The FCC should loosen letter of credit requirements for providers seeking USF support to rebuild and harden networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, stakeholders said in comments posted through Thursday in docket 18-143 (see 2004080036). "The PR-USVI Fund Coalition’s emergency request for waiver is appropriate and necessary in light of the current circumstances in Puerto Rico," WorldNet said. Puerto Rico Public Service Regulatory Board associate member Alexandra Fernandez-Navarro supported revisiting the LOC requirements so "all providers can have a reasonable opportunity of accessing the Uniendo a PR and the Connect USVI Fund while assuring that most resources go towards building resilient, quality networks." The Wireless ISP Association said, unlike other high-cost USF broadband support programs, PR-USVI Fund applicants must provide the commitment LOCs before the FCC selects winning applicants. WISPA added the COVID-19 pandemic makes "it extremely difficult for Stage 2 support applicants" to file LOCs "when the applications are likely to be due." Oriental Bank said no banks in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands meet the rating requirements of the PR-USVI Fund, and mainland banks are unwilling to be such creditors. But Virgin Islands Telephone (doing business as Viya) opposed the waiver, seeking accountability. Puerto Rico Telephone wants the FCC to "proceed with caution" as it considers which criteria to waive because "entities with no prior experience participating in the Commission’s High-Cost program are eligible to participate in the Stage 2 competitive process."
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association supports other industry groups endorsing a petition to loosen letter of credit requirements in the Connect America Fund Phase II program to more closely align with less restrictive requirements adopted early this year for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Comments posted through Wednesday in docket 10-90. NRECA said the action would free more money for network deployments and increase likelihood CAF II awardees participate in the RDOF phase I auction. Nokia also supported the petition.
The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition urged Congress to seek $5.25 billion in emergency funding for the E-rate program in the next major COVID-19 legislative package. House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., is circulating a discussion draft proposing $2 billion of “emergency broadband benefit” (see 2004140062). SHLB Executive Director John Windhausen called the recent filed Emergency Educational Connections Act (HR-6563) “helpful,” but “more needs to be done to help our schools and libraries.” HR-6563 would create a $2 billion FCC-run Emergency Connectivity Fund, which would disperse money to schools and libraries to buy Wi-Fi hot spots and other devices. “This level of funding will not be sufficient to address the home broadband need,” Windhausen wrote Pallone and three others -- ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore.; House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa.; and ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio. The pandemic “will likely persist at least into the fall of this year and perhaps long after that.” Funds for Learning estimates a $5.25 billion appropriation for E-rate would “cover broadband connection costs for all 7 million households that do not have Internet access at home for one year, plus an Internet-enabled device for each student, and network security,” Windhausen said.
The FCC shouldn't limit participation in its COVID-10 telehealth program based on a healthcare provider's size, location, or for-profit or not-for-profit status, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in a filing posted Monday. It supported a similar request from American Hospital Association in docket 20-89.
DRS agreed to return $1 million to USF in a healthcare consent decree on Alaska, said an FCC Enforcement Bureau order Wednesday. The company didn't comment.
An FCC webinar May 20 at 2 p.m. EDT is for state, local, tribal and territorial government officials on the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction slated for October, said a public notice Monday.
The FCC Wireline Bureau seeks comment by May 18 on proposed changes to the 2021 form 499-A and 499-Q revenue reports and instructions, said a public notice on docket 06-122 in Monday's Daily Digest.
Extend comments 60 more days on public safety and other items after a court net neutrality remand, cities asked the FCC in a filing posted Friday in docket 17-108. Los Angeles, California's Santa Clara County and New York cited the ongoing public health emergency. The FCC extended the original deadline 21 days to Monday (see 2003250041).
The National Tribal Telecommunications Association asked the FCC to add $20 monthly Lifeline support on tribal lands plus more funding "to address connection difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic," in a letter posted Friday in docket 11-42. NTTA wants "revisions to the Lifeline program rules to streamline entry into the program for those unfortunate Americans -- those living on Tribal lands and elsewhere -- experiencing a sudden loss of income that would meet the eligibility requirements." Let tribal authorities qualify newly eligible, it said.
Verizon Business beefed up videoconferencing capability, buying BlueJeans Network, an enterprise-grade videoconferencing and event platform, Verizon said.