The FCC committed more than $1.2 billion in Emergency Connectivity Fund support for 3,040 schools, 260 libraries and 24 consortiums, it said Friday (see 2108250032). "The enthusiastic response to this program highlights just how much help is needed, and we look forward to providing additional support through our second application window that opens on September 28," said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. An additional round of funding commitments is expected "in coming weeks," said the agency.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comment on the third mandatory data collection for inmate calling services, said a public notice listed in Thursday's Daily Digest. Comments will be due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, 45 days for replies, in docket 12-375.
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended to Dec. 31 the deadline for Lifeline reverification, recertification, de-enrollment and income documentation requirements for subscribers in rural areas on tribal lands, said a docket 11-42 order listed in Thursday's Daily Digest. The bureau previously extended the deadline to Sept. 30 (see 2106280032).
FCC rules adopting an online portal for private entities to submit information about suspected illegal robocalls took effect Oct. 25, says Thursday's Federal Register. The agency agrees with some commenters that consumers aren't a "private entity" (see 2102040062).
AT&T has had “some disruption” in its fiber supply chain but “believes this has been addressed,” CEO John Stankey said in a Wednesday shareholder update. The carrier “remains comfortable with its long-term guidance to reach 30 million locations by the end of 2025.” Stankey said Tuesday at a Goldman Sachs conference that the disruptions were “partly labor-driven because of COVID, individuals getting sick, not being able to run enough shifts and carry through, and partly some raw material issues.”
The FCC Enforcement Bureau partly granted AT&T's complaint that Duke Energy's pole attachment rates are "unjust and unreasonable," said an order Tuesday. The carrier "pays far more than Duke on a per-foot basis" and the utility "cannot justify charging AT&T a vastly inflated rate based on AT&T’s historical status as the first communications attached," the order said. The bureau said AT&T is entitled to a rate "that does not exceed the Old Telecom Rate" and not the new telecom rate because it "receives benefits under the JUA [joint use agreement] that materially advantage AT&T over other attachers." The order said AT&T is entitled to a refund limited to a three-year statute of limitations because the poles are in the Carolinas. Both companies were directed to negotiate a reciprocal JUA. Duke received the order at around 3:30 pm EDT Tuesday and "[has] not had the opportunity to review" it, emailed a spokesperson.
The FCC Wireline Bureau directed Universal Service Administrative Co. to review and process during the second filing window those Emergency Connectivity Fund applicants that certified and submitted their application after the initial filing window's Oct. 13 deadline, said a public notice Tuesday. These applicants aren't required to resubmit their applications or file a request for waiver of the initial deadline. The bureau doesn't expect to grant waivers of the second deadline "absent a showing of extraordinary circumstances."
Florida Power & Light asked the FCC to extend until Oct. 15 its opposition to AT&T's application for review of Enforcement Bureau orders partially granting AT&T pole attachment complaints, said a motion posted Monday in proceeding 20-214 (see 2109160054). AT&T had “substantial amounts of time to analyze each of the four orders,” FPL said, asking for a “reciprocally fair amount of time to do the same.” It said AT&T doesn't oppose the extension as long as its deadline to reply is delayed to Oct. 29.
Colorado’s Boulder Regional Emergency Telephone Service Authority asked the FCC to reconsider parts of its June 911 fee diversion order, said a petition posted Friday in docket 20-291 (see 2106250049). BRETSA said the finding that it can determine whether a jurisdiction is diverting fees based on survey responses was a "misreading" of Don't Break Up the T-Band Act Section 902. It asked the commission to reconsider holding states responsible for localities that may be diverting fees, which the FCC panel agreed with Friday for a report to Congress (see 2109170023). BRETSA said not providing a "grace period" for jurisdictions to comply with new rules is "placing them in immediate violation of the rules and frustrating, rather than supporting Congress intent."
AT&T asked the FCC to review the Enforcement Bureau's August order partially granting its utility pole attachment complaints against Florida Power & Light, said an application for review posted Thursday in proceeding 20-214 (see 2108160051). It asked the commission to "apply the correct standard of competitive neutrality," and require FPL to "quantify relevant and recurring costs to justify charging AT&T a rate higher than the fully compensatory new telecom rate guaranteed AT&T’s competitors" and "properly calculate a rate for AT&T using the same generally applicable inputs that FPL used to calculate rates for AT&T’s competitors." FPL didn't comment.