ACS Questions GCI Middle-Mile Assertions, Urges FCC Alaska Plan Requirements
Alaska Communications Systems said the FCC shouldn't rely on assertions by General Communication Inc. that it and other Alaska Telephone Association members will improve middle-mile connectivity to remote Alaska during implementation of an ATA-proposed "Alaska Plan" for Connect America Fund…
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(CAF) broadband support. ACS urged the FCC to require CAF recipients under the Alaska Plan to commit to meeting FCC minimum broadband standards, to hold the parties to their requirements and to impose reporting duties on the recipients. ACS cited certain GCI statements in a recent letter (see 1607070058) that ATA members may be expected to use some portion of what ACS says is $1.5 billion in proposed CAF support for middle-mile improvements. "GCI does not offer any more specifics than this, as to the precise locations where middle mile will be deployed, how much capacity will be available, or the amount to be invested in middle mile expansion," ACS said in a filing posted Monday in docket 10-90. "ATA members have not yet indicated how the remaining villages (those not among those targeted by the deployment described in GCI’s letter) would be able to receive effective access to broadband at 10 Mbps or better without adequate access to affordable middle mile connectivity." The current plan's likely outcome for many communities will be "substandard broadband or no effective broadband access at all," ACS said. "The Commission should not accept on faith such explanations as to how the ATA members plan to use enhanced high-cost support, and in particular the proposed $1 billion in CETC [competitive eligible telecom carrier] support, under the GCI-ATA plan." GCI didn't comment.