The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) urged the FCC to forego considering the issue of network usage fees in its net neutrality proceeding. Don't consider the "mandatory-payments issue" the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association suggested, CCIA said in a letter posted Wednesday in docket 2-320 (see 2401180042). The proceeding is "an inappropriate forum for that discussion." ETNO’s push for fees is "evidentiary support that network owners are well aware of their singular access to Internet users and are prepared to leverage that access into financial gain," CCIA said.
More than a dozen small independent LECs urged the FCC to ensure any Title II reclassification of broadband is "accompanied by strong regulatory forbearance and state preemption language," which will prevent creation of a patchwork of state regulations (see 2401180042). An ex parte filing posted Tuesday in docket 23-320 said the California-based companies met virtually with an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr Monday. The coalition sought "strong preemption language" that would "prevent disparate and accelerating state regulations" of broadband internet access service. The FCC "has an important opportunity to achieve a uniform, balanced national framework for broadband regulation through clear forbearance and preemption directives."
Consolidated asked the FCC to grant it a six-month waiver of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction rules concerning letters of credit. The company said in a petition posted Friday in docket 19-126 that it needed a waiver so it may continue receiving RDOF support while it seeks a new bank to issue LOCs. Consolidated said the Universal Service Administrative Co. notified it that its current issuer, Wells Fargo, is now below the Weiss bank safety B- rating required under RDOF rules.
The FCC wants comments by Feb. 19, replies by March 5, in docket 19-195 on its broadband data collection challenge process. A public notice posted Friday noted the FCC must submit a report to Congress on the data collection process and whether any tools are needed to improve the data's accuracy.
Wavelength asked the FCC to reconsider a December Wireline Bureau order denying its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction long-form application Friday. The company said in an application for review posted in docket 19-126 that the bureau's denial was "based solely on financial concerns raised at the eleventh hour" after previously determining that Wavelength's technical plans and qualifications "are sound." The bureau "should not be permitted to summarily dismiss Wavelength’s application as part of a last-minute rush to conclude overall RDOF applicant review, while denying Wavelength an opportunity to correct the bureau’s manifest errors," it said. It asked the FCC to reverse the decision and "promptly issue a ready-to-authorize notice."
The FCC's North American Numbering Council will meet March 1 at 10 a.m. and June 25 at 2 p.m. at FCC headquarters, said a public notice Wednesday in docket 23-1. The group will vote on a report at the March meeting from the Toll Free: Future Utilization of Numbers working group regarding toll-free numbering resources. In June, the group will vote on an additional report from the T-FUN working group, as well as the Call Authentication Trust Anchor working group concerning regulatory treatment of international cellular roaming traffic and the IoT Numbering Usage working group on the use of North American numbering plan numbers for the routing and addressing of IoT communications. It will also consider a report from the Numbering Administration Oversight working group on the numbering administration performance review, as well as the North American Numbering Plan Fund size projections and contribution factor.
An FCC order requiring providers of incarcerated people's communications products to offer access to all telecom relay services in certain jurisdictions went into effect Tuesday, according to a notice in that day's Federal Register (see 2212080063). Previously, an incorrect date was announced.
Securus met with FCC staff last week to highlight its pilot subscription programs for incarcerated people’s communication services, according to an ex parte filing posted Friday in docket 23-62 (see 2203090035). The provider gave Wireline and Office of Economics and Analytics details about its programs’ “utilization, effective rates, and the extent of usage required to save money compared to making calls rated on a per minute basis.” Securus said its data “demonstrates that consumers achieve savings from the pilot subscription programs at relatively low levels of usage compared to then-existing intrastate rates.”
An FCC order making pole attachment dispute resolutions faster takes effect Feb. 12, said a notice for Friday's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the item in December along with a related declaratory ruling on transparency requirements and a Further NPRM seeking comment on rules that could hasten deployment (see 2312130044).
Enhanced alternative connect America cost model (ACAM) carriers must certify and submit their cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans to the FCC by Feb. 12 (see 2308310047). A Wireline Bureau public notice posted Thursday in docket 10-90 said any carrier that misses the deadline or lacks operational plans during the support term, the bureau will direct the Universal Service Administrative Co. to "withhold 25% of monthly support until the carrier comes into compliance."