The Communications Workers of America touted Friday support from a pair of West Virginia state legislators for FCC nominee Gigi Sohn. CWA focused on an endorsement from state Sen. Robert Plymale (D), and noted state House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R) “has also voiced support for the Democratic nominee.” Putting “partisan politics aside, West Virginia legislators are recognizing that Gigi Sohn has long been a champion for expanding broadband access, especially in rural parts of our state where folks desperately need reliable connections,” said CWA West Virginia Representative Elaine Harris in a statement. “We can not allow corporate dark money to delay her confirmation any longer. It’s time for the U.S. Senate to confirm her so that the FCC can get to work for the people of West Virginia and for all Americans.” The Senate’s confirmation process for Sohn has stalled while Democratic leaders struggle to get unified support from their caucus. Three Democratic senators have said they remain undecided on Sohn, including Joe Manchin of West Virginia (see 2204260071). Sohn supporters also touted Navajo Nation leaders' recent letter to Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, both D-Ariz., endorsing Sohn. Kelly is another of the undecided Democrats, while Sinema backed Sohn only at the last minute before the Senate Commerce Committee reached a 14-14 tie on the nominee in March (see 2203030070).
Providers, local governments and advocates welcomed FCC-proposed rules for the $14.2 billion affordable connectivity program, in comments posted Thursday in docket 21-450. Some raised concerns about potential implementation challenges as the agency shifts from the $3.1 billion emergency broadband benefit program and urged the commission to allow flexibility for EBB providers and enrolled households during the transition.
Tribal libraries may soon get the clarity they sought on E-rate eligibility rules, as industry and tribal groups widely approved, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 02-6, FCC-proposed updates to the definition of an eligible library (see 2110010070). Some said more is needed to encourage participation.
OK Smith Bagley’s request for a six-month extension on Lifeline verification waivers for providers serving the Navajo Nation, asked Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Navajo Nation Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Chairman Arvin Trujillo in a letter to FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel posted Monday in docket 11-42. Navajos are five times as likely as “the average American” to contract and die from COVID-19 and the Navajo Nation has instituted curfews, occupancy limits and other “drastic steps” to slow the disease’s spread, they wrote. The FCC Lifeline usage requirement is a concern, because many Navajos lack consistent access to electricity, they said.
House Communications Subcommittee members delivered divergent assessments on infrastructure proposals from President Joe Biden’s administration and congressional Democrats aimed at improving broadband affordability and equity, during a Thursday hearing. Negotiations on the scope of a final infrastructure legislative package partly turn on whether a broadband title will address affordability and equity. Doing so is crucial to narrowing the digital divide, supporters told us.
Commenters in docket 15-94 on FCC-proposed changes to wireless emergency alerts, state emergency communications committees (SECCs) and false alert reporting rules largely supported the plans. Some raised concerns about alert fatigue, confidentiality and how future “presidential” alerts should be designated to avoid public backlash. Proposed rule changes in a unanimously approved March NPRM (see 2103170070) stem from the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which gives the FCC until June 30 to implement new rules.
The application filing window for the second round of the FCC’s COVID-19 telehealth program is scheduled to open at the end of the month (see 2104150036), but policy experts warn the evaluation metrics could cause healthcare providers and facilities in need to lose out on hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding.
A proposed update to New Mexico’s rural telecom subsidy will soon be up for a House floor vote, after unanimously clearing the chamber’s Appropriations and Finance Committee Monday. SB-204 would update New Mexico's Rural Telecom Act to let carriers that didn't exist before 1999 get access reduction support payments, which would make Sacred Winds Communications eligible, said a summary. The bill also passed unanimously through the Senate and the House Commerce Committee earlier this month. It would improve broadband in one of the state’s least-connected areas and is backed by the Navajo Nation, said Sen. Michael Padilla (D) at the livestreamed hearing. Treat all telecom carriers the same, testified Matejka Santillanes, New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group executive director. She joined the Navajo Nation Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, Microsoft and other business groups supporting SB-204.
The FCC Wireline Bureau announced additional details about its upcoming roundtable on the emergency broadband benefit program in a public notice Friday (see 2101280035). All commissioners are expected to give opening remarks. The Feb. 12 event will be divided into two 50-minute Q&A panels. The first will address outreach and consumer enrollment with CTIA, Microsoft Airband, Cherokee Nation, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Comcast, National Consumer Law Center and the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council. The second panel will address broadband provider participation and "maximizing consumers' choice of robust broadband to meet their current needs" with Starry, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, AT&T, NCTA, NTCA, Navajo Nation and Next Century Cities.
Providers, regulators and advocacy groups urged the FCC to establish broad eligibility criteria for its $3.2 billion emergency broadband fund and begin the program as soon as possible (see 2101070052). Several suggested relying on Lifeline rules. Some urged working with other federal agencies on data-sharing agreements to ensure all eligible households can enroll. Comments were due Monday.