Industry disagreed whether the FCC should pause some of its high-cost Universal Service Fund programs amid the recent $65 billion federal broadband support from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, in reply comments posted Friday in docket 21-476 (see 2202180046). Others debated whether to expand the fund's contribution base or turn to direct congressional appropriations. The FCC sought comments on USF's future as part of its report to Congress due by Aug. 12.

Open a third FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund application filing window, urged the Information Technology Industry Council, Competitive Carriers Association, Incompas, USTelecom and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in a letter to commissioners posted Wednesday in docket 21-93. The groups backed a similar request by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (see 2201310071). They also backed "extending the limited waiver of the gift rule" until June 30, 2023, to coincide with the program's service delivery date.

Few changes are likely to be made to the FCC’s draft Further NPRM on pole replacement disputes and notice of inquiry on digital discrimination in broadband access, aides told us. The items are expected to be unanimously approved during Wednesday’s commissioners' meeting.

The FCC’s forthcoming broadband consumer labels should be “simple, consistent, and easy for consumers to use,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Friday during the agency’s first virtual public hearing on the labels (see 2203100059). Current disclosures “are not consistent from carrier to carrier, so it’s really hard to compare service and prices,” Rosenworcel said, and there’s “no time to waste” given Congress’ one-year deadline to adopt new labels.

Industry, state officials and advocacy groups disagreed how the FCC should proceed in adopting new broadband consumer labels, in comments posted Thursday in docket 22-2 (see 2201280038). Industry disagreed whether certain information should be required or optional, while state officials and advocacy groups called for strong enforcement and regular publishing of the labels online and on consumer bills. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) required the FCC to adopt labels and hold public hearings on the issue (see 2201270030).

USTelecom may join inmate calling services docket R.20-10-002 at the California Public Utilities Commission, Administrative Law Judge Robert Haga ruled Friday. Haga denied the association’s earlier request to join due to omissions in the motion (see 2202240048). In a Monday ruling, Haga denied CTIA entry because the ALJ said the association didn't list its members. The CPUC is weighing whether it can regulate video and other non-voice ICS rates, fees and service quality (see 2201310050).

Tribes and local governments are key to closing the digital divide, California Public Utilities Commission members said at a livestreamed meeting Thursday. The CPUC voted 5-0 to adopt a plan to set up a $50 million grant program to provide California Advanced Services Fund technical assistance to local agencies and tribal governments (see 2201240019). Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) ordered the assistance program as part of California’s $6 billion broadband law last year. "The importance of local development and local ownership of broadband networks and closing the digital divide cannot be overstated,” said Commissioner Darcie Houck. "This decision will help support the crucial role of public actors to step in and bring this essential service to all Californians. Local networks will also bring much-needed competition to internet service markets." The decision recognizes the “vital role” of localities in expanding services, said CPUC President Alice Reynolds. "My hope is that this grant program will jump-start a new generation of public networks in this state, networks not guided by profit but by providing the highest quality service to their communities.” Wednesday, CPUC Administrative Law Judge Robert Haga denied USTelecom’s motion to become a party in the commission’s inmate calling services proceeding. “The motion does not fully disclose the person or entities making the motion,” and USTelecom failed to state “the factual or legal contentions it intends to make and show that the contentions will be reasonably pertinent to the issues already presented,” Haga wrote in docket R.20-10-002: “USTelecom may seek party status in the future through a motion that complies with our rules.” The association didn’t comment Thursday.

State regulation of interstate broadband rates is unlawful, said ISP groups in a Wednesday brief at the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in case 21-1975. The court should affirm a lower court’s rejection of New York’s law requiring $15 monthly plans (see 2107230044), said CTIA, NTCA, USTelecom, ACA Connects, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association and the New York State Telecommunications Association. New York’s law conflicts with the FCC’s 2018 net neutrality order and “intrudes on an exclusively federal field,” said the industry groups: Multiple federal programs and voluntary industry services give New Yorkers many affordable broadband options.

Commenters on the Universal Service Fund generally agreed its funding system is unsustainable and in need of changes but disagreed on the solution, in comments posted Friday in docket 21-476 (see 2112220051) as the FCC prepares its report to Congress on the future of USF.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) issued subpoenas to USTelecom and ThinQ Technologies in an investigation into scammers using robocalls to pretend to sell AT&T DirecTV services, Nessel’s office said Thursday. Judge Joyce Draganchuk of Michigan’s Ingham County Circuit Court authorized the AG to issue subpoenas based on an ex parte petition describing about 500,000 spoofed calls coming into the state monthly. With the subpoenas, the AG seeks to learn the identity of the callers and VoIP or voice service providers involved in the scam, including contractual and financial arrangements and detailed call records, the petition said. The petition said there's probable cause to say ThinQ, of Raleigh, was one originating VoIP provider that brought the calls into the country. USTelecom and ThinQ didn’t comment.