USTelecom asked the FCC to maintain current pole replacement cost allocation standards, according to an ex parte filing posted Wednesday in docket 17-84. Meeting with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and FCC Wireline Bureau staff, the group also asked that the agency clarify that pole owners can't charge an attacher the full cost of a pole replacement if "the pole would have required replacement even if the new attachment were not made" at the time of the pole replacement. Commissioners are expected to vote on an pole attachment item during the agency's December meeting (see 2311210043).
Broadband advocates welcomed a notice of inquiry about the FCC's implementation of the Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act (see 2310190056). "It’s no secret that the United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates of any developed nation," said Next Century Cites in reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 23-309. The group said additional data "intended to target indicators of maternal health" will allow the FCC to "increase the level of nuance in its broadband data." NCC suggested including proximity to healthcare facilities in addition to broadband information to "shed light on why certain areas have higher access to telehealth" and "target outreach efforts for telehealth programs." In addition, the FCC should include data compiled from the Health Resources and Services Administration's national maternal mental health hotline and other agencies' maternal health initiatives, the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance said.
The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau extended until Dec. 31 or the effective date of commission action, its waiver of the IP captioned telephone service compensation formula. In an order adopted Friday in docket 03-123, the bureau said a revised compensation plan may not be finalized by the current waiver's Nov. 30 expiration date (see 2310200065).
The FCC's rules on direct numbering access for VoIP service providers are effective Dec. 20, according to a notice for Monday's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the rules in September (see 2309210055).
The FCC wants comments by Jan. 16, replies Feb. 15, in docket 10-90 on an NPRM proposing modifications to the Alaska Connect Fund, said a notice for Friday's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the item in October (see 2310190056).
The FCC has unanimously approved an order and declaratory ruling granting the Minnesota Independent Equal Access Corporation’s (MIEAC) petition for relief from dominant carrier regulation for its provision of centralized equal access (CEA) service, according to an order and deletion notice released Tuesday. The item had been set for the agency’s open meeting Wednesday. “In light of declining demand, intervening exchange access service regulatory reforms, and technological changes in the voice services marketplace,” dominant carrier regulation of MIEAC’s CEA service “is no longer necessary to serve the public interest,” the order said. The item grants MIEAC’s petition on the condition that it comply with non-dominant carrier regulations going forward. In the petition for relief, MIEAC said it was unable to raise prices above competitive levels due to reduced market demand, thus reducing the need for the greater consumer protections of dominant carrier regulation. The order reclassifies MIEAC as a non-dominant carrier for its CEA service, subjecting it to the tariff and pricing requirements for such carriers. MIEAC will also fall under streamlined transfer of control and service discontinuance procedures, the order said.
A coalition of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction winners asked the FCC to adopt a similar waiver that NTIA released regarding the letter of credit (LOC) requirements for the broadband, equity, access, and deployment program. The group said in a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr that relief is "urgently needed because major banks are getting their Weiss safety ratings downgraded," according to an ex parte filing Tuesday in docket 19-126. RDOF winners "should not be forced to expend significant costs in playing a constant game of 'musical chairs' with the banks they use for their LOCs," the coalition said.
Don't let pole owners charge the full cost of a pole replacement to attachers when there is "some measurable benefit to the pole owner," Otelco said in a meeting with the FCC Wireline Bureau. "It is not enough that complaint procedures are enacted to redress unreasonable, unjust and discriminatory rates, terms and conditions," Otelco said, per an ex parte filing posted Wednesday in docket 17-84: "Otherwise attachers will be forced to either endure the unreasonable access requirements, or litigate to force reasonable access." The company also asked the FCC to "codify its directives on boxing poles, use of pre-make-ready attachments and self-help remedies." Otelco specifically sought confirmation that National Electrical Safety Code-compliant boxing of poles is "presumptively allowed."
USTelecom welcomed the FCC's draft order implementing the Safe Connections Act in separate meetings with aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington. Commissioners will consider the order, which would provide survivors of domestic violence with access to safe and affordable communications services, during a Nov. 15 agency meeting (see 2310250070). The group sought greater flexibility in the deadlines for providers to update their copies of the hotline database, per an ex parte filing posted Tuesday in docket 22-238. "Providers will need the additional time to perform the monthly updates if the process is technically complex," USTelecom said. The group also asked that survivors self-certify their eligibility for Lifeline to do so in the national verifier and that they can receive the benefit only for voice-only mobile wireless service.
The FCC wants comments by Dec. 14, replies by Jan. 17, in docket 23-320 on its NPRM seeking to reestablish net neutrality rules, said a notice in Friday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved the item in a 3-2 vote in October (see 2310190020).