Provider participation in the FCC’s affordable connectivity program is likely to be at a higher level than for the emergency broadband benefit program, we’re told (see 2112090061). Some industry groups said more providers may elect to participate since the new program is designed to be longer term than EBB.

Industry and deaf and hard of hearing advocates asked the FCC to let IP relay providers recoup costs for outreach and marketing to users from the Telecom Relay Service Fund, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 03-123 (see 2108050038). The move to establish a new compensation methodology stemmed from a 2018 petition for rulemaking by T-Mobile, the sole remaining IP relay provider.

U.S. District Court in Burlington extended a freeze on net neutrality litigation until April 15 or when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals resolves suits on California’s net neutrality law, whichever happens first. The court agreed Friday to a stipulation filed earlier that day by defendant Vermont and plaintiffs ACA Connects, CTIA, NCTA, USTelecom and the New England Cable & Telecommunications Association. Case 2:18-cv-167 would have resumed Jan. 3 (see 2111150060).

Satellite, wireline, wireless and broadcast industry groups almost uniformly opposed FCC proposals for stricter network resiliency requirements, in comments posted in docket 21-346 through Friday. Providers work voluntarily to share information and preserve their networks, so the FCC should “avoid unnecessary and burdensome additional regulation” said NTCA, similar to NAB, USTelecom and others. The FCC “shouldn’t take an overly prescriptive approach to unpredictable and highly variable events,” said the Competitive Carriers Association.

Terminating voice service providers operating IP networks may use session initiation protocol code 603 in addition to SIP codes 607 and 608 to meet the immediate call blocking notification requirement beginning Jan. 1, said an FCC order unanimously adopted last week and released Tuesday (see 2106070051). And a Further NPRM seeks comment on the use of SIP code 603 and whether it should be allowed permanently or for a defined period.

Commerce Committee leaders believe there’s a strong chance the Senate can confirm NTIA administrator nominee Alan Davidson before the 117th Congress' second session begins in January, after the panel advanced him Wednesday on a bipartisan voice vote, as expected (see 2112140074). Ranking member Roger Wicker of Mississippi and other Republicans are, meanwhile, beginning to push for the panel to hold another confirmation hearing for Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn in 2022 if the committee doesn’t move forward this month on a vote to advance her, as is generally expected. Commerce didn’t include Sohn in Wednesday's markup amid resistance from several committee Democrats (see 2112090058).

Don't replace call blocking notification requirements with session initiation protocol code 603, the American Bankers Association, ACA International, American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management, Credit Union National Association, Mortgage Bankers Association, and National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions told staff of FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 17-59. ABA, ACA International, AAHAM, CUNA, MBA, the American Financial Services Association, National Council of Higher Education Resources, and Student Loan Servicing Alliance had a similar meeting with staff of Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The groups opposed SIP code 603 because it doesn't "provide sufficient information to alert the caller to the reason for the uncompleted call." They asked the FCC to require that voice service providers implement SIP code 607 and 608 by a specific date while providing "periodic status reports stating the progress that providers have made toward adopting operational standards" if USTelecom's petition for reconsideration is granted (see 2111180078).

An FCC Further NPRM on gateway providers and curbing illegal robocalls got a mixed reaction in comments posted through Monday in docket 17-59. Several questioned whether the proposed rules are duplicative. Most backed ending the foreign provider prohibition, which the commission paused enforcement on during the proceeding.

Providers, local governments and advocates welcomed FCC-proposed rules for the $14.2 billion affordable connectivity program, in comments posted Thursday in docket 21-450. Some raised concerns about potential implementation challenges as the agency shifts from the $3.1 billion emergency broadband benefit program and urged the commission to allow flexibility for EBB providers and enrolled households during the transition.

ISP groups may file briefs Feb. 23 on New York’s appeal of a lower court rejection of the state’s broadband affordability law, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Wednesday. The court granted three requests by ACA Connects, the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, and CTIA, NTCA, USTelecom and New York State Telecommunications Association in case 21-1975 (see 2112060042).