Universal Service Administrative Co. issued its updated Lifeline national verifier plan for the FCC low-income broadband and voice subsidy program. A 2016 commission order authorized creation of a Lifeline national entity to standardize verification of consumer Lifeline eligibility, and required USAC to report on implementation progress every six months. The plan noted the FCC delayed the national verifier's (NV) Dec. 5, 2017, soft launch and March 13, 2018, hard launch target dates in six initial states to address issues about Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) compliance (see 1712010042). "Functional development of the service provider portal is complete and the FISMA security validation is the final step before the soft launch can occur," said the plan posted Thursday in docket 11-42. "At soft launch, service providers in the six states will be able, but not required, to use the NV system. At hard launch, service providers in the six states will be required to use the NV. Consumers in the six states will also be able to use the system at this time." The six states are Colorado, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The plan also noted USAC and the FCC are implementing tribal Lifeline USF changes adopted in December that affect NV systems.

Universal Service Administrative Co. issued its updated Lifeline national verifier plan for the FCC low-income broadband and voice subsidy program. A 2016 commission order authorized creation of a Lifeline national entity to standardize verification of consumer Lifeline eligibility, and required USAC to report on implementation progress every six months. The plan noted the FCC delayed the national verifier's (NV) Dec. 5, 2017, soft launch and March 13, 2018, hard launch target dates in six initial states to address issues about Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) compliance (see 1712010042). "Functional development of the service provider portal is complete and the FISMA security validation is the final step before the soft launch can occur," said the plan posted Thursday in docket 11-42. "At soft launch, service providers in the six states will be able, but not required, to use the NV system. At hard launch, service providers in the six states will be required to use the NV. Consumers in the six states will also be able to use the system at this time." The six states are Colorado, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The plan also noted USAC and the FCC are implementing tribal Lifeline USF changes adopted in December that affect NV systems.

Sprint highlighted why it thinks the FCC should streamline the historic review process for new wireless installations, especially small cells. The carrier said that in Chicago, it recently received demands of a combined $90,000 for tribal reviews at six sites. The company has antennas at those locations and proposed to add antennas to increase capacity, it said in docket 17-79. “The project does not involve any ground disturbance. In general, macro cell collocations are exempt from historical review except when the location is in or near a historic district.” The six sites aren’t in or near historic districts, Sprint said: “Nevertheless, Commission rules require that carriers consult with tribal nations for such minor upgrades with no chance of adversely affecting tribal historic property.” Sprint met with Commissioner Brendan Carr and aides to the other commissioners, except Mignon Clyburn.

The FCC acted to pave the way for a Connect America Fund reverse auction, starting July 24, of $1.98 billion in subsidies over 10 years for fixed broadband and voice services. Commissioners unanimously approved orders on remaining policy issues and a public notice on application and bidding procedures for the CAF Phase II auction targeting high-cost areas traditionally served by larger telcos. Commissioner Mike O'Rielly partially concurred on the orders and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn partially concurred on the PN.

The FCC acted to pave the way for a Connect America Fund reverse auction, starting July 24, of $1.98 billion in subsidies over 10 years for fixed broadband and voice services. Commissioners unanimously approved orders on remaining policy issues and a public notice on application and bidding procedures for the CAF Phase II auction targeting high-cost areas traditionally served by larger telcos. Commissioner Mike O'Rielly partially concurred on the orders and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn partially concurred on the PN.

Lifeline USF resellers challenged tribal support restrictions in an FCC order that commissioners adopted 3-2 in November with an NPRM to begin overhauling the low-income subsidy program (see 1711160021). "Petitioners seek relief from portions of the Order that will (1) limit enhanced Tribal Lifeline support to 'facilities-based' service and (2) limit Lifeline support to 'rural' Tribal areas pursuant to a newly established FCC definition," said the National Lifeline Association, Assist Wireless, Boomerang Wireless (enTouch) and Easy Telephone Services in a petition (in Pacer) to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that surfaced Friday in National Lifeline Association v. FCC, No. 18-1026. NLA is a trade group representing Lifeline providers and vendors. The companies said the actions were arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, exceeded FCC authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Meanwhile, Chairman Ajit Pai said the FCC had resolved seven notices of apparent liability from 2013 and 2014 against Lifeline providers (see 1712290032), and "expects to resolve two more soon"; three others remained with the agency's Office of Inspector General. The FCC has an enforcement action on its agenda for tomorrow's commissioners' meeting but hasn't identified what it involves. Pai was responding to a Dec. 1 letter from Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee ranking member Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. She asked for details on commission steps to recover $89.5 million in proposed fines against 12 Lifeline providers for alleged program violations (only one case had been resolved at that time). McCaskill's office didn't comment Monday.

Lifeline USF resellers challenged tribal support restrictions in an FCC order that commissioners adopted 3-2 in November with an NPRM to begin overhauling the low-income subsidy program (see 1711160021). "Petitioners seek relief from portions of the Order that will (1) limit enhanced Tribal Lifeline support to 'facilities-based' service and (2) limit Lifeline support to 'rural' Tribal areas pursuant to a newly established FCC definition," said the National Lifeline Association, Assist Wireless, Boomerang Wireless (enTouch) and Easy Telephone Services in a petition (in Pacer) to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that surfaced Friday in National Lifeline Association v. FCC, No. 18-1026. NLA is a trade group representing Lifeline providers and vendors. The companies said the actions were arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, exceeded FCC authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Meanwhile, Chairman Ajit Pai said the FCC had resolved seven notices of apparent liability from 2013 and 2014 against Lifeline providers (see 1712290032), and "expects to resolve two more soon"; three others remained with the agency's Office of Inspector General. The FCC has an enforcement action on its agenda for tomorrow's commissioners' meeting but hasn't identified what it involves. Pai was responding to a Dec. 1 letter from Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee ranking member Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. She asked for details on commission steps to recover $89.5 million in proposed fines against 12 Lifeline providers for alleged program violations (only one case had been resolved at that time). McCaskill's office didn't comment Monday.

Let the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee reach consensus before acting on recommendations, Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said in a Monday letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. With BDAC to meet Tuesday and Wednesday, Welch responded to reports that committee leadership suggested the group move ahead without a consensus of working group members. "For the BDAC to be a successful policy instrument, it must function as a consensus body," Welch wrote. The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO) complained about a Jan. 16 FCC announcement and invitation to tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to participate in conference calls Jan. 22 and 24 and Feb. 5 on wireless infrastructure. “The FCC refers to these conference calls as a continuation of … the process of government‐to‐government consultation on certain issues raised in the NPRM,’” NATHPO filed in wireless infrastructure and other dockets. “The FCC has not been conducting government‐to‐government consultation by offering open meetings to tribal representatives, including offering unstructured conference calls on short notice. Sending out an email message to hundreds of tribal representatives for a conference call, the first of which is less than one week away, is not government‐to‐government consultation.”

"Funding principles” for the anticipated infrastructure legislative package pending from President Donald Trump’s administration include language that would make telecom and broadband projects eligible for funding in limited circumstances, said a draft we obtained Monday. Trump may release the full infrastructure proposal around the time of his Jan. 30 State of the Union address, with Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., telling reporters last week a hearing on broadband issues could come soon after (see 1801170054).

Let the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee reach consensus before acting on recommendations, Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said in a Monday letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. With BDAC to meet Tuesday and Wednesday, Welch responded to reports that committee leadership suggested the group move ahead without a consensus of working group members. "For the BDAC to be a successful policy instrument, it must function as a consensus body," Welch wrote. The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO) complained about a Jan. 16 FCC announcement and invitation to tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to participate in conference calls Jan. 22 and 24 and Feb. 5 on wireless infrastructure. “The FCC refers to these conference calls as a continuation of … the process of government‐to‐government consultation on certain issues raised in the NPRM,’” NATHPO filed in wireless infrastructure and other dockets. “The FCC has not been conducting government‐to‐government consultation by offering open meetings to tribal representatives, including offering unstructured conference calls on short notice. Sending out an email message to hundreds of tribal representatives for a conference call, the first of which is less than one week away, is not government‐to‐government consultation.”