FCC staff denied 41 long-pending requests for Lifeline-only eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designations and compliance plan approvals submitted by generally small companies. The parties didn't reaffirm their interest in response to a May public notice (see 1605180077) after commissioners adopted a broadband and administrative overhaul of the low-income telecom subsidy program 3-2 March 31 (see 1603310056). "A carrier’s application will not be subject to further consideration without a timely filed affirmative statement of continued interest," said a Wireline Bureau order in docket 11-42 listed in Monday's Daily Digest. "None of the parties listed in the attached Appendices filed an affirmative statement attesting to a continued interest in having the pending application considered by the Bureau." Denied without prejudice were 18 petitions for ETC designations -- including from Birch Communications, Nexus Communications, SI Wireless and at least two tribal entities, Navajo Pillars Telecommunications and the Nez Perce Tribe -- and 23 requests for compliance plan approvals.

FCC staff denied 41 long-pending requests for Lifeline-only eligible telecom carrier (ETC) designations and compliance plan approvals submitted by generally small companies. The parties didn't reaffirm their interest in response to a May public notice (see 1605180077) after commissioners adopted a broadband and administrative overhaul of the low-income telecom subsidy program 3-2 March 31 (see 1603310056). "A carrier’s application will not be subject to further consideration without a timely filed affirmative statement of continued interest," said a Wireline Bureau order in docket 11-42 listed in Monday's Daily Digest. "None of the parties listed in the attached Appendices filed an affirmative statement attesting to a continued interest in having the pending application considered by the Bureau." Denied without prejudice were 18 petitions for ETC designations -- including from Birch Communications, Nexus Communications, SI Wireless and at least two tribal entities, Navajo Pillars Telecommunications and the Nez Perce Tribe -- and 23 requests for compliance plan approvals.

Universal Service Administrative Co. released a draft National Verifier Plan for the FCC Lifeline low-income telecom subsidy program, which is transitioning coverage to include broadband service and administrative oversight away from Lifeline providers (see 1603310056). USAC solicited comments between Dec. 5 and Dec. 30 for consideration in adoption of a plan expected out early next year. "Before it is published, the Final National Verifier Plan will be approved by the Wireline Competition Bureau and the Office of the Managing Director at the FCC," said the 101-slide USAC draft plan, which noted the final plan will be updated every six months during the expected 2017-19 implementation phase. To address what it saw as problems with Lifeline provider verification of consumer eligibility for the program, the FCC in March ordered the creation of a national verifier. The draft plan said the national verifier is to: "Create the Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED), which will be connected to state and federal data sources, to determine eligibility for both initial enrollment and annual recertification; Allow Service Providers, consumers, and state, territory, or tribal government users to check eligibility or enrollment status; and Calculate payments to Service Providers based on data available through National Verifier." The draft outlines initial USAC views on numerous issues in establishing the national verifier: stakeholder engagement, business architecture, data usage, data security and storage, tech systems and tools, organizational structure and staffing, business case, key performance indicators and metrics, risk management and transition management.

Universal Service Administrative Co. released a draft National Verifier Plan for the FCC Lifeline low-income telecom subsidy program, which is transitioning coverage to include broadband service and administrative oversight away from Lifeline providers (see 1603310056). USAC solicited comments between Dec. 5 and Dec. 30 for consideration in adoption of a plan expected out early next year. "Before it is published, the Final National Verifier Plan will be approved by the Wireline Competition Bureau and the Office of the Managing Director at the FCC," said the 101-slide USAC draft plan, which noted the final plan will be updated every six months during the expected 2017-19 implementation phase. To address what it saw as problems with Lifeline provider verification of consumer eligibility for the program, the FCC in March ordered the creation of a national verifier. The draft plan said the national verifier is to: "Create the Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED), which will be connected to state and federal data sources, to determine eligibility for both initial enrollment and annual recertification; Allow Service Providers, consumers, and state, territory, or tribal government users to check eligibility or enrollment status; and Calculate payments to Service Providers based on data available through National Verifier." The draft outlines initial USAC views on numerous issues in establishing the national verifier: stakeholder engagement, business architecture, data usage, data security and storage, tech systems and tools, organizational structure and staffing, business case, key performance indicators and metrics, risk management and transition management.

The FCC is looking to resolve rate-of-return USF funding issues "as quickly as possible," Wireline Bureau Chief Matt DelNero said Thursday at a Practising Law Institute conference. He noted 215 rural telcos electing a new broadband model-based mechanism sought $310 million in annual subsidy support above an FCC budget, and the agency had allocated only an extra $150 million. The bureau is consulting with all the commissioner offices in search of a solution in the near term to make the new rate-of-return USF structures work for as many carriers as possible, he said.

The FCC is looking to resolve rate-of-return USF funding issues "as quickly as possible," Wireline Bureau Chief Matt DelNero said Thursday at a Practising Law Institute conference. He noted 215 rural telcos electing a new broadband model-based mechanism sought $310 million in annual subsidy support above an FCC budget, and the agency had allocated only an extra $150 million. The bureau is consulting with all the commissioner offices in search of a solution in the near term to make the new rate-of-return USF structures work for as many carriers as possible, he said.

The FCC Wireless Bureau is plugging away on many spectrum, auction and other matters despite the lull in FCC action on controversial major items during the presidential transition, said Bureau Chief Jon Wilkins at an FCBA event Tuesday. Wilkins, joined by other officials, said the bureau is moving ahead with work aimed at fostering deployment of 5G wireless infrastructure and other proceedings. "There's a lot of stuff that's going on," he said. "There are some bigger items that are midstream that aren’t necessarily teed up for a decision real soon." The latest spectrum frontiers proceeding aimed at using high-frequency bands is such an item, he said.

The FCC Wireless Bureau is plugging away on many spectrum, auction and other matters despite the lull in FCC action on controversial major items during the presidential transition, said Bureau Chief Jon Wilkins at an FCBA event Tuesday. Wilkins, joined by other officials, said the bureau is moving ahead with work aimed at fostering deployment of 5G wireless infrastructure and other proceedings. "There's a lot of stuff that's going on," he said. "There are some bigger items that are midstream that aren’t necessarily teed up for a decision real soon." The latest spectrum frontiers proceeding aimed at using high-frequency bands is such an item, he said.

LA QUINTA, California -- NARUC is poised to ask the FCC to postpone a Dec. 2 deadline to align state low-income programs with updated federal rules that added broadband as a supported Lifeline service. In a vote Monday at the NARUC annual meeting, the Telecom Committee unanimously passed a resolution supporting USTelecom and state petitions for waiver. The commission plans to act soon on the petitions, FCC Wireline Bureau Telecom Access Policy Division Chief Ryan Palmer said on a panel before the voting.

LA QUINTA, California -- NARUC is poised to ask the FCC to postpone a Dec. 2 deadline to align state low-income programs with updated federal rules that added broadband as a supported Lifeline service. In a vote Monday at the NARUC annual meeting, the Telecom Committee unanimously passed a resolution supporting USTelecom and state petitions for waiver. The commission plans to act soon on the petitions, FCC Wireline Bureau Telecom Access Policy Division Chief Ryan Palmer said on a panel before the voting.