Government entities seeking access to the FCC’s broadband serviceable location data should submit their information through the broadband data collection system so staff can review and share that information with CostQuest, said Chelsea Fallon, FCC Broadband Data Task Force senior implementation officer, during a webinar Wednesday providing guidance on how to submit broadband availability data once the system opens Thursday (see 2206150063). CostQuest will then send a fabric licensing agreement and login information for the entity, Fallon said. Consultants and third-party vendors acting on behalf of a state or local government may also gain access through the same process, said Office of Economics and Analytics Attorney-Adviser Jonathan McCormack. All facilities-based providers, including tribal and local governments, are required to register in the system, McCormack said. The FCC will make the data from its initial public broadband data maps available to the public to download and complete their own analysis “once the map is live," he said. Fallon encouraged filers to check their polygons against the broadband serviceable location fabric, which will "help later on in the challenge process."
The FCC Wireline Bureau waived until March 27 its telephone number aging rule after President Joe Biden's disaster declaration in response to storms and flooding in Montana, said an order Wednesday in docket 95-116. The bureau waived its rule that providers may age only numbers that have been disconnected for up to 90 days before reassigning them. The waiver applies to companies providing service in areas covered by the disaster declaration and residential customers "in other areas subject to future major disaster or emergency declarations" due to the storms.
NTIA awarded nine grants totaling more than $7.7 million through the tribal broadband connectivity program, said a news release Thursday (see 2205040034). The new funding will support education, healthcare and employment programs in six states. The Pawnee Nation College in Oklahoma received the greatest amount, nearly $2 million, to establish a "student technology grant and computer lab" on campus. The grants will "provide crucial resources to tribal communities working to ensure everyone can use the internet to attend classes, visit a doctor or run a business," said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
The FCC and the Institute of Museum and Library Services agreed to "jointly promote public awareness of federal funding opportunities for broadband," said a news release Friday. The memorandum of understanding will include sharing data about participation in the FCC's E-rate program and Emergency Connectivity Fund, IMLS' grant programs and broadband availability. The agencies will also join on outreach materials and events, as well as publicize information about federal broadband funding opportunities. "The FCC has long enjoyed working side by side with them to support digital access opportunities, which is why I’m excited about this expanded partnership to raise awareness of broadband funding programs,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
T-Mobile Accessibility representatives spoke with aides to FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks on establishing a “sustainable” methodology for setting telecommunications relay service compensation rates, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 03-123. The company earlier spoke with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel (see 2206210044).
Representatives of Entergy and the Edison Electric Institute continue to make the rounds at the FCC, speaking with an aide to Commissioner Nathan Simington on the electric industry’s work with carriers (see 2206150064). EEI “discussed how mutual assistance and industry exercises are key to improving incident response and restoration,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-346. They noted “the value of engagement with telecommunications providers and other trade associations in the Cross Sector Resiliency Forum to improve and refine disaster planning, response, and recovery.”
USTelecom asked the FCC Enforcement Bureau to redesignate its industry traceback group (ITG) as the registered consortium to head industry efforts to trace unlawful robocalls, said an ex parte posting Thursday in docket 20-22. The ITG "has earned the trust of the enforcement community," USTelecom said, and "received support from across the industry" (see 2206060058). USTelecom said no groups provided evidence that the ITG "has failed to act neutrally or lacks the competence to be the traceback consortium," saying some ITG members have been subject to previous enforcement actions based on its own data.
The FCC Precision Ag Task Force will meet virtually July 21 at noon EDT, said a public notice Thursday in docket 19-329. it will hear presentations on cybersecurity, the future of precision ag, and updates from its working groups.
Comments are due by July 25, replies Aug. 8, on an FCC NPRM on the affordable connectivity program's annual data collection on prices and subscription plan offerings, said a notice for Thursday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved the item earlier this month (see 2206090057).
OMB approved for three years information collection for the FCC's June 2021 911 fee diversion order, says a notice for Wednesday's Federal Register (see 2108170066). The notice takes effect Wednesday.