Broaden the USF contribution base by including one-way VoIP services among contributors, the phone industry asked the FCC in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 06-122. "Given the rising contribution factor and the shrinking base of assessable services, the Commission should consider comprehensive USF reform that sets USF contributions on a sustainable path," USTelecom said. "While it is unlikely to make a noticeable difference to the contribution factor at this time, one way to begin addressing this issue in an incremental way is to broaden the base by including one-way VoIP services." Zoom wanted the FCC to ensure new obligations "are consistent with its long-standing commitment to fostering a regulatory environment that will invite investment in information services, including those that incorporate voice." Inaction on more comprehensive changes to USF contribution methodology threatens "the stability of USF funding and its mission to provide universal service nationwide," said the Ad Hoc Telecom Users Committee. Incompas urged comprehensive changes to contribution methodology, seeing the one-way VoIP matter as a distraction.

Citing bigger risks of collisions in orbit and stymied use of the 12 GHz band for 5G services, satellite and wireless interests filed petitions Monday with the FCC International Bureau asking it to reject SpaceX plans to relocate 2,824 planned non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) broadband satellites to a lower orbit (see 2004200003). SpaceX didn't comment Tuesday.

Phone industry trade groups want the FCC to expand call blocking safe harbor protections to allow network level blocking of robocalls deemed illegal or unwanted. Calling originators with ongoing customer relationships urge commissioners to take a more cautious approach when they vote on an order at Thursday’s meeting (see 2006250062), according to interviews and filings in docket 17-59. The rulemaking stems from the Traced Act.

Charter Communications should expect public interest groups to oppose its ask that the FCC set a May sunset to the data caps and interconnection conditions from its purchase of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks (see 2006180050). The cable ISP could face watered-down opposition compared with what it faced to get regulatory OK, with some groups telling us it's question of available resources. The commission might be hesitant to act on the petition before the November election, we were told.

Pursue flexibility in deregulating telephone access charges "rather than mandating a single approach," USTelecom urged the FCC in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 20-71 (see 2004010057). State regulations "may prevent incumbent LECs from sufficiently adjusting retail rates," it said. Changing existing tariffing provisions for rural LECs "without providing a reasonable opportunity for recovery of those costs elsewhere" would undermine universal service, NTCA said. CenturyLink warned the FCC could face legal challenges if a new rule doesn't allow carriers to "adequately recover" interstate costs. Uncertainty arising from the new rules would destabilize rural LECs, WTA said. Windstream wants the FCC to allow a separate line item on consumer bills for interstate charges and marked conspicuously to communicate it's not a government-regulated fee. Incompas opposes the rulemaking. States weighed in, including Pennsylvania, New York, California, Nebraska and Kansas, with some raising concerns that proposals threaten states' universal service programs and new billing rules would decrease transparency to consumers. NCTA wants the FCC to clarify "that any mandatory detariffing of charges does not apply to contracts with commercial customers or, if it does apply, that it will not result in an unwarranted windfall to commercial customers that previously agreed to pay such charges."

Dish Network entered the retail wireless business after completing its $1.4 billion purchase of Sprint's Boost Mobile (see 2007010017), it said Wednesday. Some 9.3 million customers are involved, T-Mobile said. Dish's buy of Sprint's prepaid business was a government condition for T-Mobile's Sprint acquisition. "T-Mobile followed through on fulfilling one of the most significant commitments we made as part of this merger process," said T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert. "Today’s action is a key step towards promoting vigorous competition in the wireless marketplace, particularly for price-conscious consumers in our nation’s cities," said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. "With this divestiture and its existing spectrum resources, DISH has the potential to make a big impact on a wireless marketplace that is transitioning to 5G." Pai vowed to stay vigilant to ensure "T-Mobile and DISH comply in the coming months and years" with FCC conditions. Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim said: “This deal is a significant milestone in realizing" DOJ’s remedy "designed to strengthen competition for high-quality 5G networks.” Dish said it will keep the Boost brand, and reinstituted a popular payment plan that Boost ended six years ago. Dish said its "$hrink-It!" plan starts at $45 monthly for 15 GB and goes down by $5 after three on-time payments and another $5 after six. Dish is introducing a $35 monthly 10 GB plan. Bill Ho, analyst at 556 Ventures, said he's optimistic about Dish's short-term prospects in wireless provided it spends to keep prepaid customers. Companies "can buy any customer," he said, but it takes subsidies to keep them or gain new ones. Incompas CEO Chip Pickering predicted Dish will price Boost competitively and succeed at keeping and building that customer base and could use the cash flow to help fund its 5G network. Pickering said the prepaid mobile business is more valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic because there's more demand for low-cost service and new public policy in the works to subsidize it. New Street's Blair Levin expected Dish will attempt to "leapfrog" competitors with new technology and spectrum capacity when it transitions to its own 5G network. The Utility Reform Network, "always happy to see a new competitor," remains skeptical whether Dish can competitively affect the facilities-based market, said Managing Director Christine Mailloux.

Dish Network entered the retail wireless business after completing its $1.4 billion purchase of Sprint's Boost Mobile (see 2007010017), it said Wednesday. Some 9.3 million customers are involved, T-Mobile said. Dish's buy of Sprint's prepaid business was a government condition for T-Mobile's Sprint acquisition. "T-Mobile followed through on fulfilling one of the most significant commitments we made as part of this merger process," said T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert. "Today’s action is a key step towards promoting vigorous competition in the wireless marketplace, particularly for price-conscious consumers in our nation’s cities," said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. "With this divestiture and its existing spectrum resources, DISH has the potential to make a big impact on a wireless marketplace that is transitioning to 5G." Pai vowed to stay vigilant to ensure "T-Mobile and DISH comply in the coming months and years" with FCC conditions. Antitrust Division Chief Makan Delrahim said: “This deal is a significant milestone in realizing" DOJ’s remedy "designed to strengthen competition for high-quality 5G networks.” Dish said it will keep the Boost brand, and reinstituted a popular payment plan that Boost ended six years ago. Dish said its "$hrink-It!" plan starts at $45 monthly for 15 GB and goes down by $5 after three on-time payments and another $5 after six. Dish is introducing a $35 monthly 10 GB plan. Bill Ho, analyst at 556 Ventures, said he's optimistic about Dish's short-term prospects in wireless provided it spends to keep prepaid customers. Companies "can buy any customer," he said, but it takes subsidies to keep them or gain new ones. Incompas CEO Chip Pickering predicted Dish will price Boost competitively and succeed at keeping and building that customer base and could use the cash flow to help fund its 5G network. Pickering said the prepaid mobile business is more valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic because there's more demand for low-cost service and new public policy in the works to subsidize it. New Street's Blair Levin expected Dish will attempt to "leapfrog" competitors with new technology and spectrum capacity when it transitions to its own 5G network. The Utility Reform Network, "always happy to see a new competitor," remains skeptical whether Dish can competitively affect the facilities-based market, said Managing Director Christine Mailloux.

The amplified national conversation about racism after recent police-involved deaths of Black people is providing an open­ing to grow momentum on Capitol Hill for legislation to place new limits on prison phone charges and increase media ownership diversity, lawmakers and lobbyists said in interviews. Lawmakers sponsoring some of the bills told us they are pushing to ensure such language is included in the next COVID-19 aid measure and other vehicles, including the House Democrats’ Moving Forward Act infrastructure legislative package (HR-2).

Incompas CEO Chip Pickering praised House Democrats’ Moving Forward Act infrastructure legislative package, which includes $100 billion in broadband funding (see 2006220054). Incompas is “pleased the House infrastructure legislation takes initial steps toward delivering faster speeds,” Pickering said Tuesday. “New networks mean more jobs, and competition means better broadband at a better price.”

Incompas CEO Chip Pickering praised House Democrats’ Moving Forward Act infrastructure legislative package, which includes $100 billion in broadband funding (see 2006220054). Incompas is “pleased the House infrastructure legislation takes initial steps toward delivering faster speeds,” Pickering said Tuesday. “New networks mean more jobs, and competition means better broadband at a better price.”