Emergency Connectivity Fund participants that applied for support during the first two application filing windows may use June 30, 2023, as the service delivery date for all requests, said an FCC Wireline Bureau order Tuesday in docket 21-93 partially granting a request from the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, Consortium for School Networking, State Educational Technology Directors Association, and American Library Association (see 2202100069). The relief was limited to requests for equipment, other nonrecurring services, and recurring services. The updated rule takes effect upon Federal Register publication. SHLB is "so appreciative" of the Wireline Bureau "for discussing these challenges with both SHLB staff and applicants," said Executive Director John Windhausen in a statement: "Today’s order shows that their team has been listening, and it will free schools and libraries to make the biggest impact with their ECF dollars.”
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by March 24, replies by April 8, on Liberty Mobile Puerto Rico and Liberty Mobile U.S. Virgin Islands' petition for declaratory ruling that AT&T "must port to Liberty approximately 24,000 wireless numbers assigned to approximately 16,000 different customers" in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or a waiver of rules to "permit the porting to occur," said a public notice Tuesday in docket 22-68. Liberty said it acquired the customers when it acquired AT&T's wireless business in these areas in October.
Ariel and Sorenson are "in the final stages of executing definitive acquisition agreements," the companies told FCC Consumer and Governmental Bureau, Office of Economics and Analytics, and Office of General Counsel staff, per an ex parte filing Friday in docket 03-123 (see 2112200045). Ariel said it plans to enhance Sorenson's relationship with the FCC, expand into non-telecom relay services in "business and government settings," and "improve functional equivalence."
Vonage has "fully implemented" and is "fully compliant" with Stir/Shaken requirements, emailed a spokesperson Friday after the FCC Wireline Bureau stripped the company of its partial exemption from implementation requirements (see 2202170051). “Vonage is a strong proponent of the Stir/Shaken framework," she said: "As referenced in the FCC’s notice, the company’s certification noted an implementation issue, which the Company remedied shortly thereafter."
The FCC Enforcement Bureau proposed a $100,000 fine against IK Communications, dba Amantel, for "apparently, willfully, and repeatedly" failing to timely file annual telecom reporting worksheets with the Universal Service Administrative Co. from 2016-2021, said a notice of apparent liability in Thursday's Daily Digest. Amantel didn't comment.
The FCC Wireline Bureau stripped Bandwidth and Vonage of their partial exemption from Stir/Shaken implementation requirements, said an order Thursday in docket 20-68. Both providers failed to achieve full implementation by June 30, the bureau said, referring the matter to the Enforcement Bureau for "possible enforcement action." Other providers with exemptions remain exempt (see 2012230040). The FCC "will not turn a blind eye to providers that have not done enough to protect consumers from spoofed robocalls,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. "While Bandwidth did meet all of the prongs of the commission’s initial exemption certification requirements in Dec. 2020, we still operate some legacy equipment that supports a small amount of traffic that cannot support the Stir/Shaken standards at this time," emailed a spokesperson; "Bandwidth is working diligently to move this traffic off of this legacy equipment so we can be fully compliant with Stir/Shaken standards." Vonage didn't comment.
Provide funding for “digital ambassador programs” as part of the FCC’s pilot program to boost affordable connectivity program participation among federal public housing assistance program recipients, Starry told aides to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, per an ex parte filing Wednesday in docket 21-450. The ambassadors can “act as a conduit” among ISPs, housing authorities and residents, Starry said, noting “many consumers continue to rely on local outreach efforts to better understand” the program and how to enroll. Starry also backed expanding the pilot to include boosting ACP participation among Section 8 voucher holders.
Remove any obstacles for states to regulate intrastate video-calling services for incarcerated people, the Prison Policy Initiative told an aide to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, per an ex parte filing Wednesday in docket 12-375. PPI also said it backed FCC regulation of inmate calling service video calling products and requiring unused prepaid funds to be administered "under applicable state unclaimed-property law."
The FCC unanimously adopted new rules for broadband access in multi-tenant environments Friday that crack down on revenue sharing and exclusive access agreements, said an order posted Tuesday (see 2202080065). The rules apply to telecom carriers in commercial and residential MTEs, and multichannel video programming distributors subject to section 628(b) in residential MTEs. Providers are prohibited from entering exclusive or graduated revenue sharing agreements, with the rule applying to agreements signed after the effective date of the rules and those already in place. Those with existing contracts will have 180 days after Federal Register publication to come into compliance. The FCC disagreed with commenters that the MTE broadband marketplace is competitive so further action is unnecessary (see 2202090046). Providers will be required to comply with a consumer disclosure requirement for any exclusive marketing agreements. A declaratory ruling clarifying the prohibition on sale-and-leaseback arrangements was also adopted. The new rules are “important steps that will increase competition,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Every American should have access to high-quality, affordable modern communications services,” said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. Commissioner Brendan Carr said the actions “align with commission precedents as well as the iron laws of economics.” Commissioner Nathan Simington didn’t issue a statement.
Session initiation protocol 603 is “the best and most pragmatic solution to provide callers with actionable information,” said USTelecom in reply comments to the FCC’s Further NPRM on call blocking notifications Tuesday in docket 17-59 (see 2202010031). SIP code 603 is a "pragmatic and effective means of providing immediate notification," said AT&T, and SIP code 607 is "unnecessary." Verizon backed mandating 603 “when terminating service block calls based on analytics.” Efforts to improve redress processes “should continue to be left to the industry stakeholders to address,” said Transaction Network Services, saying 603 “provides sufficiently actionable information.” The Voice on the Net Coalition, Incompas and Cloud Communications Alliance disagreed, saying “failure to implement SIP codes 607 and 608 will result in legitimate calls being blocked and in onerous redress processes.” The groups backed phasing out the use of 603. SIP code 603’s “lack of specific, actionable information makes it an unsustainable long-term option,” said TCN. “Additional standards body work could clarify questions raised and resolve technical issues that remain” for all three codes, said NTCA.