The Telecom Committee passed five resolutions during its business meeting Tuesday during the NARUC summer committee meetings here in New York. The resolutions will be reviewed by the NARUC board Wednesday afternoon before being voted on by the organization officially. Three of the resolutions covered risk management and best practices for cybersecurity for communications providers, congressional action on the open Internet and eligible telecommunications carrier designations for Lifeline broadband services, as expected (see 1507020054). The resolutions passed with little discussion and had been edited lightly from their original versions.

The Telecom Committee passed five resolutions during its business meeting Tuesday during the NARUC summer committee meetings here in New York. The resolutions will be reviewed by the NARUC board Wednesday afternoon before being voted on by the organization officially. Three of the resolutions covered risk management and best practices for cybersecurity for communications providers, congressional action on the open Internet and eligible telecommunications carrier designations for Lifeline broadband services, as expected (see 1507020054). The resolutions passed with little discussion and had been edited lightly from their original versions.

The House Appropriations Committee outlined broadband priorities it wants the federal government to abide by, in its report accompanying the FY 2016 Department of Agriculture appropriations bill before full committee markup. The report offers justification for the funding levels in committee appropriations bills. The Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee approved the bill in late June, allocating slightly less money than last year for the broadband provisions (see 1506190028). “Funding provided for the broadband program is intended to promote broadband availability in those areas where there is not otherwise a business case for private investment in a broadband network,” the report said. “The Committee directs RUS [Rural Utilities Service] to focus expenditures on projects that bring broadband service to currently unserved households.” The appropriators also flagged the broadband access difficulties that Indian tribal organizations face: “The Committee encourages the Secretary to provide a report that identifies the specific challenges Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) have in gaining access to broadband service and provide a plan for addressing these challenges, including how the Community Connect program can assist ITOs.” The committee will mark up the appropriations bill at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday in 2359 Rayburn.

The House Appropriations Committee outlined broadband priorities it wants the federal government to abide by, in its report accompanying the FY 2016 Department of Agriculture appropriations bill before full committee markup. The report offers justification for the funding levels in committee appropriations bills. The Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee approved the bill in late June, allocating slightly less money than last year for the broadband provisions (see 1506190028). “Funding provided for the broadband program is intended to promote broadband availability in those areas where there is not otherwise a business case for private investment in a broadband network,” the report said. “The Committee directs RUS [Rural Utilities Service] to focus expenditures on projects that bring broadband service to currently unserved households.” The appropriators also flagged the broadband access difficulties that Indian tribal organizations face: “The Committee encourages the Secretary to provide a report that identifies the specific challenges Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) have in gaining access to broadband service and provide a plan for addressing these challenges, including how the Community Connect program can assist ITOs.” The committee will mark up the appropriations bill at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday in 2359 Rayburn.

Senate Commerce Committee leaders may move forward this month to try to reauthorize the FCC for the first time since 1990. The committee’s top Democrat foresees marking up the unreleased legislation, written by the GOP chairman and potentially undergoing some changes now, at Commerce’s as yet-unscheduled July markup session. One provision, possibly among others, undergoing partisan debate is believed to be initial GOP language requiring the FCC to take additional steps in rulemakings deemed economically significant.

Senate Commerce Committee leaders may move forward this month to try to reauthorize the FCC for the first time since 1990. The committee’s top Democrat foresees marking up the unreleased legislation, written by the GOP chairman and potentially undergoing some changes now, at Commerce’s as yet-unscheduled July markup session. One provision, possibly among others, undergoing partisan debate is believed to be initial GOP language requiring the FCC to take additional steps in rulemakings deemed economically significant.

A bitterly divided FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to approve a package of proposals and actions to move the Lifeline USF program toward broadband coverage and move to improve oversight and counter abuses. The FCC's Democratic majority said the NPRM and orders would reboot Lifeline for the 21st century by helping low-income consumers gain broadband access and by undertaking further administrative restructuring to ensure program efficiency and integrity. But the Republican minority said Democratic refusal to impose or even propose a Lifeline budgetary cap was fiscally irresponsible and invited further waste, fraud and abuse.

A bitterly divided FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to approve a package of proposals and actions to move the Lifeline USF program toward broadband coverage and move to improve oversight and counter abuses. The FCC's Democratic majority said the NPRM and orders would reboot Lifeline for the 21st century by helping low-income consumers gain broadband access and by undertaking further administrative restructuring to ensure program efficiency and integrity. But the Republican minority said Democratic refusal to impose or even propose a Lifeline budgetary cap was fiscally irresponsible and invited further waste, fraud and abuse.

FCC items moving Lifeline USF toward broadband coverage and authorizing VoIP numbering direct access appear likely to be approved Thursday, despite some continuing controversies and even resistance, agency and telecom industry officials told us. The VoIP numbering item is a "slam dunk 5-0 [vote]," said an agency official, but questions remain about whether Lifeline will draw dissent. Signaling different points of emphasis, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said Wednesday it was time to "reboot" the Lifeline program for this century, while Commissioner Ajit Pai said the FCC needed to focus on establishing a Lifeline budget and reining in abuses if it's going to authorize broadband support.

FCC items moving Lifeline USF toward broadband coverage and authorizing VoIP numbering direct access appear likely to be approved Thursday, despite some continuing controversies and even resistance, agency and telecom industry officials told us. The VoIP numbering item is a "slam dunk 5-0 [vote]," said an agency official, but questions remain about whether Lifeline will draw dissent. Signaling different points of emphasis, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said Wednesday it was time to "reboot" the Lifeline program for this century, while Commissioner Ajit Pai said the FCC needed to focus on establishing a Lifeline budget and reining in abuses if it's going to authorize broadband support.