Commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines to issue an NPRM in FCC docket 19-308 on eliminating regulations on certain unbundling and resale requirements for ILECs to make parts of their facilities-based networks available to CLECs that want to use the unbundled network elements (UNEs) to sell voice and broadband services (see 1911190009). Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks dissented. The new rules would eliminate most requirements for ILECs to unbundle and resell certain voice-grade and DSL loops except for residential use in certain rural areas. The NPRM proposes a three-year transition.

The FCC approved national security supply chain rules Friday, barring equipment from Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE from networks funded by the USF and establishing rules that could block other providers (see 1910290054). Commissioner Mike O’Rielly voted yes, with reservations. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC needs to do more and should have acted more quickly. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said smaller carriers using USF should be reimbursed for ripping Chinese gear out of their networks. Officials acknowledged the item got late changes sought by commissioners (see 1911200030).

The Dec. 12 FCC agenda will include an NPRM on designating 988 as a national three-digit suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. A draft NPRM announced Tuesday tees up several issues, including network configurations, Chairman Ajit Pai said after a National Council for Behavioral Health event. Asked how soon the commissioners might have a draft order before them, he said he couldn't guess how long it might take to assess what comes up in the public comments, but 988 "is a special priority for me." An item on 5.9 GHz band sharing is also expected for December (see 1911190066).

Delay plans to remove CLECs' access to an ILEC's unbundled network elements (UNEs) at regulated prices until more-accurate broadband maps can pinpoint where broadband competition actually exists, a group representing CLECs told the FCC. "You need new maps before you can have new rules,” Incompas CEO Chip Pickering told us. He visited with FCC officials in recent weeks to ask them to withdraw the draft NPRM in docket 19-308 that commissioners are expected to vote on Friday (see 1911150016).

Reed Smith hires from Arent Fox Sarah Bruno as partner-global intellectual property, tech and data, and Casey Perrino as associate-data privacy and security counseling ... Subject Matter adds Bill Ghent, ex-The Lugar-Hellmann Group, to government relations team, including tech focus ... K2 Intelligence names former Rep. Dan Donovan, R-N.Y., senior adviser.

USTelecom and Incompas held separate meetings last week with FCC officials about a draft NPRM in docket 19-308 for updating unbundling and resale rules for competitive LEC access to parts of an ILEC's facilities-based network at regulated prices. USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter spoke with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Tuesday, plus Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, supporting the NPRM and "ongoing efforts to modernize outdated regulations," said a filing posted Friday. Incompas CEO Chip Pickering with Granite Telecommunications, Sonic and other member companies met Tuesday with Pai and each of the commissioners, plus Wireline Bureau staff, said a Friday posting opposing the NPRM. "Customers are clamoring for more competition," Incompas said. Commissioners are scheduled to vote Friday (see 1910300010).

Alaska Gov. Michael Dunleavy sought clarification of an FCC rule on rural telehealth, among petitions for reconsiderations posted in docket 17-310 Wednesday. Dunleavy said the new mechanisms for determining cost recovery rates "don't sufficiently acknowledge the logistical and economic challenges to delivering service throughout rural Alaska, nor does it recognize the dramatic differences between our regions and communities." Rule changes would lead to systemic underfunding of telecom needed to deliver healthcare services to hard-to-reach communities, the Republican said. Alaska Communications asked to promptly address all outstanding matters from the telehealth rulemaking. It said the FCC is better positioned than the Universal Service Administrative Co. to timely resolve questions about rural rate determinations. USTelecom has concerns about how the FCC will implement a new median rural rate framework, citing material errors or omissions, and "Alaska requires a different approach to setting a rural rate that is unique." The median rate calculation risks "defunding telehealth services for the neediest rural Alaskans," it said. The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition said USAC may have overstated nonrural telehealth expenditures, and the FCC should reconsider major policy changes based on such data. It also warned against deprioritizing funding for nonrural telehealth consortium participants. The North Carolina Telehealth Network Association and Southern Ohio Health Network asked the FCC to modify the definition of rural for the purposes of the program's eligibility.

WarnerMedia promotes Andrew Reinsdorf to senior vice president-government relations ... USTelecom advances Lorna Johnson to chief financial officer ... Society of Professional Journalists announces John Shertzer, ex-Indianapolis Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council, is executive director, SPJ and SPJ Foundation ... Enterprise Wireless Alliance hires consultant John Wehmann to facilitate administration of 900 MHz incumbent transition services.

USTelecom and members want the FCC-proposed Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to "invest today in terrestrial broadband to provide a future of rural connectivity," wired and wireless, they said in meetings with the Office of Economics and Analytics and Wireline Bureau Thursday and posted Friday in docket 19-126. They request "clearly defined roles and responsibilities" as USF high-cost programs transition to RDOF (see 1909230013). The telecom industry wants the FCC to use lessons learned from the Connect America Fund phase II auction "to ensure reasonable accountability while ensuring the program is not bogged down with unnecessary requirements," saying RDOF should reduce the risk of inaccurate location data. AT&T, Consolidated, CenturyLink, Frontier, Verizon and Windstream also sent representatives.

A drop-down menu option in the USF E-rate funding application labeled ISP service "has caused consistent confusion for applicants," as some without a tech background didn't realize they wouldn't receive support for network transport costs, the EducationSuperHighway commented in FCC docket 13-184, posted Friday. ESH recommends eliminating that option from form 470 and replacing it with one that reads internet service (with or without transport). CenturyLink said even applicants' consultants have difficulty navigating the E-rate program. It recommends applicants specify whether they seek internet access or WAN connectivity, and suggests removing a requirement to specify circuit quantity for circuit-based services. "USTelecom members support any and all efforts to ensure that processes facilitate ease of compliance with the rules and are intuitive and easy to understand," the association said. It wants a new drop-down option so schools and libraries can include location addresses directly on the 470 so bidding providers save time. The State E-rate Coordinators' Alliance wants drop-down menu terms and phrases to match those used by E-rate, such as in its eligible services list, and asks that the form eliminate any excess boxes that could inadvertently lead to funding denials if they're not checked because instructions are unclear. Replies are due Nov. 15.