any comparison of the per-location support amounts of winning [Rural Digital Opportunity Fund] auction bids with the per-location support amounts proposed in the ACAM enhancement plan is inapposite.” The coalition also noted 73% of all ACAM locations won’t receive an increase in annual support under the proposed plan.
The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) asked the FCC Wireline Bureau to extend until Oct. 2, 2023, the E-rate program's service delivery deadline for FY 2020 and 2021 (see 2106220027). It also asked the bureau to waive the program's rules for nonrecurring services, in a letter posted Thursday in docket 02-6. SHLB said applicants and providers face delays due to COVID-19 equipment shortages. The "delays and global supply chain problems have become worse, not better," SHLB said.