State and federal regulators need to be focused on making broadband work, experts said during a National Regulatory Research Institute webinar Wednesday. The NRRI event expanded on a panel -- with the same participants -- held at a NARUC meeting in Washington last week (see 1602160004).
With panels on some of the major telecom concerns, NARUC’s upcoming winter committee meetings will offer some robust discussion, commissioners told us in interviews Thursday. The telecom committee panels Feb. 14-17 coincide with some active proceedings at the FCC, as well, NARUC members said, with topics including Lifeline, carrier of last resort (COLR) and enabling competition in a broadband world, the agenda shows. FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai is expected to speak at a general session about the commission pre-empting state laws on municipal broadband, net neutrality and inmate calling.
With panels on some of the major telecom concerns, NARUC’s upcoming winter committee meetings will offer some robust discussion, commissioners told us in interviews Thursday. The telecom committee panels Feb. 14-17 coincide with some active proceedings at the FCC, as well, NARUC members said, with topics including Lifeline, carrier of last resort (COLR) and enabling competition in a broadband world, the agenda shows. FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai is expected to speak at a general session about the commission pre-empting state laws on municipal broadband, net neutrality and inmate calling.
The Senate Commerce Committee will likely vote on FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s renomination next month during a markup session, a GOP committee staffer confirmed Monday. Rosenworcel's renomination hearing was Oct. 28. Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us last week he was unsure if Rosenworcel would make it onto the December markup agenda but said she's empowered as commissioner for another year absent congressional action (see 1511190038).
The Senate Commerce Committee will likely vote on FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s renomination next month during a markup session, a GOP committee staffer confirmed Monday. Rosenworcel's renomination hearing was Oct. 28. Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., told us last week he was unsure if Rosenworcel would make it onto the December markup agenda but said she's empowered as commissioner for another year absent congressional action (see 1511190038).
State public utilities commissions will encourage build-out of rural broadband networks, after telcos accepted $1.5 billion annually for six years in FCC Connect America Fund money (see 1508280026), said PUC members in recent interviews. South Dakota is a state with a large number of high-cost and ultra-high cost areas, as is Nebraska. Georgia has no ultra-high cost areas, so the build-out will address most of its connectivity issues. Those states all have different approaches to dealing with the areas that remain after the high-cost census blocks are built out. South Dakota isn’t going to intervene, but hopes the companies will get on a roll with the high-cost areas and continue to build out the ultra-high cost areas. Nebraska plans to use the state high-cost fund to build-out the ultra-high cost blocks.
State public utilities commissions will encourage build-out of rural broadband networks, after telcos accepted $1.5 billion annually for six years in FCC Connect America Fund money (see 1508280026), said PUC members in recent interviews. South Dakota is a state with a large number of high-cost and ultra-high cost areas, as is Nebraska. Georgia has no ultra-high cost areas, so the build-out will address most of its connectivity issues. Those states all have different approaches to dealing with the areas that remain after the high-cost census blocks are built out. South Dakota isn’t going to intervene, but hopes the companies will get on a roll with the high-cost areas and continue to build out the ultra-high cost areas. Nebraska plans to use the state high-cost fund to build-out the ultra-high cost blocks.
Some regulators and telcos want state and federal USF contribution revisions, while others representing wireless ISPs would rather see the entire system shut down and overhauled, said speakers during a National Regulatory Research Institute tele-seminar. Speaking Thursday, the deadline day for telcos to accept FCC Connect America Fund Phase II offers (see 1508270068), experts said the funds wouldn't cover building out all networks to FCC standards, so it’s up to states to try to supplement that spending to improve the networks' reach to rural areas. The companies are aware the investment needed will be more than the funding, so they're ready to work with each state on how far it will go and whether other assistance is available, telco representatives said.
Some regulators and telcos want state and federal USF contribution revisions, while others representing wireless ISPs would rather see the entire system shut down and overhauled, said speakers during a National Regulatory Research Institute tele-seminar. Speaking Thursday, the deadline day for telcos to accept FCC Connect America Fund Phase II offers (see 1508270068), experts said the funds wouldn't cover building out all networks to FCC standards, so it’s up to states to try to supplement that spending to improve the networks' reach to rural areas. The companies are aware the investment needed will be more than the funding, so they're ready to work with each state on how far it will go and whether other assistance is available, telco representatives said.
Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., on Monday pressed for regular order to tackle what she considers problems with federal agencies. The Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee scheduled a markup of its FCC funding bill for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in 138 Dirksen, as expected (see 1507140069), a spokeswoman for Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., told us Monday.