The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by Jan. 18, replies by Feb. 2, on Apollo's proposed $7.5 billion buy of Lumen’s ILEC assets in 20 states, said a public notice Thursday in docket 21-350 (see 2112140072).
The FCC Wireline Bureau granted three transfer of control requests, said public notices in Wednesday's Daily Digest. It granted Liberty Mobile USVI's proposed buy of Broadband VI (see 2110220042), and ITC Broadband Operating's proposed buy of Atlantic Engineering Group's Aspire Networks. Authorization of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I support was a condition to closing the deal, ITC and AEG said. The bureau also granted Telapex's proposed buy of Troy Cable. Troy Cable will continue to own Union Springs Telephone.
The FCC Wireline Bureau authorized support for an additional 2,008 winning Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction bids, said a public notice in Wednesday's Daily Digest (see 2111120059). Conexon, Consolidated Communications and Cox were among winners.
The North American Numbering Council meets virtually Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. EST, said an FCC public notice Wednesday. NANC will vote on the call authentication trust anchor working group's recommendations on caller ID authentication best practices. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel also appointed additional members to the group, including Teliax Director-Business Operations Stacey Carmel. For a list of others, who were named to subgroups, see the "Communications Personals" section in this issue of the publication.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission cleared Apollo to buy Lumen’s northwest Wisconsin ILEC assets Tuesday. The Wisconsin ILEC partly operates in Minnesota. The PUC consent calendar subcommittee issued the decision, which becomes a full commission order unless a party, participant or commissioner objects within ten days. The Georgia Public Service Commission cleared the transaction Nov. 9. Lumen still needs OK from the FCC and six states: Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, said the carrier’s spokesperson. Illinois Commerce Commission staff recommended Tuesday in docket 21-0710 that the agency decide Apollo/Lumen likely won’t diminish the company’s ability to provide adequate, reliable, efficient, safe and affordable service, won’t hurt competition and won’t increase rates to retail customers.
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).
The FCC Wireline Bureau OK'd the National Exchange Carrier Association's average schedule USF high cost loop support formula modifications for 2022, said an order Monday. The bureau said the results and calculations "appear to be accurate and complete." The formula takes effect Jan. 1.
The Q1 USF contribution factor is 25.2%, down from 29.1% in Q4, said an FCC Office of Managing Director public notice in Monday’s Daily Digest (see 2109100069). Program support is projected at $1.78 billion.
Comments are due Jan. 7, replies Jan. 27, in docket 12–375 on Securus' petition for a waiver of sections of FCC per-minute call requirements for inmate calling services, said Friday's Federal Register. Securus said the requirement to offer calls only on a per-minute basis jeopardizes its ICS subscription plan pilot (see 2111220049).
The FCC Wireline Bureau granted Midwest Medical Center's request for review of the Universal Service Administrative Co.'s denial of its FY 2018 funding request, said an order listed in Thursday's Daily Digest. The bureau said MMC's requested wireless equipment is eligible for the healthcare connect fund program. The application for funding was remanded to USAC for further action.