Incompas said CenturyLink's planned buy of Level 3 could undermine competition and lead to higher prices and less fiber deployment to businesses. "Level 3 is a shining example of how competition and interconnection policy bring more innovation and better customers service to market," said Karen Reidy, vice president-regulatory affairs, in a release Tuesday noting Incompas filed comments in the FCC's review proceeding. "While we understand why an incumbent like CenturyLink would desire to acquire such an innovative network, the significant reduction in competitive choice at building locations across CenturyLink’s footprint threatens to saddle business customers with less choice and higher prices." Level 3 is an Incompas member. In its FCC comments, Incompas said eliminating a last-mile facilities-based competitor would "enable the combined company to more easily execute price squeezes to push other retail enterprise business solution providers out of the market," including for multi-location customers partially in CenturyLink's incumbent telco region. "Applicants attempt to gloss over these issues by understating buildings where they have overlaps, while overstating alternative facilities-based options for business data services at these buildings," said the filing in docket 16-403. It said the takeover "may dampen CenturyLink's plans for fiber deployments to buildings lit by Level 3," and applicants made inadequate showings on dark fiber for long-haul transport and on remaining transport providers. "Before approving this transaction, the Commission must ensure that the competitive force Level 3 has provided is not lost," Incompas said. The National Congress of American Indians asked the agency to use the review to address the lack of affordable broadband on tribal lands. "Many Native Americans reside in CenturyLink’s 14-state service territory which is home to the largest land-based, federally recognized tribal lands in the country. This merger risks lessening the incentive CenturyLink has to invest in their networks that serve Tribal lands ... as the merged entity shifts its business model to one focused on enterprise business services," said NCAI's comments. CenturyLink emailed in response: “Our nation’s telecommunications and IT infrastructure must continue to evolve quickly to meet the ever-increasing demands of government, business and consumers. Because we must meet those needs and strengthen America’s telecommunications infrastructure for the future, it is clear that this transaction is in the public interest.” Level 3 didn't comment.

Sprint withdrew a Boost Mobile petition for limited designation as an eligible telecom carrier in various markets under the Lifeline program. The filing lists “Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Including Tribal Areas.” The carrier, in docket 09-197, didn't offer explanation. The company didn't comment Monday. Boost is a Sprint subsidiary offering low-cost, prepaid wireless service.

Sprint withdrew a Boost Mobile petition for limited designation as an eligible telecom carrier in various markets under the Lifeline program. The filing lists “Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Including Tribal Areas.” The carrier, in docket 09-197, didn't offer explanation. The company didn't comment Monday. Boost is a Sprint subsidiary offering low-cost, prepaid wireless service.

Seeking faster internet for schools, Arizona Corporation Commissioners voted 5-0 to launch a rulemaking to create a state match of rural broadband funds with funding from the state USF. Commissioner Andy Tobin proposed the fund earlier this week after Gov. Doug Ducey (R) called for more high-speed internet (see 1701100032). Tobin said he wanted to act quickly so the state could apply for federal E-rate Category One funding. At a commission meeting Wednesday, Tobin said 37 percent of Arizona school districts lack broadband of at least 100 kbps per student, and 60 percent of them are in rural and tribal areas. Arizona Department of Education Superintendent Diane Douglas testified in support of the plan, saying it’s another step to narrow the gap between students in rural and urban areas. “We've seen the power of technology and what it can do for education,” she said. The Arizona commission plans a Jan. 30 stakeholder workshop on the proposed broadband fund, then may consider a proposal at commissioners’ Feb. 7 meeting, Tobin said in an interview: “We are working very closely with the governor’s office and the Department of Education.”

Seeking faster internet for schools, Arizona Corporation Commissioners voted 5-0 to launch a rulemaking to create a state match of rural broadband funds with funding from the state USF. Commissioner Andy Tobin proposed the fund earlier this week after Gov. Doug Ducey (R) called for more high-speed internet (see 1701100032). Tobin said he wanted to act quickly so the state could apply for federal E-rate Category One funding. At a commission meeting Wednesday, Tobin said 37 percent of Arizona school districts lack broadband of at least 100 kbps per student, and 60 percent of them are in rural and tribal areas. Arizona Department of Education Superintendent Diane Douglas testified in support of the plan, saying it’s another step to narrow the gap between students in rural and urban areas. “We've seen the power of technology and what it can do for education,” she said. The Arizona commission plans a Jan. 30 stakeholder workshop on the proposed broadband fund, then may consider a proposal at commissioners’ Feb. 7 meeting, Tobin said in an interview: “We are working very closely with the governor’s office and the Department of Education.”

Matching updated federal Lifeline rules may not be best for state consumers, some cautioned this week in two state proceedings to harmonize state and federal low-income rules. In New Mexico, state commission staff said waiving state eligibility rules may be the simplest way forward, but a tribal-owned provider said one-third of its Lifeline customers may no longer qualify for support if the state conforms fully to the federal eligibility rules. In California, which got an FCC waiver, consumer groups sparred with providers over how closely the state LifeLine program should adhere to the federal program’s portability freeze rules. Several states are now working to harmonize state and federal Lifeline rules after the FCC's December waiver decision (see 1612070043).

Matching updated federal Lifeline rules may not be best for state consumers, some cautioned this week in two state proceedings to harmonize state and federal low-income rules. In New Mexico, state commission staff said waiving state eligibility rules may be the simplest way forward, but a tribal-owned provider said one-third of its Lifeline customers may no longer qualify for support if the state conforms fully to the federal eligibility rules. In California, which got an FCC waiver, consumer groups sparred with providers over how closely the state LifeLine program should adhere to the federal program’s portability freeze rules. Several states are now working to harmonize state and federal Lifeline rules after the FCC's December waiver decision (see 1612070043).

Arizona should tap the state USF to bring broadband to rural students, said Arizona Corporation Commissioner Andy Tobin. In a Monday letter in docket RT-00000H-97-0137, Tobin supported Republican Gov. Doug Ducey’s call for high-speed internet in rural and tribal areas. Tobin proposed a partnership with the governor, state superintendent and nonprofit EducationSuperHighway to create a state match of rural broadband funds for schools and libraries totaling $8 million to $13 million, the state commission said in a Tuesday news release. Tobin proposed a one-time distribution of $8 million from the Arizona USF to support the state match. The state match could help school districts obtain an estimated $80 million to $100 million in federal E-rate Category One funding, but Arizona must act quickly to meet a likely April deadline to submit funding applications to Universal Service Administrative Co., he said. To make the deadline, the state commission should open an emergency rulemaking, he said. Later this year, the commission should open another rulemaking examining the high-cost portion of the state USF, he said. “There is a real and troubling digital divide when it comes to internet access in our urban and rural areas,” Tobin wrote. “Every student must be afforded the same opportunity to learn, including those who live on tribal lands, in some inner city areas, or in the most remote reaches of the state.” Ducey said in the governor’s State of the State address Monday that “too many students, specifically in our rural areas, and in our tribal nations, are missing out. It’s 2017, but outside of our urban areas, broadband is still spotty. Let’s fix this, by connecting these rural schools to high-speed internet.” The proposed program will be discussed at a commission staff meeting Wednesday at 10 a.m. MST, the commission said.

Arizona should tap the state USF to bring broadband to rural students, said Arizona Corporation Commissioner Andy Tobin. In a Monday letter in docket RT-00000H-97-0137, Tobin supported Republican Gov. Doug Ducey’s call for high-speed internet in rural and tribal areas. Tobin proposed a partnership with the governor, state superintendent and nonprofit EducationSuperHighway to create a state match of rural broadband funds for schools and libraries totaling $8 million to $13 million, the state commission said in a Tuesday news release. Tobin proposed a one-time distribution of $8 million from the Arizona USF to support the state match. The state match could help school districts obtain an estimated $80 million to $100 million in federal E-rate Category One funding, but Arizona must act quickly to meet a likely April deadline to submit funding applications to Universal Service Administrative Co., he said. To make the deadline, the state commission should open an emergency rulemaking, he said. Later this year, the commission should open another rulemaking examining the high-cost portion of the state USF, he said. “There is a real and troubling digital divide when it comes to internet access in our urban and rural areas,” Tobin wrote. “Every student must be afforded the same opportunity to learn, including those who live on tribal lands, in some inner city areas, or in the most remote reaches of the state.” Ducey said in the governor’s State of the State address Monday that “too many students, specifically in our rural areas, and in our tribal nations, are missing out. It’s 2017, but outside of our urban areas, broadband is still spotty. Let’s fix this, by connecting these rural schools to high-speed internet.” The proposed program will be discussed at a commission staff meeting Wednesday at 10 a.m. MST, the commission said.

NTCA asked the FCC to revise parts of a Wireline Bureau public notice that directed telcos to report geo-located broadband data and certify service milestones to Universal Service Administrative Co. (see 1612080050). The full commission should modify or clarify aspects of the Dec. 8 PN's "location" definitions to the extent they conflict with the Communications Act, said the rural telco group's application for review Monday in docket 10-90. The FCC should "revise three of the categorical exclusions included as part of the guidance provided in the Public Notice to: (1) ensure that business locations can be counted as 'locations' served where the connections to them are broadband-capable and regardless of what service any given business customer may then choose to take; (2) ensure that wireless infrastructure sites can be counted as 'locations' served where the connections to them are broadband-capable; and (3) ensure that community anchor institutions can be counted as 'locations served where the connections to them are broadband-capable," NTCA said. In a filing posted Tuesday in docket 09-51, NARUC praised the PN's guidance on telco reporting and certification obligations, and it welcomed USAC outreach efforts. NARUC said recent FCC actions appear to address almost all of the requests contained in a resolution adopted by its members in November. "One crucial request that remains outstanding, is the critical need for some clarification of how State commissions and relevant Tribal and territorial authorities can dispute the accuracy of data being reported" by Connect America Fund recipients, NARUC wrote. "The FCC should, at a minimum, create a process for States to dispute the accuracy of carrier reported information and consider specifying carriers provide the same data directly with the certificating authority."