The FCC Wireline Bureau is seeking nominations for six positions on the Universal Service Administrative Co. board of directors. Nominations are due by Oct. 24 in docket 96-45, said a public notice Thursday.

The FCC wants comments on a notice of inquiry on potential methods to modify the USF's high cost program, said a notice in Wednesday's Federal Register. Comments are due Oct. 23, replies Nov. 21, in docket 10-90. Commissioners adopted the item in July (see 2307240064).

Hamilton Relay backed T-Mobile's petition to waive the requirement that text telephone (TTY)-based relay service be capable of communicating with the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 03-123 (see 2308040034). It also backed eliminating the ASCII requirement. "The ASCII format is rarely used," Hamilton said, noting "technological advancements have made the ASCII format superfluous."

The FCC sought comment on the Competitive Carriers Association and USTelecom's petition to extend a waiver of its requirement that broadband data collection filings be verified by a licensed professional engineer, per a notice for Tuesday's Federal Register (see 2308070042). Comments are due by Sept. 1, replies Sept. 11, in docket 19-195.

The FCC rechartered its precision ag task force for a "third and final term" Monday, per a news release (see 2307110068). “Today’s farmers and ranchers rely on high-speed internet to make the best use of connected tools to efficiently run their businesses and meet the demand for food to sustain our communities,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, urging the task force to "look closely at the link between connectivity and agricultural sustainability." Nominations for task force membership are due by Sept. 20.

The alternative connect America cost model (ACAM) broadband coalition urged the FCC Wireline Bureau Friday to "exercise its discretion to utilize the entirety of the $1.33 billion annual budget authorized" for the enhanced ACAM program. Doing so would "maximize support levels" and ensure that "sufficient support dollars are available for use in the post-implementation adjustment process," the group said in a letter posted Friday in docket 10-90 (see 2307240064). NTCA also asked the FCC to raise the minimum support level from 50% to 75% for ILEC-only served locations. The higher threshold for ongoing support for currently served locations should "provide a reasonable reserve to address the kinds of concerns identified by the commission," the group said.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau redesignated USTelecom's Industry Traceback Group (ITG) as the registered consortium for the industry-led robocall traceback group, said an order Friday in docket 20-22 (see 2306120050). The ITG "continues to fight to protect consumers against illegal robocalls, scammers and spoofers and we’re honored that the FCC has once again recognized our important role in this work," said USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter: "The volume of illegal robocalls is declining, but there’s still more work to be done."

A coalition of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction winners asked the FCC this week to grant RDOF winners supplemental funding and relief from letter of credit requirements. "Due to the impacts of [COVID-19] along with new, multi-billion dollar federal fiscal policies and pandemic-prompted broadband deployment funding programs, construction costs have skyrocketed," said a petition posted Thursday in docket 19-126 (see 2306210066). The coalition also asked the FCC to consider "providing a short amnesty period that allows RDOF winners to relinquish all or part of their RDOF winning areas without forfeitures or other penalties."

The FCC wants comments by Sept. 18, replies Oct. 2, on an NPRM and notice of inquiry on its legacy rate-of-return support programs, said a notice for Friday's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the items in July and approved a related order modifying the alternative connect America cost model (ACAM) program (see 2307240064).

An FCC order establishing an enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM) program is effective Thursday, said a notice for that day's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the order in July (see 2307240064).