The ATIS and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) joint task force's work to standardize response codes for SIP code 603+ is "advancing most quickly" compared with SIP codes 607 and 608, USTelecom said in separate meetings with FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau staff and aides to Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington, per an ex parte posted Friday in docket 17-59 (see 2202010031). SIP code 603+ would be used "only for analytics-based blocking and indicate to callers which provider blocked the call," USTelecom said, adding the FCC should require the code's use to "provide the industry with the certainty needed to fully operationalize it."

Wireless Infrastructure Association names Executive Vice President Tim House interim president-CEO, following Jonathan Adelstein’s departure (see 2206020018) and 2203020059) … BIA Advisory Services announces retirement of Senior Vice President-Chief Economist Mark Fratrik June 30; Vice President-Forecasting and Analysis Nicole Ovadia, who recently came aboard from the New York State Broadcasters Association, will lead forecast team and Fratrik continues as strategic adviser and analyst.

Inteliquent's challenge to the FCC's 8YY access reform order "rests upon weak data and an outdated approach to price regulation," wrote U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit Judge Douglas Ginsburg in an order Friday denying its petition in case 20-1471 (see 2111010049). Ginsburg said Inteliquent failed to show the rate cap was "below cost for itself or for any other provider," noting that USTeleccom's suggested cap was "reasonable and would not set prices below providers’ costs." The "decision to uphold the FCC’s order on 8YY access charges is a big win in support of the commission’s continued efforts to rationally reform the intercarrier compensation system and eliminate wasteful arbitrage schemes," said USTelecom Senior Vice President-Policy and Advocacy Patrick Halley. An attorney for Inteliquent declined to comment.

Citing the need to modernize the FCC's high cost USF programs and align them with recent federal broadband investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commissioners on Thursday unanimously adopted an NPRM seeking comment on an Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM) Broadband Coalition proposal extending the program. The proposal would increase deployment obligations in exchange for additional funding, and seeks comment on whether to extend participation to carriers that haven't already been participating in the program.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R) revealed 26 entities to join the state’s $3 million effort with Ohio State University and the Wireless Infrastructure Association to design broadband and 5G training programs (see 2203170064 and 2201110052). Members include NTCA, USTelecom, the Ohio Cable Telecom Association, the Fiber Broadband Association, the Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Ohio and the Ohio broadband office, Husted’s office said.

Industry and consumer advocacy organizations disagreed on the severity of digital discrimination and on potential solutions, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 22-69. The FCC sought comments on how to combat digital discrimination as required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law directed the FCC to adopt rules that prevent discrimination based on income, race, ethnicity, color, religion or national origin.

Supporters of a proposal to reallocate the 12 GHz band for 5G think the proposal will likely move forward in coming months, buoyed by responses by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr to members of Congress last week, as a follow-up to the recent House hearing. Meanwhile, Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen offered a candid assessment of the future of DBS spectrum in a presentation to analysts.

A draft FCC order that would impose certain requirements on gateway providers would help efforts to curb illegal robocalls originating abroad and is likely to be unanimously adopted during commissioners' Thursday meeting, industry executives told us (see 2204280059). Some providers sought clarifying language in the draft, saying it would streamline efforts and further disrupt bad actors. Several said a requirement for a Stir/Shaken C-level attestation would be too costly.

NTIA released notices of funding opportunity Friday for applicants interested in its broadband, equity, access and deployment, middle-mile grant, and state digital equity planning grant programs funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The agency cited “end-to-end fiber-optic architecture” as priority broadband projects and encouraged states to give the greatest consideration to subgrantees committed to providing 1 Gbps services at an affordable rate as part of the BEAD program.

China has a growing presence in telecom standards bodies like the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, but experts said the U.S. still has significant influence, during a USTelecom webinar Thursday. Experts agreed the election of American Doreen Bogdan-Martin as ITU secretary-general is important to the development of industry-led standards (see 2205110039). The President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) is scheduled to vote at a May 24 meeting on a draft letter to the president on standards.