FCC staff approved Otelco's transfer of control request to Future Fiber FinCo., a public notice said Wednesday in docket 20-275. The OK is subject to conditions adopted in the Hargray/ComSouth order because Otelco's subsidiaries receive USF and fixed Connect America Fund Phase II support (see [Re:1805110048]). "The combined operating expenses of each post-consummation company’s rate-of-return affiliates shall be capped at the averaged combined operating expenses of the three calendar years preceding the transactions’ closing date for which the operating expense data are available," the PN said. The cap lasts seven years, less if the rate-of-return affiliates become model-based support companies.
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended Inteliquent's waiver of access stimulation rules for the fourth time, until Sept. 1, citing COVID-19, said an order Tuesday (see 2012160063).
The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau wants comments by April 2, replies by April 9, on the General Services Administration's petition for waiver of the telecom relay services user registration requirement for IP relay service and IP captioned telephone service, a public notice said Tuesday on docket 03-123.
Consumer advocates want the FCC to adopt "just and reasonable international rate caps" for inmate calling services, said a filing posted Monday in docket 12-375. Representatives from the United Church of Christ, Worth Rises, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Public Knowledge, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, Wright Petitioners and Free Press asked staff to adopt "more uniform data collection" and said "site commissions do not belong in the rate."
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by April 3 on requests by two VoIPs to access North American numbering plan phone numbers in California, said notices Friday for IFN.com in docket 21-64 and Phone.com in docket 21-33.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by April 19, replies by May 4, for input on the state of the Lifeline market, a public notice said Friday in docket 11-42.
The FCC Wireline Bureau granted Ace Telephone Co. of Michigan's petition for waiver to consolidate four study areas into one, said an order in Thursday's Daily Digest. The bureau also granted Ace's petition to combine the 2011 interstate access revenue requirements and base revenue periods for the four study areas into a single base period revenue.
The FCC seeks comment by April 19, replies by May 3 in dockets including 12-38 on an NPRM to expand the contribution base for internet-based telecom relay services, says Friday's Federal Register (see 2011240019). The commission proposed including intrastate revenue of telecom and VoIP service providers.
About 100 noneligible telecom carriers and 65 ETCs have indicated an interest in participating in the FCC's emergency broadband benefit program, acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters Wednesday (see 2103040049). Rosenworcel hoped to release a list of participating providers "soon" and begin the program at the end of April.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the FCC requirement Blanca Telephone to repay $6.75 million in USF support. The court previously denied Blanca's petition for a writ of mandamus (see 1801020038). "Blanca was apprised of the relevant law and afforded adequate opportunity to respond to the FCC’s decision, and the FCC was not arbitrary and capricious in its justifications for the debt collection," said a three-judge panel in an order posted on the commission's website Tuesday. Blanca didn't comment.