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.
Give Connect America Fund broadband loop support recipients a "more reasonable period of time for commencement of pre-testing obligations" for non-high-cost universal broadband locations provided to carriers by the Universal Service Administrative Co. in December, NTCA told an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, per a filing Monday in docket 10-90. The group said individual or combined waiver requests should be allowed as an alternative. A "significant proportion of companies" didn't receive USAC's survey that would determine carrier's deployment data reporting status, NTCA said, and some have expressed concerns about meeting their pretest obligations.
The 120-day initial national security review for OpenMarket's proposed buy of Peerless Network began Monday, said the Committee for Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecom Services Sector, per a filing in docket 21-434. The FCC "will be notified promptly" if the review needs to be extended or if the application must undergo a 90-day secondary assessment. If approved, Peerless Holdings subsidiary Peerless Network would become indirectly owned by OpenMarket.
Support for more than 2,500 FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction bids was authorized Monday, in an FCC Wireline Bureau public notice in docket 19-126. Funding will be disbursed in 120 payments, starting at the end of February. Central Alabama Electric Coop, Great Lakes Energy, MCEC Fiber, Oklahoma Fiber, Talkie Communications and Windstream were among the authorized bids.
The FCC's order establishing rules for the affordable connectivity program takes effect March 16, says Monday's Federal Register (see 2201210082). Providers have until April 15 to "complete necessary changes and ensure that the affordable connectivity benefit can be applied to all generally available and currently sold plans." Comments are also due by March 16, replies April 15, on an NPRM on proposals for ACP awareness and outreach efforts, says Monday's FR.
FCC emergency broadband benefit program providers that uploaded, but didn't certify, reimbursement claims for services in October and November may certify their claims by March 15, said a Wireline Bureau order Friday in docket 20-445, in response to a waiver request from GCI Communications. The bureau also denied T-Mobile's petition for declaratory ruling that it timely submitted a reimbursement claim for its subsidiary Assurance Wireless for October services, allowing the company to instead submit certified reimbursement claims by March 15.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by March 14, replies by March 29, on the National Exchange Carrier Association's proposed changes to the average schedule interstate settlement disbursements formulas for July 1 through June 30, 2023, said a public notice Thursday in docket 21-473.
Extend the Emergency Connectivity Fund's service delivery deadline until June 30, 2023, said the E-Rate Management Professionals Association in a letter to all FCC commissioners Thursday in docket 21-93. The association cited supply chain shortages, where at least one school was told by a provider that the item approved for funding was no longer available, and staffing shortages that have caused delays in processing requests. Extending the deadline "will allow the applicants to fully utilize this valuable funding opportunity in alignment with the ECF program goals," it said. It backed a similar request by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, Consortium for School Networking, State Educational Technology Directors Association and American Library Association.
OMB approved for three years, effective Friday, information collection requirements for the FCC's July order lowering interim interstate rate caps for inmate calling services, says that day's Federal Register (see 2107270055).
The North American Numbering Council unanimously approved a report from the call authentication trust anchor working group recommending best practices for terminating voice service providers using Stir/Shaken caller ID authentication, during a virtual meeting Wednesday (see 2112150052). The working group divided its recommendations into near-term and long-term best practices. It suggested the FCC consider a referral to the working group for further study on how enterprise customers may benefit from information beyond a Shaken verification result.