NTCA sought "meaningful updates" to the Connect America Fund broadband loop support (BLS) and high-cost loop support (HCLS), as well as the Alternative Connect America Cost Model "in a timely manner," in separate meetings with aides to all four FCC commissioners. The group said support through these programs is needed to sustain providers' delivery of broadband speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps in their service areas, per an ex parte filing posted Friday in docket 10-90. NTCA also backed adopting the ACAM Broadband Coalition's proposal to "adjust support using a two-pronged analysis comparable to the [broadband, equity, access, and deployment] program’s assessment of unserved and underserved areas."
The FCC committed more than $2.5 million in additional Emergency Connectivity Fund support Wednesday. The new funding will support 15 schools, one library and one consortium from all three application windows, said a news release.
Sorenson urged the FCC to act on video relay service rates, meeting with Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Office of Economics and Analytics, and Office of the Managing Director staff. Sorenson said VRS is "no longer functionally equivalent" and doesn't "allow for competitive wages for the highly skilled ... video interpreters," per an ex parte filing Tuesday in docket 03-123. Sorenson said there must be "annual inflationary adjustments" for the rates and account for research and development costs.
An FCC order directing the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau to issue an additional notice of funding opportunity for the affordable connectivity program's national competitive outreach grant and the tribal competitive outreach grant programs is effective Tuesday, said a notice for that day's Federal Register. The commission made up to $10 million available to be spent equally by each grant program (see 2303150058).
The FCC Wireline Bureau selected two more entities for the affordable connectivity program's Your Home, Your Internet Pilot and ACP Navigator Pilot programs Thursday. Baltimore County Public Library and Florida Atlantic University were selected to participate and will do so without grant funding, said a public notice in docket 21-450. A total of 34 entities were selected to participate in the two pilot programs (see 2303150058).
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by May 8, replies by June 6, on an NPRM beginning implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, said a notice for Friday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved the item in March (see 2303160009).
The FCC Wireline Bureau issued a protective order for submission and disclosure of proprietary or confidential information in its proceeding on inmate calling services Wednesday in docket 12-375. "While we are mindful of the sensitive nature of some of the information involved, we are also mindful of the general right of the public, and our desire for the public, to participate in these proceedings in a meaningful way," the order said.
The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and Consortium for School Networking asked the FCC to extend the Emergency Connectivity Fund's rules and service delivery deadlines, in a waiver request Wednesday. The groups asked that the June 30 service delivery deadline be extended by one year for round one and round two applicants that "received a funding commitment decision letter or revised funding commitment decision letter on or after March 1, 2022." They also sought an extension until June 30, 2024, for round three applicants. The program would "currently provide minimal assistance, at best, to those applicants who are still waiting for funding request approval or to those who are inhibited from fully using their funds" if the current service delivery dates are not extended, the groups said, saying an extension would "be a far better policy outcome" than opening a fourth application window to award any remaining funding.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau took additional action Monday regarding alleged illegal robocalls made by One Eye, issuing its first “initial determination order," said a news release. The bureau sent the company a cease and desist letter in February (see 2302150063). The bureau also said it would issue an order "requiring all immediate downstream providers block all traffic from One Eye" if the company failed to respond. "We will strike back with aggressive new tools," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: "Today, marks the first time we use them -- but it won’t be the last.” The company didn't comment.
More than 17 million households have enrolled in the FCC's affordable connectivity program to date, the agency announced Monday. The FCC partnered with the U.S. Digital Service to develop "a series of enhancements to the online consumer application system," said a news release. Among the changes included "providing clear instructions, to decrease steps and to simplify language while continuing to protect against waste, fraud and abuse and guarding the integrity of the program." The rollout is "part of our ongoing work to improve the consumer experience with the program," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. U.S. Digital Service Deputy Administrator Cori Zarek said the changes will "streamline the process" to ensure "as little friction as possible" during the application process. The enhancements were "developed in consultation with digital navigators, digital equity advocates, and [ISPs]."