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."

It's “essential” for all TV licensees to ensure their correct contact information is on file with the FCC, said the Media Bureau and the Incentive Auction Task Force in a reminder public notice Thursday. “Important communications may reach recipients more quickly if their contact information is a street address rather than a post office box.” Information about channel assignments and repacking information will be sent by overnight mail to licensees with street addresses on file, the PN said. Contact information can be updated in the licensing and management system, the PN said. In a separate PN, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau's Office of Native Affairs and Policy announced two upcoming “FCC Tribal Broadband, Telecom, and Broadcast Training and Consultation Workshops.” The first workshop will be at Black Oak Casino Resort, Tuolumne, California, Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, and the second at Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, Salamanca, New York, March 7 to 9. The workshops will include sessions “on a broad range of FCC programs and policies that impact communications issues in Tribal communities,” the PN said.

The National Tribal Telecommunications Association asked the FCC to reverse a Dec. 1 Wireline Bureau order designating certain mobile wireless resellers to be Lifeline broadband providers (LBP): Spot On Networks, Boomerang Wireless, KonaTel and STS Media (FreedomPop) (see 1612010070). NTTA's petition for reconsideration said there isn't evidence in the record the carriers complied with FCC rule Section 54.202(c) to provide tribal governments and their regulators notice of their LBP petitions. It asked the FCC to make clear that LBP applications must comply with the rule's requirements and acknowledge its own need to notify tribal authorities of such petitions. The grant of LBP status to KonaTel and FreedomPop also should be reconsidered because the comment period on their applications hadn't ended before the bureau acted, NTTA said.

The National Tribal Telecommunications Association asked the FCC to reverse a Dec. 1 Wireline Bureau order designating certain mobile wireless resellers to be Lifeline broadband providers (LBP): Spot On Networks, Boomerang Wireless, KonaTel and STS Media (FreedomPop) (see 1612010070). NTTA's petition for reconsideration said there isn't evidence in the record the carriers complied with FCC rule Section 54.202(c) to provide tribal governments and their regulators notice of their LBP petitions. It asked the FCC to make clear that LBP applications must comply with the rule's requirements and acknowledge its own need to notify tribal authorities of such petitions. The grant of LBP status to KonaTel and FreedomPop also should be reconsidered because the comment period on their applications hadn't ended before the bureau acted, NTTA said.

The Lifeline Connects Coalition suggested changes to the draft national verifier plan floated by Universal Service Administrative Co. (see 1612010043) for replacing the current carrier-based approach. USAC's draft plan for a national verifier of low-income consumer eligibility for Lifeline's subsidized telecom/broadband services "proposes features that would inhibit, rather than encourage, more efficient and effective enrollment and recertification," said LCC in comments posted Tuesday in FCC docket 11-42. The coalition -- which consists of American Broadband & Telecommunications, Blue Jay Wireless, i-wireless and Telrite -- made recommendations in five areas: "First, the National Verifier must include real-time review of enrollments, including where manual review of proof of eligibility is necessary. Second, the National Verifier should involve service providers early and often in the recertification process. Third, the National Verifier’s Tribal residency verification should include collection of the Tribal residency certification at enrollment and a safe harbor for service providers, and USAC should cease wasteful and unnecessary auditing of service providers. ... Fourth, service providers should continue to be able to facilitate dispute resolutions for applicants in real-time at enrollment as they do today rather than requiring applicants to separately submit documentation by mail or web portal. Fifth, the National Verifier should permit service providers to correct their snapshot totals when they certify their subscriber lists to USAC, and should afford service providers flexibility to make corrections and revisions to their reimbursement requests, including upward adjustments in limited, appropriate circumstances." USAC, which the FCC assigned the job of creating the national verifier, expects to release a "final" plan in January, though it's to be updated during implementation over the next three years (see 1612070015).

The Lifeline Connects Coalition suggested changes to the draft national verifier plan floated by Universal Service Administrative Co. (see 1612010043) for replacing the current carrier-based approach. USAC's draft plan for a national verifier of low-income consumer eligibility for Lifeline's subsidized telecom/broadband services "proposes features that would inhibit, rather than encourage, more efficient and effective enrollment and recertification," said LCC in comments posted Tuesday in FCC docket 11-42. The coalition -- which consists of American Broadband & Telecommunications, Blue Jay Wireless, i-wireless and Telrite -- made recommendations in five areas: "First, the National Verifier must include real-time review of enrollments, including where manual review of proof of eligibility is necessary. Second, the National Verifier should involve service providers early and often in the recertification process. Third, the National Verifier’s Tribal residency verification should include collection of the Tribal residency certification at enrollment and a safe harbor for service providers, and USAC should cease wasteful and unnecessary auditing of service providers. ... Fourth, service providers should continue to be able to facilitate dispute resolutions for applicants in real-time at enrollment as they do today rather than requiring applicants to separately submit documentation by mail or web portal. Fifth, the National Verifier should permit service providers to correct their snapshot totals when they certify their subscriber lists to USAC, and should afford service providers flexibility to make corrections and revisions to their reimbursement requests, including upward adjustments in limited, appropriate circumstances." USAC, which the FCC assigned the job of creating the national verifier, expects to release a "final" plan in January, though it's to be updated during implementation over the next three years (see 1612070015).

Named members of the FCC Intergovernmental Advisory Committee for 2017-2019: state executive representative Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy; municipal representatives Bob Fifer, Arvada, Colorado; Andy Huckaba, Lenexa, Kansas; Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh; and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed; county representatives Edwin Lee, San Francisco, and Hans Riemer, Montgomery County, Maryland; city attorney representative Kenneth Fellman, Yuma, Colorado; state legislative representatives Deb Peters, South Dakota; Angelo Puppolo, Massachusetts; and Jason Saine, North Carolina; state public utility commission representative Ronald Brisé, Florida; and tribal representatives Clifford Agee; Chickasaw Nation; Ada, Oklahoma, and James Norton; Yurok Tribe; Klamath, California ... Lobbyist registrations: Akamai Technologies, ATNI, Donuts, Google, INSP, Neustar, TiVo, Perry Bayliss Government Relations, effective Nov. 1; Iridium Communications, effective Dec. 1.

Standing Rock Telecommunications (SRT) asked the FCC to give it until June 30 to complete network construction and drive test reporting for all the tracts SRT was approved to build out as part of the Tribal Mobility Fund. A six-month extension “will allow SRT to upgrade the current network to a 4G network allowing for better coverage and performance,” the carrier said in a filing in docket 10-90. “The additional time is also needed to conduct the necessary construction and drive testing required by the FCC.” Bringing mobile voice and broadband to unserved areas "is a worthwhile investment" but is taking longer than the FCC expected, SRT said. "SRT is making great progress in constructing a high quality, reasonably priced wireless network that is already bringing wireless service to customers that were not able to obtain service due to no coverage by any wireless provider."

The Congressional Research Service produced two reports on FCC policy in the past week. One 29-page report, dated Dec. 16, sums up FCC policy on media ownership, attribution and diversity. “The FCC’s 2016 review occurred against the background of sweeping changes in news consumption patterns,” the report said, citing data from the Pew Research Center. An 18-page report, dated Tuesday, gave an update on tribal broadband deployment. “The most recent data show that, as of December 31, 2014, approximately 41% of Americans living on tribal lands lacked access to broadband at speeds of 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload,” CRS said. “This compares unfavorably to 10% of all Americans lacking access to broadband at those speeds.” The report cited funding questions it said could come up in 2017: “Debate has centered on whether federal funding for tribal broadband is sufficient, and the extent to which portions of federal funds available for broadband should be specifically targeted for tribal broadband. In the 114th Congress, while there was no legislation that exclusively directed federal funding for tribal broadband, there were a number of bills that addressed federal funding for broadband generally. In the 115th Congress, notwithstanding whether federal broadband funding programs target tribal lands, whether or not tribal lands will receive additional funding for broadband will likely be determined by the ongoing trajectory of overall federal funding for broadband.”

The Congressional Research Service produced two reports on FCC policy in the past week. One 29-page report, dated Dec. 16, sums up FCC policy on media ownership, attribution and diversity. “The FCC’s 2016 review occurred against the background of sweeping changes in news consumption patterns,” the report said, citing data from the Pew Research Center. An 18-page report, dated Tuesday, gave an update on tribal broadband deployment. “The most recent data show that, as of December 31, 2014, approximately 41% of Americans living on tribal lands lacked access to broadband at speeds of 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload,” CRS said. “This compares unfavorably to 10% of all Americans lacking access to broadband at those speeds.” The report cited funding questions it said could come up in 2017: “Debate has centered on whether federal funding for tribal broadband is sufficient, and the extent to which portions of federal funds available for broadband should be specifically targeted for tribal broadband. In the 114th Congress, while there was no legislation that exclusively directed federal funding for tribal broadband, there were a number of bills that addressed federal funding for broadband generally. In the 115th Congress, notwithstanding whether federal broadband funding programs target tribal lands, whether or not tribal lands will receive additional funding for broadband will likely be determined by the ongoing trajectory of overall federal funding for broadband.”