National industry groups plan monthly webinars for states about the NTIA’s broadband equity, access and development (BEAD) program starting next week, the Fiber Broadband Association said Wednesday. The hosting associations are ACA Connects, the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA, FBA, Incompas, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, NCTA, NTCA, USTelecom and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. The first 30-minute webinar is on supply chain and will be Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. “Our primary goal is to make it as easy and efficient as possible to navigate through the BEAD program’s requirements and potential deployment challenges,” the associations said.
National industry groups plan monthly webinars for states about the NTIA’s broadband equity, access and development (BEAD) program starting next week, the Fiber Broadband Association said Wednesday. The hosting associations are ACA Connects, the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA, FBA, Incompas, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, NCTA, NTCA, USTelecom and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. The first 30-minute webinar is on supply chain and will be Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. “Our primary goal is to make it as easy and efficient as possible to navigate through the BEAD program’s requirements and potential deployment challenges,” the associations said.
The FCC Consumer Advisory Committee approved a report on robotexts Tuesday, during what is scheduled to be the last meeting of the group's current iteration. The vote was unanimous with only AARP abstaining. AARP didn’t comment on why it abstained. The committee turned down an Incompas amendment on the difficulty some public interest groups are reporting gaining access to 10-digit long codes (10DLCs) (see 2208160054). CAC meetings have been virtual since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Industry continued to disagree whether the FCC should revisit its cost allocation framework for utility pole replacements or attachments, in reply comments posted Monday in docket 17-84 (see 2206280066). Central to the debate was whether pole owners directly benefit from pole replacements and how much information owners should be required to disclose to requesting attachers.
Industry disagreed whether the FCC should impose additional requirements on certain voice service providers to combat illegal robocalls (see 2207150053). Some agreed with a proposal to impose additional measures on intermediate providers, in comments posted Thursday in docket 17-97. Others sought flexibility as providers continue to implement Stir/Shaken caller ID authentication.
The FCC’s report to Congress on the future of the USF, released Monday (see 2208150048), contained more questions than answers, industry experts said Tuesday. The 65-page report has few broad conclusions on the future of USF, declining to adopt competition as a separate goal or to set a separate deployment goal targeting mobile broadband. It weighs against assessing a fee based on broadband internet access service (BIAS).
Industry officials welcomed FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s announcement that the commission is considering a notice of inquiry proposing to update the national broadband standard from 25/3 Mbps to 100/20 Mbps (see 2207150065). Some said the proposed increase may show an even greater number of unserved or underserved households throughout the country.
Incompas asked the FCC to create an additional layer on its forthcoming broadband maps that shows "which areas have received broadband funding for network deployment," said an ex parte filing posted Tuesday in docket 21-476. It could help determine areas that may still need funding and whether adjustments to high-cost programs are necessary "before committing new funding," Incompas said in a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr. The group also met with an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, asking the FCC to include broadband internet access service (BIAS) revenues in the USF contribution base. The Information Technology Industry Council also met with an aide to Carr regarding contribution reform. The group backed refreshing the record in the FCC's contribution methodology proceeding to consider whether BIAS revenue should be assessed.
Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., filed the Uncap America Act Thursday in a bid to “prohibit predatory data caps” on U.S. broadband services by restricting ISPs to impose limits only for “reasonable” network management purposes. The measure would direct the FCC to promulgate rules defining when a data cap is considered to be tailored for network management and give the commission enforcement authority when ISPs violate those conditions. “As internet usage continues to be a necessity for work, education, and health care, no family should have to worry about extra fees and costs because of unnecessary limits on their data,” Lujan said. “Internet access is a basic necessity and has been increasingly important throughout the coronavirus pandemic,” Booker said: “Unfortunately, many internet providers have imposed predatory data caps, making it difficult for many vulnerable families to access high-speed internet.” Public Knowledge Senior Policy Counsel Jenna Leventoff praised Lujan and Booker for working to eliminate “this baseless price gouging.” The “bill will ensure that ISPs are not allowed to include frivolous data caps at the expense of consumers,” said Consumer Reports Senior Policy Counsel Jonathan Schwantes. “Americans need fast, reliable and affordable internet connections that are free from the burden of data caps that chill internet use and make it more expensive.” Incompas also backs the legislation.
Industry disagreed whether the FCC should consider an Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM) Broadband Coalition proposal to extend the program through increased deployment obligations in exchange for additional funding (see 2205190023). Some sought to expand eligibility to carriers receiving other high-cost USF support, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 10-90. Others said the FCC should defer new high-cost support until programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are completed.