The California Public Utilities Commission wants “a big tent approach” as it collects input for developing a five-year plan for spending federal infrastructure support under NTIA’s broadband equity, access and deployment program, said CPUC President Alice Busching Reynolds during a state webinar Monday to kick off BEAD planning. Reynolds wants to bring as broad a group as possible to the table since California is a big, diverse state, she said. Expanding internet services will improve access to government services, which is especially important for “historically disenfranchised” groups, the CPUC president noted. More than 2 million Californians lack access, said state Chief Information Officer Liana Bailey-Crimmins: Those at the table should be "reflective of those individuals.” The CPUC expects to receive BEAD planning funds in the next couple of weeks, said CPUC Communications Division Director Rob Osborn: California filed its application for that support Aug. 12 and the application moved to formal NTIA review Sept. 1. Meanwhile, the agency is “working through the bulk challenge process” for the FCC’s broadband fabric, Osborn said. “It’s quite labor intensive.” The CPUC plans to share a summary analysis either through the FCC or the CPUC website at a later date, he said.
New York state can speed broadband deployment by requiring pole owners to share pole replacement costs with attachers, cable companies said in comments last week at the New York Public Service Commission. Pole owners disagreed, suggesting using the influx of state and federal broadband funding to pay for replacements. Some other attachers urged the PSC to act quickly on less controversial issues in docket 22-M-0101, especially with the FCC considering similar issues in its docket 17-84.
NTIA intends to open a planned request for comment as part of its work to move forward on a national spectrum strategy (see 2209190061) “sooner rather than later,” but there’s no specific timeline, Senior Spectrum Adviser Scott Harris said Wednesday during a Georgetown University Center for Business and Public Policy event. House Communications Subcommittee Chief GOP Counsel Kate O’Connor, meanwhile, urged the Senate Commerce Committee to advance the House-passed Spectrum Innovation Act (HR-7624) and faulted the House Commerce Committee's recent oversight of interagency spectrum policy infighting.
The California Public Utilities Commission risks litigation if it exerts too much authority over VoIP, warned industry in comments received by the agency Monday. Commissioners voted 5-0 Aug. 26 to open a rulemaking (docket R.22-08-008) on changes to licensing requirements and other obligations for internet-based voice (see 2208250029 and 2208190030). Consumer advocates and small businesses supported state VoIP requirements.
Congressional telecom policy leaders and other observers are hopeful but not certain that additional funding for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program and next-generation 911 tech upgrades will remain top priorities in FY 2023 appropriations talks, amid the apparent lack of consensus so far on allocating future spectrum auction proceeds for that purpose. Lawmakers agreed last month to temporarily extend the FCC’s auction authority through Dec. 16 via a continuing resolution to buy additional time for talks on a broader spectrum legislative package that allocates sales proceeds to telecom projects (see 2209300058).
Alaska would shift to connections-based contribution for state USF under a joint proposal by many of the state’s local exchange carriers. The Alaska attorney general’s regulatory affairs and public advocacy (RAPA) section urged the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) Monday to adopt the Friday-filed plan, which would push back an imminent sunset of the Alaska USF (AUSF) by three years to June 30, 2026. “By that time, the focus of significant federal infrastructure funding in Alaska will be better known, and the Commission will have more information that it may use to determine the best AUSF policy for the long term,” said the proposal.
The telecom industry pressed for one-touch, make-ready (OTMR) in comments received Thursday at the California Public Utilities Commission. However, union workers and the CPUC’s enforcement division continued to cite safety concerns about the proposal in docket R.17-06-028. The CPUC may vote Oct. 20 on the proposed decision (PD) to update pole attachment rules (see 2209160074).
The FCC should act now to ensure the Universal Service Fund remains sustainable once programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are fully implemented, panelists said during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday. Some disagreed about whether the FCC should expand the contribution base to include broadband internet access service (BIAS) or wait for Congressional action.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) veto of a broadband grant process bill drew backlash from the California measure’s sponsor Monday. The telecom industry-supported bill (AB-2749) would have put a shot clock on California Public Utilities Commission reviews of California Advanced Services Fund broadband grant applications (see 2209300063). Newsom said the industry-supported bill would have delayed grants. “Without this bill, there is serious concern that the CPUC will fail to award all the funds by applicable federal deadlines, and may need to return funds to the federal government unspent,” said Sharon Quirk-Silva, Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee chairwoman, Monday. “Despite the Governor’s position on this bill, I am committed to maintaining strong oversight of the CPUC to ensure timely progress towards our shared goal of broadband for all.” In the same news release, Quirk-Silva’s office said the veto seemed like a win for the CPUC, “a controversial state agency which many critics have said the administration has been reluctant to reel in.” The CPUC didn’t comment by our deadline.
The FCC Wireline Bureau reminded recipients of rip and replace funding they have until Oct. 13 to file initial status updates. The final rule was effective Friday, said that day's Federal Register notice. “Updates must inform the Commission about the work of the Recipient to permanently remove, replace, and dispose of the covered communications equipment or services, which for the purposes of the Reimbursement Program means all communications equipment or services produced or provided by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation and obtained on or before June 30, 2020,” the notice said.