Sandwich Isles Communications hit an FCC proposal to initiate proceedings to revoke the carrier's licenses, including under Communications Act Section 214. The commission's Dec. 5 notice of apparent liability against the company for alleged USF violations "is based on a series of premises that are factually and legally unfounded," SIC said in comments posted Thursday in docket 16-405 responding to a Feb. 14 public notice (see 1702140063). "The more this proceeding moves along, the more transparent the Commission’s motives become, that is, to put SIC out of business to the detriment of the people of the Hawaiian Home Lands ('HHL') based on the FCC’s prejudgments rather than the actual evidence and law." The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission said it didn't object to the FCC initiating revocation proceedings against SIC licenses. The HPUC "shares the FCC's commitment to maintain service to all customers on Hawaiian Home Lands, and stands ready to work with the FCC to take appropriate action and coordinate efforts to ensure that said service will be provided," the regulator commented. Scores of individuals in the docket generally supported SIC.
FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said Chairman Ajit Pai put him in charge of a review and restructure of the 3.5 GHz shared band plan, with the aim of getting a workable band plan in place before making available nearby spectrum such as 3.6 GHz and 4.2 GHz. O'Rielly said the 3.5 GHz band rules need an overhaul (see 1703070018). The 3.6 GHz and 4.2 GHz spectrum "is a high priority" once the 3.5 GHz band rules are changed, O'Rielly told an International Wireless Industry Consortium meeting Thursday. Asked about the risks of a "land grab" in the 3.5 GHz spectrum by major carriers, O'Rielly said the bigger problem is the dysfunctional licensing regime. "You don't want a land grab, but you also don't want nobody entering," he said.
House Commerce Committee Democrats introduced five broadband-focused bills Thursday, with one already sparking praise from the Competitive Carriers Association. “These bills from Democratic members of our committee will provide a better chance for those who need [broadband] most,” said Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., in a statement. He laid out his vision for the year’s agenda in January. Committee Democrats unveiled a mix of cybersecurity-focused measures earlier this month (see 1703020035).
House Commerce Committee Democrats introduced five broadband-focused bills Thursday, with one already sparking praise from the Competitive Carriers Association. “These bills from Democratic members of our committee will provide a better chance for those who need [broadband] most,” said Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., in a statement. He laid out his vision for the year’s agenda in January. Committee Democrats unveiled a mix of cybersecurity-focused measures earlier this month (see 1703020035).
FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said Chairman Ajit Pai put him in charge of a review and restructure of the 3.5 GHz shared band plan, with the aim of getting a workable band plan in place before making available nearby spectrum such as 3.6 GHz and 4.2 GHz. O'Rielly said the 3.5 GHz band rules need an overhaul (see 1703070018). The 3.6 GHz and 4.2 GHz spectrum "is a high priority" once the 3.5 GHz band rules are changed, O'Rielly told an International Wireless Industry Consortium meeting Thursday. Asked about the risks of a "land grab" in the 3.5 GHz spectrum by major carriers, O'Rielly said the bigger problem is the dysfunctional licensing regime. "You don't want a land grab, but you also don't want nobody entering," he said.
WTA joined NTCA Monday in lauding the Highway Rights-of-Way Permitting Efficiency Act (S-604), which Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced last week (see 1703100067). “Members, small rural telecom providers, face costly and time-consuming barriers to making use of existing rights-of-way on federal lands to build broadband networks,” said WTA Vice President-Government Affairs Derrick Owens in a statement. “Government should do its due diligence, but it should also work efficiently because every day spent waiting for a permit is one more day rural Americans wait for quality broadband. Every dollar spent on duplicative environmental reviews is one less dollar available for investment in a robust broadband network.”
WTA joined NTCA Monday in lauding the Highway Rights-of-Way Permitting Efficiency Act (S-604), which Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced last week (see 1703100067). “Members, small rural telecom providers, face costly and time-consuming barriers to making use of existing rights-of-way on federal lands to build broadband networks,” said WTA Vice President-Government Affairs Derrick Owens in a statement. “Government should do its due diligence, but it should also work efficiently because every day spent waiting for a permit is one more day rural Americans wait for quality broadband. Every dollar spent on duplicative environmental reviews is one less dollar available for investment in a robust broadband network.”
Sandwich Isles Communications (SIC) alleged FCC "procedural irregularities" and questioned agency motives since it subjected the carrier to $77 million in USF repayment duties and proposed fines for violations and apparent violations of the high-cost program in Hawaii Dec. 5 (see 1612060032). The commission recently sought comment on a Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands request for guidance on whether an exclusive DHHL license held by the company violates a Communications Act mandate for the FCC to remove telecom market entry barriers. "The putative licensing issue raised in the February 6 Public Notice was not mentioned in either of the substantive orders issued" Dec. 5, SIC replied in docket 10-90 Thursday: "One of the two public notices specified in the Notice of Apparent Liability ('NAL') was not issued until a few days AFTER the February 6 Public Notice. And, in the unseemly haste to issue the DHHL 'request', the Public Notice truncates the DHHL submission to make it appear that the issue is extremely narrow and the outcome self-evident." SIC complained the comment period was too short and its request for an extension was ignored. "There is reason for SIC to be concerned that the Commission may be, at best, uninterested in the merits of any aspect of this matter, that it regards the outcome of the proceedings as a foregone conclusion, and that its sole purpose is to force SIC to discontinue its service to the HHL so as to allow the ILECs to cherry pick the urbanized areas of the HHL without interference from an [eligible telecom carrier] such as SIC," the company wrote. Supplementing comments of its parent Waimana Enterprises (see 1702280063), SIC said its license doesn't preclude competition in the HHL and criticized how the FCC framed the issue. The agency declined comment Friday.
The Trump administration evidently has “a comprehensive approach to infrastructure” at the “very top of mind,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield in a blog post about a Thursday meeting at the White House as part of the Rebuild Rural Coalition “to meet with the special assistant to the president for Infrastructure as well as the special assistant to the president for Agriculture.” Representatives of Capitol Hill leadership, the Farm Credit Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, other groups and the Agriculture Department were also present, she said. “I talked as quickly as I could to share some key points in terms of sharing insights on leveraging existing broadband programs that help with the business case for investment,” Bloomfield said. “Putting supplemental resources into high-cost USF will bring more bang for the buck immediately, rules are clear, targeting is good and accountability is high. In addition, permitting and siting -- federal lands, state highways, and railroads all have an impact.” The administration is in the process of putting together an infrastructure proposal now for Capitol Hill. Bloomfield testified on broadband infrastructure before the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this month (see 1703010075).
The Trump administration evidently has “a comprehensive approach to infrastructure” at the “very top of mind,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield in a blog post about a Thursday meeting at the White House as part of the Rebuild Rural Coalition “to meet with the special assistant to the president for Infrastructure as well as the special assistant to the president for Agriculture.” Representatives of Capitol Hill leadership, the Farm Credit Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, other groups and the Agriculture Department were also present, she said. “I talked as quickly as I could to share some key points in terms of sharing insights on leveraging existing broadband programs that help with the business case for investment,” Bloomfield said. “Putting supplemental resources into high-cost USF will bring more bang for the buck immediately, rules are clear, targeting is good and accountability is high. In addition, permitting and siting -- federal lands, state highways, and railroads all have an impact.” The administration is in the process of putting together an infrastructure proposal now for Capitol Hill. Bloomfield testified on broadband infrastructure before the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this month (see 1703010075).