Tech and telco groups disagreed about USTelecom's petition for reconsideration of calling party notification and blocked call list requirements, in comments posted Monday in docket 17-59 (see 2105200074). Lumen said requirements should exclude legacy networks because it's "unclear whether those systems are technically capable of accommodating such a notification." The Voice on the Net Coalition agreed and said the FCC should confirm that calls blocked by a subscriber through anonymous call rejection or Do Not Disturb don't fall under the session initiation protocol (SIP) response code requirements. The Ad Hoc Telecom Users Committee disagreed: "Introducing carrier discretion as to the type of notification will only increase confusion for legitimate callers." Incompas and the Cloud Communications Alliance said such flexibility "is exactly what the commission sought to avoid by prescribing standardized uniform notifications." The groups opposed extending January's deadline for notification implementation. USTelecom's petition "does not explain how a different form of notification would be superior to use of the SIP codes," said the American Bankers Association, National Retail Federation and others.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by June 18, replies June 25 on Cox and MTN Infrastructure's transfer of control request, said a public notice Friday in docket 21-224. Cox would indirectly acquire MTN's Segra by buying all outstanding stock of Segra's parent MTN Infrastructure TopCo Blocker.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comment by June 18, replies June 25, on FirstDigital's buying Veracity Networks, said a public notice Friday in docket 21-226.
The FCC may use USF support to help carriers during an ongoing emergency, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said Friday as it denied Tri-County Telephone Association's challenge to agency orders to provide high-cost support to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. A per curiam order in case No. 20-1003 said the petitioner's USF contributions would have been increased regardless of whether the FCC used existing cash reserves or future contributions. Judges cited the commission's prior use of USF funds for disaster relief in its 2005 Hurricane Katrina order. Then-Judge Merrick Garland and Judges David Tatel and Harry Edwards heard oral argument in October (see 2010150042). An attorney for Tri-County didn't comment now.
The FCC wants comments by July 6, replies by July 19 in docket 10-51 on an NPRM to continue using a tiered rate structure for video relay service compensation for FY 2021-22 (see 2105200044), says Friday's Federal Register. Commenters are encouraged to say whether the commission should modify or freeze current VRS compensation rates, and whether an emergent rate should be set up with the current tier structure. The dates are according to the original order commissioners approved May 20, as the FR notice didn't contain deadlines. The FCC didn't comment Thursday.
The FCC Wireline Bureau waived the application of the current budget control mechanism for rate-of-return carriers to 0%, July 2021-June 2022, as expected, said an order Thursday in docket 10-90 (see 2106020073).
Alaska Communications Systems asked the FCC to clarify that certain census blocks in Alaska are eligible for Connect America Fund Phase II support, said a petition for declaratory ruling posted Wednesday in docket 10-90. ACS identified 71 high-cost and extremely high-cost census blocks with at least 403 unserved locations that were not cost-designated by the Connect America cost model. Without clarification, ACS said it's unable to submit any of those locations to Universal Service Administrative Co. to satisfy its CAF Phase II obligations.
FCC Wireline Bureau staff granted Hawaiian Telcom and TDS requests to waive Connect America Fund Phase II buildout obligations and reporting requirements, said an order in Wednesday's Daily Digest. Hawaiian Telcom may count 370 of the 391 locations destroyed by Kilauea Volcano eruptions in 2018 (see 2009140050) toward its interim and remaining milestones, it said. TDS received a waiver for its service requirements because TDS said it can't meet its obligations due to the pandemic-related restrictions and expects to complete its buildout by July 1. The FCC directed TDS to report to the Universal Service Administrative Co. when it completes its buildout, or provide a status report if it's unable to meet the expected milestone.
FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel recently circulated two Wireline Bureau items that are expected to be voted on soon, officials told us Wednesday. A budget item, circulated May 21, would waive the current budget control mechanism for rate of return carriers for one year, beginning July 1 (see 2106010067). An item circulated May 27 includes at least 30 projects that were selected for the Connected Care Pilot Program, one official said. Rosenworcel also circulated an order that would grant in part AT&T’s complaint against Wide Voice on alleged violations of access stimulation rules, per an official. Connected Care pilot recipients "remain under consideration pending approval by the commission," said an FCC spokesperson: The budget item "would address application of the budget control mechanism for the upcoming tariff year to allow small rate-of-return companies to better serve their customers."
FCC staff said emergency broadband benefit program providers can’t receive support if their subscribers aren't enrolled in the National Lifeline Accountability Database. The Wireline Bureau denied Lumen and LICT petitions to be reimbursed for discounts passed to their subscribers not enrolled in NLAD by the snapshot date. Allowing the petitions "is not in the public interest and unavoidably threatens the integrity" of EBB, the order said in Tuesday's Daily Digest. The bureau denied Lumen and LICT's request for one-month delay.