The FCC should consider changing the way it auctions toll-free numbers, said a North American Numbering Council Toll-Free Assignment Modernization working group at NANC's virtual meeting Tuesday. NANC members voted OK on the report now, after December's auction of toll-free 833 numbers (see 1912200065). Under the single-round Vickrey model used, participants bidding the highest amount won the auction but paid the second-highest amount bid. Fewer than 2% of numbers up for auction received more than a single bid, said WG co-chair and economist Susan Gately: Winning bidders without a competitive bid paid nothing. "That suggests there is something wrong with the utility of the process," she said. She recommended discarding the model in future toll-free number auctions. Gately suggested there should be a minimum bid, perhaps of $1,000, so revenue covers the cost of auctions and ongoing administration. Single bidders might be pulled from the auction and assigned the toll-free number without the ability to resell it, she said. Only 833-333-3333 received at least 10 bids. NANC members said it's premature to address our questions on how and when a new toll-free numbering administrator might be considered, after iConectiv filed a petition (see 2006300003).

Broaden the USF contribution base by including one-way VoIP services among contributors, the phone industry asked the FCC in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 06-122. "Given the rising contribution factor and the shrinking base of assessable services, the Commission should consider comprehensive USF reform that sets USF contributions on a sustainable path," USTelecom said. "While it is unlikely to make a noticeable difference to the contribution factor at this time, one way to begin addressing this issue in an incremental way is to broaden the base by including one-way VoIP services." Zoom wanted the FCC to ensure new obligations "are consistent with its long-standing commitment to fostering a regulatory environment that will invite investment in information services, including those that incorporate voice." Inaction on more comprehensive changes to USF contribution methodology threatens "the stability of USF funding and its mission to provide universal service nationwide," said the Ad Hoc Telecom Users Committee. Incompas urged comprehensive changes to contribution methodology, seeing the one-way VoIP matter as a distraction.

Comments are due July 27, replies Aug. 3 on transfer of some Windstream properties to Uniti National, said an FCC Wireline Bureau public notice Monday for docket 20-161.

OMB OK'd June 15 for three years data collection for the Lifeline program, and the FCC changes are effective Oct. 13, said Monday's Federal Register.

Ask additional questions in the Further NPRM teed up on the supply chain item set for a commissioner vote Thursday (see 2006250062), USTelecom requested of the FCC. “The information collection Congress required the Commission to conduct under the Secure Networks Act supersedes the Commission’s May Information Collection,” the group said in calls with Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr. Seek comment on how the FCC should “navigate the differences in these two collections without creating duplicative reporting requirements for carriers?” said a filing posted Friday in docket 18-89.

Comments are due July 23, replies July 30 on an application to transfer control of OneSource Communications to Ubiquity, said an FCC Wireline Bureau public notice Thursday for docket 20-206.

Frontier Communications will pay $900,000 to Washington state to end an investigation of hidden fees and advertised internet speeds, Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) said Wednesday. The payment resolves a 2018 probe into whether Frontier adequately disclosed fees, and if the company misled subscribers about internet speeds. Frontier recently sold its Washington business to Ziply Fiber (see 2005190009). The seller agreed to be more transparent about all fees and actual speeds. While Frontier pays the $900,000, the injunctive provisions on fees apply to the successor company, a Ferguson spokesperson said. The speed commitment doesn't apply to Ziply if it fulfills a Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission sale condition to spend $50 million on infrastructure enhancements, she said. Frontier is “pleased to have this matter resolved,” a spokesperson emailed. Ziply is aware of the settlement, said CEO Harold Zeitz. The buyer “prides itself on doing business honestly, responsibly and transparently,” he said. “We are committed to clearly communicating all charges and disclosures to our customers,” and its plans have no contracts or hidden fees.

Pursue flexibility in deregulating telephone access charges "rather than mandating a single approach," USTelecom urged the FCC in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 20-71 (see 2004010057). State regulations "may prevent incumbent LECs from sufficiently adjusting retail rates," it said. Changing existing tariffing provisions for rural LECs "without providing a reasonable opportunity for recovery of those costs elsewhere" would undermine universal service, NTCA said. CenturyLink warned the FCC could face legal challenges if a new rule doesn't allow carriers to "adequately recover" interstate costs. Uncertainty arising from the new rules would destabilize rural LECs, WTA said. Windstream wants the FCC to allow a separate line item on consumer bills for interstate charges and marked conspicuously to communicate it's not a government-regulated fee. Incompas opposes the rulemaking. States weighed in, including Pennsylvania, New York, California, Nebraska and Kansas, with some raising concerns that proposals threaten states' universal service programs and new billing rules would decrease transparency to consumers. NCTA wants the FCC to clarify "that any mandatory detariffing of charges does not apply to contracts with commercial customers or, if it does apply, that it will not result in an unwarranted windfall to commercial customers that previously agreed to pay such charges."

Universal Service Administrative Co. must fully fund eligible category one and two E-rate requests for funding year 2020, the FCC Wireline Bureau directed said Monday. USAC estimated demand of $2.91 billion: $1.74 billion for category one and $1.17 billion for two, and it has sufficient funds, the bureau said.

The California Public Utilities Commission may conditionally open 13 small LEC markets to wireline competition. Commissioners could vote as soon as Aug. 6 on Monday's proposed decision and a PD by Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves to make some changes to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). CLECs and cable companies have supported opening the baker’s dozen of RLEC markets (see 1905220031), though the California Cable and Telecommunications Association (CCTA) disagreed with applying conditions to competitive entry, in earlier comments in docket R.11-11-007. The Utility Reform Network and small LECs sought conditions out of concern that competitors would serve only the most lucrative customers. Guzman Aceves disagreed with CCTA. Telecom Act Section 253(b) gives the agency authority to impose non-discriminatory and competitively neutral requirements, while Section 251(f) gives it separate authority to review exemption requests, she wrote. The PD “may have significant financial and other impacts on the Small LECs not specifically addressed in the general conditions adopted today,” so the agency later will “consider additional appropriate location-specific conditions in individual [CLEC] applications” and might open a proceeding on altering CASF to reflect the new CLEC competition in RLEC territories, the commissioner said. A separate CASF proposal teed up for Aug. 6 would authorize CPUC staff to set application windows and timelines for broadband infrastructure account and allow staff to use state operations funds to provide technical assistance for tribes. The Guzman Aceves plan would close docket R.12-10-012, where some parties sought broader CASF changes (see 2004170009): Unresolved matters “will likely be transferred to a new proceeding.”