Nineteen groups, led by the Open Technology Institute at New America, sent a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Thursday urging the agency to wrap up work on two long-standing issues raised in a 2020 Further NPRM on the 6 GHz band (see 2004230059). The letter cites digital inclusion concerns. “The authorization of Very Low Power (VLP) devices and higher power for indoor-only use (LPI) are particularly crucial for digital equity and inclusion, for continued U.S. leadership in next generation Wi-Fi, and for virtually all consumers, businesses and community anchor institutions that increasingly rely on Wi-Fi for connectivity,” the letter said: “Above all, we need to ensure that final rules for the 6 GHz band do not create a new Wi-Fi Digital Divide.” The letter warns, “Weak indoor signals and any unnecessary reliance on costly and complex database control over Wi-Fi and other unlicensed technologies will disproportionately deprive low-income households, students and others of affordable access to this advanced connectivity.” Some expect FCC action soon (see 2306230046). Groups signing the letter include Public Knowledge, Consumer Reports, Next Century Cities, the American Library Association, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, the Schools Health Libraries Broadband Coalition, the Tribal Digital Village Network, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, the Wireless ISP Association, the United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry, Access Humboldt, X-Lab and the Institute for Local Self Reliance.
The Wyoming Public Service Commission won't vote at Thursday’s meeting on a staff proposal to grant a Dish Wireless application for eligible telecom carrier designation. The application in docket 60061-6-RA-23 was on the consent agenda, but Commissioner Chris Petrie said he has questions for Dish and asked to table the item until the Aug. 8 meeting at 1:30 p.m. MDT. Dish seeks “limited designation to provide Lifeline service to qualifying Wyoming consumers, including those customers residing on federally recognized Tribal lands,” said a July 24 staff memo. The company doesn’t seek access to USF high-cost support. The Utah PSC last month set a Nov. 28 hearing on a similar Dish petition (see 2307240029).
Geography and topography could be a big hurdle for states in NTIA's broadband equity, deployment and access (BEAD) program. In draft five-year action plans, many states cited terrain as a chief challenge for getting service to high-cost areas, with several looking at options including satellite broadband and fixed wireless to serve high-cost areas. Numerous states also cited challenges such as labor shortages and affordability, longer supply chain lead times and regulatory hurdles, according to our review of draft plans made public so far.
NTIA issued its second notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the tribal broadband connectivity program Thursday, making nearly $1 billion available for Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities. The agency made $980 million available for high-speed infrastructure deployment, telehealth and distance learning, and use and adoption efforts on tribal lands. Eligible entities have until Jan. 23 to apply for the new funding.
NTIA awarded nearly $4 million in additional tribal broadband connectivity program support Thursday, funding deployment and adoption projects for eight tribes. “These investments will improve Internet access across six states and give Tribes the connectivity they need to work, learn, and access health care," said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The agency will issue a second notice of funding opportunity for an additional round of funding in the coming weeks, per a news release.
The FCC and the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are partnering on a trial of georouting calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the commission said Thursday as commissioners approved 988 outage reporting requirements 4-0, as expected (see 2307130010). Commissioners also unanimously approved an order allowing 14 FM6 stations to broadcast analog signals as an ancillary service and an order giving tribal libraries and other E-rate participants greater access to funding.
Library groups and E-rate participants welcomed a draft FCC order and Further NPRM that would modify program rules for tribal colleges and university libraries and seek additional updates for all participants. Commissioners will consider the item during their open meeting Thursday (see 2306290056). Some sought clarifying language in the draft FNPRM.
AUSTIN – NARUC's Telecom Committee supported permanent annual funding for the affordable connectivity program (ACP) in a nearly unanimous vote at the association’s conference Tuesday. Congress will fear ending ACP if enough people sign up, Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council CEO Robert Branson told state commissioners on a diversity panel Monday. Panelists said it’s important for digital equity efforts to keep the program that’s meant to help low-income communities afford broadband.
Implementing proposed 988 outage reporting requirements shouldn't be very onerous, Jonathan Gilad, National Emergency Number Association government affairs director, told us, predicting 4-0 approval of the draft order on the FCC's agenda (see 2306290056). CTIA didn't comment, and there hasn't been lobbying on the docket 23-5 draft order. It will take years of 988 promotion and use before the Lifeline has the kind of recognition and automatic use that 911 does, speakers said Thursday at an event sponsored in Washington by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) marking a year since 988's official rollout. "‘911 didn't start off with instant success either; it takes a while," said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. HHS said Thursday it's adding Spanish-language text and chat services to Lifeline.
The Commerce Department’s Office of Inspector General plans to publish a “management alert” about NTIA’s “reliance on tribes’ self-certifications of their broadband status to determine their eligibility for grants under the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program,” Assistant IG-Audit and Evaluation Arthur Scott said in a Monday memo to NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson we obtained Tuesday night. OIG plans to release the alert Wednesday, officials said. TBCP is one of several federal broadband programs congressional Republicans have focused on since December as part of ramped-up scrutiny of the government’s connectivity spending.