Let noneligible telecom carriers access Universal Service Administrative Co. data systems so they can immediately participate in the emergency broadband benefit program, NCTA, ACA Connects, the Wireless ISP Association and Incompas asked FCC Wireline Bureau staff, per a letter posted Thursday in docket 20-445 (see 2101260053). Consumers will be "deprived of the variety and quality of services that Congress intended the program to provide" if non-ETCs are unable to sign up customers and be reimbursed as existing Lifeline providers, the associations said.

Let noneligible telecom carriers access Universal Service Administrative Co. data systems so they can immediately participate in the emergency broadband benefit program, NCTA, ACA Connects, the Wireless ISP Association and Incompas asked FCC Wireline Bureau staff, per a letter posted Thursday in docket 20-445 (see 2101260053). Consumers will be "deprived of the variety and quality of services that Congress intended the program to provide" if non-ETCs are unable to sign up customers and be reimbursed as existing Lifeline providers, the associations said.

Providers, regulators and advocacy groups urged the FCC to establish broad eligibility criteria for its $3.2 billion emergency broadband fund and begin the program as soon as possible (see 2101070052). Several suggested relying on Lifeline rules. Some urged working with other federal agencies on data-sharing agreements to ensure all eligible households can enroll. Comments were due Monday.

President Joe Biden named Jessica Rosenworcel as acting FCC chair Thursday (see 2101210053), and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter as acting FTC chair (see 2101210048). The Commerce Department said Evelyn Remaley, head of NTIA’s Office of Policy Analysis and Development, will temporarily lead that agency.

President Joe Biden named Jessica Rosenworcel as acting FCC chair Thursday (see 2101210053), and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter as acting FTC chair (see 2101210048). The Commerce Department said Evelyn Remaley, head of NTIA’s Office of Policy Analysis and Development, will temporarily lead that agency.

To improve broadband mapping data, the FCC is requiring facilities-based fixed service providers to report service coverage and identify where services are offered. Tuesday's order requires providers report speed and latency. Terrestrial fixed wireless service providers must report coordinates of their base services. The FCC disagreed with Incompas' proposal to exempt providers using unbundled network element loops, special access lines and other leased facilities to provide broadband access to end users, arguing that such exemptions "could result in an understatement of coverage" because incumbents aren't required make the same service available to end users. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said this data collection will "be an invaluable tool" to address challenges to broadband deployment: "I'm excited that we can look forward to having a better picture of America's broadband needs." Commissioner Geoffrey Starks noted unanimous approval: "This decision, combined with the mapping funding Congress appropriated last month, will move the commission toward significantly better data practices." Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel sought more action and acknowledged this decision as "the beginning of building a better foundation" for broadband policy. Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition Executive Director John Windhausen was "disheartened" by excluding schools and healthcare providers from the mapping effort, saying "the commission has lost sight of the bigger picture imperative to map the full scope of broadband availability."

To improve broadband mapping data, the FCC is requiring facilities-based fixed service providers to report service coverage and identify where services are offered. Tuesday's order requires providers report speed and latency. Terrestrial fixed wireless service providers must report coordinates of their base services. The FCC disagreed with Incompas' proposal to exempt providers using unbundled network element loops, special access lines and other leased facilities to provide broadband access to end users, arguing that such exemptions "could result in an understatement of coverage" because incumbents aren't required make the same service available to end users. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said this data collection will "be an invaluable tool" to address challenges to broadband deployment: "I'm excited that we can look forward to having a better picture of America's broadband needs." Commissioner Geoffrey Starks noted unanimous approval: "This decision, combined with the mapping funding Congress appropriated last month, will move the commission toward significantly better data practices." Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel sought more action and acknowledged this decision as "the beginning of building a better foundation" for broadband policy. Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition Executive Director John Windhausen was "disheartened" by excluding schools and healthcare providers from the mapping effort, saying "the commission has lost sight of the bigger picture imperative to map the full scope of broadband availability."

Charter Communications dropped its quest to have the FCC sunset two conditions put on the Time Warner Cable/Bright House Networks transaction (see 2006180050), the Wireline Bureau said in a public notice Tuesday. That means the data caps and settlement-free interconnection conditions will remain until May 18, 2023, it said. Charter told us that with some conditions vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 2008140040) and the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on subscribers, "we want to offer them the assurance that they will continue to benefit from unlimited access to broadband and the accompanying financial certainty it provides during these trying times" and thus withdrew the petition. Incompas said the withdrawal "is good news for consumers and open internet advocates. Pressure from Congress, consumer groups and small business leaders helped walk back the cable giant, but it’s a clear sign for why we need strong interconnection and open internet policy on the books to prevent these attempts to raise prices and inflate consumers’ bills.”

Charter Communications dropped its quest to have the FCC sunset two conditions put on the Time Warner Cable/Bright House Networks transaction (see 2006180050), the Wireline Bureau said in a public notice Tuesday. That means the data caps and settlement-free interconnection conditions will remain until May 18, 2023, it said. Charter told us that with some conditions vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 2008140040) and the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on subscribers, "we want to offer them the assurance that they will continue to benefit from unlimited access to broadband and the accompanying financial certainty it provides during these trying times" and thus withdrew the petition. Incompas said the withdrawal "is good news for consumers and open internet advocates. Pressure from Congress, consumer groups and small business leaders helped walk back the cable giant, but it’s a clear sign for why we need strong interconnection and open internet policy on the books to prevent these attempts to raise prices and inflate consumers’ bills.”

Charter Communications dropped its quest to have the FCC sunset two conditions put on the Time Warner Cable/Bright House Networks transaction (see 2006180050), the Wireline Bureau said in a public notice Tuesday. That means the data caps and settlement-free interconnection conditions will remain until May 18, 2023, it said. Charter told us that with some conditions vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 2008140040) and the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on subscribers, "we want to offer them the assurance that they will continue to benefit from unlimited access to broadband and the accompanying financial certainty it provides during these trying times" and thus withdrew the petition. Incompas said the withdrawal "is good news for consumers and open internet advocates. Pressure from Congress, consumer groups and small business leaders helped walk back the cable giant, but it’s a clear sign for why we need strong interconnection and open internet policy on the books to prevent these attempts to raise prices and inflate consumers’ bills.”