Alaska Communications Systems asked the FCC to clarify that certain census blocks in Alaska are eligible for Connect America Fund Phase II support, said a petition for declaratory ruling posted Wednesday in docket 10-90. ACS identified 71 high-cost and extremely high-cost census blocks with at least 403 unserved locations that were not cost-designated by the Connect America cost model. Without clarification, ACS said it's unable to submit any of those locations to Universal Service Administrative Co. to satisfy its CAF Phase II obligations.
FCC Wireline Bureau staff granted Hawaiian Telcom and TDS requests to waive Connect America Fund Phase II buildout obligations and reporting requirements, said an order in Wednesday's Daily Digest. Hawaiian Telcom may count 370 of the 391 locations destroyed by Kilauea Volcano eruptions in 2018 (see 2009140050) toward its interim and remaining milestones, it said. TDS received a waiver for its service requirements because TDS said it can't meet its obligations due to the pandemic-related restrictions and expects to complete its buildout by July 1. The FCC directed TDS to report to the Universal Service Administrative Co. when it completes its buildout, or provide a status report if it's unable to meet the expected milestone.
FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel recently circulated two Wireline Bureau items that are expected to be voted on soon, officials told us Wednesday. A budget item, circulated May 21, would waive the current budget control mechanism for rate of return carriers for one year, beginning July 1 (see 2106010067). An item circulated May 27 includes at least 30 projects that were selected for the Connected Care Pilot Program, one official said. Rosenworcel also circulated an order that would grant in part AT&T’s complaint against Wide Voice on alleged violations of access stimulation rules, per an official. Connected Care pilot recipients "remain under consideration pending approval by the commission," said an FCC spokesperson: The budget item "would address application of the budget control mechanism for the upcoming tariff year to allow small rate-of-return companies to better serve their customers."
FCC staff said emergency broadband benefit program providers can’t receive support if their subscribers aren't enrolled in the National Lifeline Accountability Database. The Wireline Bureau denied Lumen and LICT petitions to be reimbursed for discounts passed to their subscribers not enrolled in NLAD by the snapshot date. Allowing the petitions "is not in the public interest and unavoidably threatens the integrity" of EBB, the order said in Tuesday's Daily Digest. The bureau denied Lumen and LICT's request for one-month delay.
The FCC should dismiss a petition to reject Nextlink's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction long-form application (see 2105280048), the company said Tuesday in docket 19-126: Claims it lacks experience in gigabit fixed wireless technology or integrity are "uninformed and wildly speculative."
The FCC Wireline and International bureaus granted Stonepeak and Radiate's transfer of control request, said Tuesday's Daily Digest. Stonepeak will "have the right to appoint a majority of the directors" to Radiate's board and will control Radiate. Current and indirect equity holders of Radiate will also transfer their indirect interests to Stonepeak-affiliated entities.
NTCA asked staff to FCC commissioners to waive the budget control mechanism for certain USF support, said a filing Tuesday in docket 10-90. Support cuts would be "particularly harmful as providers strive to keep Americans facing economic challenges brought on by the pandemic online despite unpaid bills," the group said: Providers will otherwise "face substantial reductions in support."
Telecom providers asked the FCC to reject Nextlink's long-form application for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction. Nextlink “is not qualified, and therefore ineligible, to receive RDOF support” because it “has a history of violating FCC rules” and has already defaulted on its New Mexico RDOF census block groups, said Central Texas Telecom, Coleman, Neit Services, Taylor Telecom and Totelcom Friday in docket 19-126. The providers also asked the commission to grant access to Nextlink's long-form application information. Nextlink didn't comment.
WTA members are experiencing “significant difficulties and delays” in enrolling households in the National Lifeline Accountability Database for the FCC emergency broadband benefit program, the group said in a letter posted Friday in docket 20-445. It's affecting smaller providers enrolling households that aren't Lifeline subscribers and are claiming eligibility through the program's other categories, WTA said. The group wants a one-month delay for all affected providers to submit initial snapshot data of new subscribers.
FCC staff granted Alenco Communications' petition to revise its Form 507, said an order in Thursday's Daily Digest. Alenco said it "did not realize" 28 consumer broadband-only loops lines it served Dec. 31, 2019, had to be reported on its March 31, 2020, form. The FCC granted the waiver due to an "administrative error" by the Universal Service Administrative Co.