The Competitive Carriers Association, NTCA and the Rural Wireless Association raised questions about an NPRM set for a vote at the April 17 commissioners’ meeting proposing to bar use of money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain. But that hasn’t translated into ex parte meetings at the FCC. RWA raised concerns Monday in a filing in new docket 18-89. China experts said concerns are legitimate.

The Competitive Carriers Association, NTCA and the Rural Wireless Association raised questions about an NPRM set for a vote at the April 17 commissioners’ meeting proposing to bar use of money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain. But that hasn’t translated into ex parte meetings at the FCC. RWA raised concerns Monday in a filing in new docket 18-89. China experts said concerns are legitimate.

Tribal telco representatives praised FCC targeted USF relief, but one voiced concern about a left-out carrier, and the others said further steps are needed. The agency Thursday voted, with Chairman Ajit Pai partially concurring and Democratic commissioners partially dissenting, for relaxed operating-expense restrictions on rate-of-return telcos primarily serving tribal lands, attaching broadband conditions to target the extra funding (see 1804050028). It's "significant for the providers and the communities they serve," emailed Patrick Halley, Wilkinson Barker counsel to Saddleback Communications, one of five carriers staff expects to be covered. "While more can certainly be done to address the Tribal broadband deployment gap, Chairman Pai and the Commission are to be commended for recognizing the higher costs incurred in maintaining and deploying broadband networks on Tribal lands," he said. "We are pleased the commission recognized the need of some of the tribes," said Randy Tyree of GRTyree Consulting, who represents the National Tribal Telecommunications Association and Mescalero Apache Telecom. "We're very concerned about Mescalero Apache not being able to receive relief just because they built out their broadband further than the others. Without this relief, Mescalero is certainly going to have to look at other alternatives" for funding. Mescalero wants "to remain constructive and see what" it can do with the agency, he added. Gila River Telecommunications, another carrier expected to receive relief, is pleased the FCC "has finally adopted this order that will ensure USF support better reflects the cost of providing service on tribal lands," emailed counsel Gregory Guice of Akin Gump, who also lauded Pai's work and lawmaker attention. "We do, however, agree with the Chairman that it is too bad that certain restrictions were placed on this change, particularly ones that penalize companies that have built out their networks, as those companies will incur more operating costs for that action."

Tribal telco representatives praised FCC targeted USF relief, but one voiced concern about a left-out carrier, and the others said further steps are needed. The agency Thursday voted, with Chairman Ajit Pai partially concurring and Democratic commissioners partially dissenting, for relaxed operating-expense restrictions on rate-of-return telcos primarily serving tribal lands, attaching broadband conditions to target the extra funding (see 1804050028). It's "significant for the providers and the communities they serve," emailed Patrick Halley, Wilkinson Barker counsel to Saddleback Communications, one of five carriers staff expects to be covered. "While more can certainly be done to address the Tribal broadband deployment gap, Chairman Pai and the Commission are to be commended for recognizing the higher costs incurred in maintaining and deploying broadband networks on Tribal lands," he said. "We are pleased the commission recognized the need of some of the tribes," said Randy Tyree of GRTyree Consulting, who represents the National Tribal Telecommunications Association and Mescalero Apache Telecom. "We're very concerned about Mescalero Apache not being able to receive relief just because they built out their broadband further than the others. Without this relief, Mescalero is certainly going to have to look at other alternatives" for funding. Mescalero wants "to remain constructive and see what" it can do with the agency, he added. Gila River Telecommunications, another carrier expected to receive relief, is pleased the FCC "has finally adopted this order that will ensure USF support better reflects the cost of providing service on tribal lands," emailed counsel Gregory Guice of Akin Gump, who also lauded Pai's work and lawmaker attention. "We do, however, agree with the Chairman that it is too bad that certain restrictions were placed on this change, particularly ones that penalize companies that have built out their networks, as those companies will incur more operating costs for that action."

While the federal judge overseeing the AT&T/Time Warner antitrust trial last week signaled interest in the sides setting arbitration terms that differ from what TW’s Turner offered (see 1804040022), experts told us it’s doubtful DOJ will suddenly find itself amenable to a behavioral condition to fix competition is- sues in the deal. Some see the possibility of U.S. District Judge Richard Leon of Washington imposing that remedy. Others question if that’s possible. DOJ, AT&T and TW didn’t comment.

While the federal judge overseeing the AT&T/Time Warner antitrust trial last week signaled interest in the sides setting arbitration terms that differ from what TW’s Turner offered (see 1804040022), experts told us it’s doubtful DOJ will suddenly find itself amenable to a behavioral condition to fix competition is- sues in the deal. Some see the possibility of U.S. District Judge Richard Leon of Washington imposing that remedy. Others question if that’s possible. DOJ, AT&T and TW didn’t comment.

Despite hype about connected car market opportunities for satellite-based flat panel antennas, that FPA market "remains elusive and still many years away from being realized," Northern Sky Research analyst Dallas Kasaboski blogged Wednesday. Successful deployment for FPA manufacturers could be lucrative, but the use cases are poorly defined and the technology and price points haven't reached levels that would open the door to widespread adoption, he said. Other land-mobile FPA applications like connected buses and trainers are further along, he said, estimating cumulative equipment revenues for land-mobile FPA applications to hit $94 million over the next decade.

Despite hype about connected car market opportunities for satellite-based flat panel antennas, that FPA market "remains elusive and still many years away from being realized," Northern Sky Research analyst Dallas Kasaboski blogged Wednesday. Successful deployment for FPA manufacturers could be lucrative, but the use cases are poorly defined and the technology and price points haven't reached levels that would open the door to widespread adoption, he said. Other land-mobile FPA applications like connected buses and trainers are further along, he said, estimating cumulative equipment revenues for land-mobile FPA applications to hit $94 million over the next decade.

The FCC gave a few tribal-oriented telcos additional USF support for operating costs it said were well above average. The two Democratic commissioners partially dissented and the agency's chief partially concurred, citing changes he made to win OK. The commission Thursday released as expected (see 1804040056) a modified, long-pending order to relax 2016 operating-expense (opex) restrictions on rate-of-return telco high-cost support for carriers primarily serving tribal land. Broadband deployment and competition conditions were added to target the relief to an estimated five providers.

The FCC gave a few tribal-oriented telcos additional USF support for operating costs it said were well above average. The two Democratic commissioners partially dissented and the agency's chief partially concurred, citing changes he made to win OK. The commission Thursday released as expected (see 1804040056) a modified, long-pending order to relax 2016 operating-expense (opex) restrictions on rate-of-return telco high-cost support for carriers primarily serving tribal land. Broadband deployment and competition conditions were added to target the relief to an estimated five providers.