NARUC Broadband Task Force Subgroups Finalizing Work
NARUC members charged ahead Friday on an effort to define states’ role in spreading broadband. Commissioners met virtually at a broadband task force meeting to hear five subgroups’ near-final reports and recommendations, which Chair Chris Nelson (R) said will be synthesized into a resolution for vote at NARUC’s July 18-21 meeting. Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) results heightened state concerns about appropriate use of federal spending (see 2101290028).
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Subgroup heads said they're finished or nearly done. The full task force plans to take public feedback before agreeing to a final report at an April or May meeting, said Nelson, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission chairman. The group might meet again before the summer meeting to finalize the draft resolution, he said.
Nelson noted an “unprecedented amount of activity by state governments to try to deal with and solve the broadband expansion problem,” after COVID-19 highlighted problems. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) asked for $100 million for broadband, a “huge” amount for a state that’s usually “tight with our tax dollars,” he said. By contrast, Congress has increased broadband talk but not dollars, he said.
Each state commission should define its own broadband role, whether it’s as an advocate or something more technical and policy-agnostic, said Michigan Public Service Commissioner Tremaine Phillips, who was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D). His subgroup also proposes recommending that commissions convene state broadband talks if no such forum exists and partake in national collaboratives like NTIA state broadband and digital inclusion leaders networks, he said. The subgroup would urge state policymakers to seek funds for adoption, not just deployment, and ask federal policymakers to give states “flexibility” to use broadband funding for local challenges, he said.
Some that won large RDOF bids lack good track records from previous grant cycles, said task force Vice Chair and Nebraska Commissioner Crystal Rhoades (D). Her subgroup proposed recommending the FCC or an appointed third party regularly test winning bidders’ networks to ensure they’re meeting speed, latency and other promised attributes. Results should be shared with states, Rhoades said. The subgroup plans to urge the FCC to reengage with the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, she said. “We still have a bit of a coordination problem.”
Many states have barriers to municipal and utility broadband, including easement restrictions, said Vermont Commissioner Sarah Hofmann. Her subgroup proposes recommending developing model statutes to address such hurdles, she said. Other ideas include urging the FCC to study broadband cost and average monthly rates, make permanent increases to Lifeline and better align federal Lifeline enrollment efforts with other government programs, she said.
Broadband planners should include communities and do continuous stakeholder outreach and education, said two proposed recommendations by Missouri Commissioner Maida Coleman’s subgroup. Another would call for more accurate and timely broadband maps.
The Telecom Committee plans to vote Wednesday on a draft resolution urging the FCC to pore over RDOF long-form applications. It has an RDOF panel Tuesday. A staff subcommittee cleared the draft Thursday (see 2102040065).