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USTelecom and member companies raised concerns similar to those by NTCA (see 2007070031) on the draft broadband mapping order and Further NPRM set for a commissioner vote July 16 (see 2006250062). AT&T, CenturyLink, Frontier and Verizon were among the companies on calls with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. USTelecom supports “the concept of setting a maximum buffer for fixed polygon reporting to ensure that reporting is accurate and granular, and providers are not encouraged to submit overly broad polygons,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-195: But “the 6,660 feet maximum buffer may not be appropriate for all technologies, particularly in rural areas.” For fiber deployments, “the distances are frequently much longer,” it said.

Pursue flexibility in deregulating telephone access charges "rather than mandating a single approach," USTelecom urged the FCC in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 20-71 (see 2004010057). State regulations "may prevent incumbent LECs from sufficiently adjusting retail rates," it said. Changing existing tariffing provisions for rural LECs "without providing a reasonable opportunity for recovery of those costs elsewhere" would undermine universal service, NTCA said. CenturyLink warned the FCC could face legal challenges if a new rule doesn't allow carriers to "adequately recover" interstate costs. Uncertainty arising from the new rules would destabilize rural LECs, WTA said. Windstream wants the FCC to allow a separate line item on consumer bills for interstate charges and marked conspicuously to communicate it's not a government-regulated fee. Incompas opposes the rulemaking. States weighed in, including Pennsylvania, New York, California, Nebraska and Kansas, with some raising concerns that proposals threaten states' universal service programs and new billing rules would decrease transparency to consumers. NCTA wants the FCC to clarify "that any mandatory detariffing of charges does not apply to contracts with commercial customers or, if it does apply, that it will not result in an unwarranted windfall to commercial customers that previously agreed to pay such charges."

Despite telecom industry arguments it needs longer (see 2006230022), a 24-month nationwide implementation of the 988 suicide prevention hotline seems feasible, experts told us. Others see meeting that deadline being a big challenge, though everyone agrees the FCC isn't likely to budge further, having already compromised from an 18-month implementation deadline. The commission didn't comment. The draft order directing providers to have 988 operational by July 16, 2022, will be voted on at the July 16 commissioners' meeting.

States and privacy advocates hailed a federal court ruling Tuesday that said Maine’s ISP privacy law isn’t preempted by Congress or the FCC. The U.S. District Court of Maine order (in Pacer) is a preliminary win for Maine’s 2019 law countering Congress’ 2017 Congressional Review Act (CRA) repeal of 2016 FCC broadband privacy rules. It could pave the way for more state privacy laws and may have implications for state net neutrality laws, said the state law's supporters.

Industry wants the FCC to remain involved in implementing a Team Telecom executive order updating how DOD, DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security review license applications with foreign ownership ties (see 2004060071), said replies posted through Monday in docket 16-155. That will help resolve questions and "ensure that this process is used to target genuine concerns," CTIA said. CTIA said it's too early to declare mission accomplished before a required memo of understanding. USTelecom wants "sufficient time for parties to provide additional input before the Commission takes action" if the MOU provides additional clarity. NAB wants FCC licensee applicants to direct responses to the national security agencies rather than to the FCC to protect confidentiality on some matters. T-Mobile wants applicants to be able to seek a protective order. Windstream said the EO was "a step in the right direction" but silent on some "nuanced aspects of these review processes." Only in extraordinary circumstances should Team Telecom "unilaterally determine to investigate existing licensee ownership or impose new conditions on licensees whose ownership already has been approved" by the FCC, said Inmarsat.

That the pandemic showed "we can't imagine a future" with Americans lacking a connection is no reason to regulate broadband service as a utility, USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter told C-SPAN's The Communicators scheduled to have been televised this weekend. "To wrap it in the red tape of regulatory strictures, the overhang of bureaucracy that would be required if we were to make it a utility, would take us backward." He's "confident a wise administration that believes in the future of progress in our internet will understand this framework and will continue it." He has seen bipartisan support for keeping the internet open and transparent and for closing the digital divide, and cited predictions it could take $100 billion in government support to extend broadband to all unserved areas. That's adequate, he said, in the context of a broader U.S. infrastructure investment that may approach $1 trillion. Asked about the debate over changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, Spalter said: "The issues concerning content moderation are complex and thorny. It’s not our job, it’s not our business, and we’ll be watching with interest as these discussions take place."

CTA, CTIA and other industry groups urged reallocating more spectrum for 5G across the radio spectrum and cutting red tape, and stressed the importance of a collaborative process on security, responding to NTIA’s “Request for Comments on the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy to Secure 5G.” Others said the federal government isn’t doing enough about security. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said on a podcast Wednesday the tide is turning worldwide against the Chinese companies that have been the focus of security concerns.

With not all on board with stakeholder calls to end eligible telecom carrier designation requirements, momentum may not be sufficient to change FCC policy before would-be bidders in the upcoming Rural Digital Opportunity Fund take first steps to participate in the auction, according to recent interviews. Most think a repeal would take a law.

The FCC barred Huawei and ZTE from participating in the USF. The Public Safety Bureau confirmed the designation of both as a threat to national security (see 2006300048). Sen. Mark Warner, Va., warned on a USTelecom webinar the U.S. is falling behind China on 5G and stressed the importance of open radio access networks. Speakers at a GSMA conference Tuesday said China won’t slow down on 5G (see 2006300049). The Rural Wireless Association was “stunned” by the decision to clamp down now.