Allow ISPs to have "at least a six-month initial implementation period" after OMB approval of the FCC's final rules for consumer broadband labels, NCTA asked in separate meetings with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr, per an ex parte filing posted Friday in docket 22-2 (see 2203250053). NCTA also asked the FCC to treat its 2016 consumer broadband labels "as the model" for the new labels required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The group was on the commission's consumer advisory committee that established the original labels. "Additional mandated disclosures are unwarranted," NCTA said, and would make the labels "less effective in assisting consumers in choosing the broadband service that meets their needs."
Hamilton Relay asked the FCC to extend until Aug. 31 a call takeover waiver for its web-based CapTel for Business IP captioned telephone service, said a letter posted Thursday in docket 03-123 (see 2203010071). The service "presents unique challenges because of its different phone interface" and "unexpected development obstacles ... [which] could cause Hamilton to miss the June 30 deadline," it said.
AT&T asked the FCC to "not advance new high-cost fixed or mobile broadband deployment programs or extend existing programs" until the recent funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is "distributed and evaluated." The request came in a meeting with Office of Economics and Analytics and Office of General Counsel staff, per an ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 21-476 (see 2206060065). It's "too early to know how or where states and other federal agencies will utilize this funding," AT&T said, but the "unprecedented level of funding cannot be ignored."
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by July 18, replies by Aug. 1, in docket 21-450 on the National Lifeline Association's petition for clarification that the Wireline and Enforcement Bureaus' authority to suspend an affordable connectivity program provider's enrollment or hold funding based on the "adequate evidence" standard, said a notice prepared for Friday's Federal Register (see 2203170065). It also wants comments on NaLA's request for clarification that a provider offering a connected device must provide price information for "at least one of the analogous devices from a major retailer."
Total funding to carry forward for the FCC rural healthcare program after FY 2022 is $328.5 million, said the Universal Service Administrative Co. in a letter to the Wireline Bureau posted Wednesday in docket 02-60.
The FCC Wireline Bureau granted NTCA's and AT&T's requests to waive some non-usage tracking rules for the affordable connectivity program, in an order Tuesday in docket 21-450. The bureau granted NTCA's request to let small providers track usage for households on tribal lands receiving a fully subsidized offering on a rolling 30-day basis until Sept. 15 and a retroactive waiver to Jan. 1 of the Lifeline usage tracking requirement for providers applying the Lifeline and ACP benefit to the same service if it results in a fully subsidized offering (see 2205270043). Providers must inform the Universal Service Administrative Co. of their intent to take advantage of the waiver within 30 days. The bureau also granted AT&T's request to waive the non-usage rules for its customers receiving fully subsidized plans that use asymmetric digital subscriber line technology until Aug. 13 (see 2205090056).
The FCC Wireline Bureau announced it received Florida's certification preempting the commission from accepting pole attachment complaints, said a public notice Monday in docket 10-101. Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C., have now certified that they regulate pole attachments, after the Florida Public Services Commission approved a staff recommendation to finalize its authority (see 2206070071).
Spectrum Advanced Services' application to discontinue its VoIP services was deemed not automatically granted, said an FCC Wireline Bureau public notice Thursday. The commission "requires additional time to complete its review" following oppositions filed by the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Division of Consumer Advocacy and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
The Q3 USF contribution factor will be 33%, said an FCC Office of Managing Director public notice Friday, as expected (see 2206010052).
The FCC committed more than $244 million in additional Emergency Connectivity Fund support, said a news release Thursday. The new funding will support 259 schools, 24 libraries and one consortium that applied during the third application filing window (see 2205250061). The commission also announced an additional $18 million in support for applicants from the third two filing windows. "I'm pleased to announce two new rounds of funding in our ongoing work to help get students the broadband access they need to get online and keep up with schoolwork," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: "While there is more work to do, we are making steady progress closing the homework gap."