The FCC Wireline Bureau granted some of the extra time NCTA sought for stakeholders to file replies on a public notice seeking to refresh the record on broadband access in multi-tenant environments, said an order in Wednesday's Daily Digest (see 2110210053). Replies are now due Nov. 19 in docket 17-142. NCTA sought about twice as much time.
Exempt calls blocked through a Do Not Originate list from the notification requirements, Somos asked FCC Governmental Affairs Bureau staff in an ex parte posted Tuesday in docket 17-59. Somos said its primary concern about USTelecom's petition for reconsideration of call blocking notifications was "how the notification requirements would operate when blocking calls" from a DNO list (see 2105200074). The notifications "could alert the party spoofing that the number they have spoofed will be blocked, leading them to try spoofing a different number," it said.
Connect America Fund Phase II Coalition's petition to waive certain eligible locations adjustment process (ELAP) requirements is "procedurally defective" and would "create a perverse incentive for Phase II auction support recipients not to serve locations in the highest cost areas of the state," said a docket 10-90 FCC Wireline Bureau order denying the petition listed in Tuesday's Daily Digest (see 2006150048). The petition, while "stylized as a waiver request," is a request for reconsideration of commission rules, and the coalition "makes no attempt to demonstrate that its arguments could not have been timely raised," the order said: "Absent special circumstances, individual hardships in meeting obligations cannot outweigh the compromising effects that selective application of the ELAP support adjustments would have on the integrity, efficiency, and fairness of the program." The group's petition asked that the location adjustment process for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction be retroactively applied to Phase II recipients. “The coalition is disappointed in the FCC’s decision," emailed attorney Steve Coran: "It seems strange that the FCC would want to maintain different sets of rules for two very similar programs. We were hoping the FCC would take note of the issues inherent in determining the number of actual locations and provide similar relief to the class of CAF recipients that sought waiver."
The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, National Digital Inclusion Alliance and MediaJustice asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Monday to grant their motion to intervene in support of the FCC in Consumers' Research's challenge of the USF Q4 contribution factor (see 2110050056). The groups said in docket 21-3886 their interests "will be adversely affected if the petitioners prevail." The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition also asked to intervene in support of the FCC. If successful, the petition "would do great harm to the interests and goals of SHLB and its members," the group said.
Reconsider phasing down Lifeline voice-only support, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society asked the FCC in a letter posted Friday in docket 11-42. Benton backed the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates' petition for reconsideration of the scheduled Dec. 1 phase down. Don't "risk the potential disconnection of thousands of Lifeline households during the pandemic" (see 2108030072), Benton said.
The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau wants comments by Dec. 1, replies by Dec. 16, in docket 12-129 on a Further NPRM shielding public safety answering points from illegal robocalls, says Monday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved the FNPRM in September (see 2110010065).
Issue a waiver pausing "the increase in mobile Lifeline capacity" scheduled for Dec. 1, GCI asked the FCC in a letter posted Thursday in docket 11-42. GCI said Lifeline providers and consumer advocates oppose the annual increase requirement and formula. Issue a waiver earlier than in previous years because "the late release of the waivers creates challenges for implementation and compliance," the Alaska telco asked.
Costs of removing and replacing covered customer premises equipment produced by Huawei or ZTE are eligible for reimbursement through the FCC supply chain reimbursement program, said a Wireline Bureau order Thursday granting Cincinnati Bell's request for clarification in docket 18-89. Some also refer to this gear process as rip-and-replace.
Adopt a "six-to-eight-year timeframe" for video relay services rates, asked Convo, Sorenson and ZP Better Together in a letter posted Thursday in FCC docket 03-123. "A longer rate period such as this would enable the kind of long-term planning that lenders and investors expect businesses to undertake and provide stability for VRS providers," the VRS providers said. Rates should be adjusted for inflation annually and costs of numbering, E-911, R&D, and outreach should be eligible, they said. GlobalVRS agreed that making outreach an eligible cost is "entirely reasonable" if "specific parameters" are established, saying that otherwise, a shorter rate cycle would provide more "flexibility to account for changing cost structures."
Comcast asked the FCC Wireline Bureau to clarify that locations receiving services through its library pilot program can "continue to receive complimentary services" after the waiver expires June 30, said a letter posted Wednesday in docket 02-6. The bureau granted Comcast's waiver of certain E-rate gift rules earlier this month (see 2110080047).