Net neutrality stakeholders didn't budge on three remanded issues (see 1910010018), in replies to the FCC posted through Thursday in dockets including 17-287. "Concerns noted by the Mozilla court on three discrete issues do not justify abandoning the Commission’s decision to return to [Communications Act] Title I classification as the benefits of the regulatory framework ... vastly outweigh any potential costs," USTelecom said. Common Cause, Public Knowledge and New America’s Open Technology Institute want the FCC to retain Title II common carrier authority over broadband and "restore legal certainty for the Lifeline program, empower the Commission to protect public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic." The Greenlining Institute wants the FCC to "acknowledge the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance strong net neutrality protections" have for public safety. CTIA said "concerns regarding paid prioritization’s impact on public safety are theoretical, have not materialized." The Alarm Industry Communications Committee said "state and local laws often impose service standards that alarm companies may not be able to meet without adequate protection of their use of broadband networks." Verizon said there's ample evidence to find "no reason to revisit its decision to restore the information service classification for broadband." NCTA wants the FCC to conclude its current regime "is fully warranted from the perspective of public safety, pole access, and the Lifeline program." Incompas countered claims there have been no major net neutrality violations since the repeal: "In addition to the fact that there is no longer a federal 'cop on the beat' ... there very well could be violations occurring that customers do not realize." AT&T said the FCC "has ample ancillary authority to extend section 224 rights to standalone broadband providers if it concludes that doing so is necessary for competitive parity in non-certifying states, just as it has ancillary authority to extend Lifeline support to standalone broadband services." ACA Connects said the FCC "cannot and should not upend its entire regulatory framework for broadband merely to cater to the interests of broadband-only providers in invoking" one-touch, make-ready pole attachment rules. The Wireless ISP Association wants the FCC to use its statutory authority to eliminate practices that slow down broadband deployment, such as discriminatory infrastructure access. Other replies came from the Broadband Institute of California at the Santa Clara University School of Law (here), Center for Democracy and Technology (here) Free Press (here) and the California Public Utilities Commission (here), which unsuccessfully sought a longer deadline extension due to the pandemic (see 2005200013). Initial comments came in last month (see 2004210019).

Several petitions for reconsideration of the FCC's Ligado L-band plan approval were filed, as expected, (see 2004200039). The company's backers told us the likely audience is Capitol Hill, with the aim of trying to generate interest in a legislative solution. Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said in an interview he's siding with the FCC amid continued headwinds from the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees and some other lawmakers (see 2005080043).

Incompas added Ligado, Tilson and eight other member companies, it said Thursday, after recently naming Tilson CEO Joshua Broder to its board (see personals section, May 13).

Incompas added Ligado, Tilson and eight other member companies, it said Thursday, after recently naming Tilson CEO Joshua Broder to its board (see personals section, May 13).

Eve Konstan, ex-WarnerMedia Entertainment, joins Spotify as general counsel ... Facebook hires Alex Burgos, ex-TechNet, as director-policy communications ... Charles River Associates names Justin Lenzo vice president-antitrust and competition economics ... Rachelle Chong resigns from Anterix board; becomes senior adviser.

Eve Konstan, ex-WarnerMedia Entertainment, joins Spotify as general counsel ... Facebook hires Alex Burgos, ex-TechNet, as director-policy communications ... Charles River Associates names Justin Lenzo vice president-antitrust and competition economics ... Rachelle Chong resigns from Anterix board; becomes senior adviser.

Lawmakers and private sector entities pressed Capitol Hill leaders Wednesday to include broadband funding and local media aid language in a coming COVID-19 package. Both issues have been identified as potential priorities (see 2004210060). More than 120 House members signed on to a letter led by House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline, D-R.I., and ranking member Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., urging House leaders to support a bid by NAB and other news media groups to make broadcasters and local newspapers eligible for Paycheck Protection Program funding (see 2004200001). Free Press, Incompas, NTCA, Public Knowledge, the Rural Wireless Association and Twitter were among more than 200 entities that urged Hill leaders to use the next COVID-19 bill to “support access to affordable” broadband. “Hundreds of individual broadcasters and news publishers were not eligible for loan relief because they were affiliated with larger groups whose total employee count was more than 500 spread across various stations or newspapers,” Cicilline and the other lawmakers said. Signers included House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and ranking member Doug Collins, R-Ga.

Some industry groups said mobile and fixed broadband are considered complementary, not substitute services, in docket 20-60 comments this week for the FCC's communications market competitiveness report to Congress. Measuring available broadband access must be done by looking at both fixed and mobile service availability, Incompas said, criticizing using form 477 data for measurement and saying broadband services should be counted only if physically available. It also urged a separate assessment of business data services. NTCA said universal support in rural areas should target both fixed and mobile networks. Policies often protect incumbents from new competition, an example being Communications Act Section 224 -- granting nondiscriminatory access to investor-owned utility poles -- not covering providers that aren't carriers or cable ISPs, said Google Fiber. It said state laws barring or limiting municipal broadband mean new entrants can't negotiate public-private partnerships or use those muni open access networks. New entrants that aren't telecom carriers or video programming providers with a state or local franchise also have difficulty getting access to public rights of way, it said. Rural Digital Opportunity Fund rules need to be technology neutral and satellite broadband shouldn't be blocked from competing for high-cost customers, Hughes said.

The FCC is opening Lifeline enrollment to those newly unemployed during the pandemic. Instead of requiring three consecutive months of income documentation, new enrollees can submit an unemployment benefits statement or other official evidence of current income status, it ordered Wednesday. The order extends, also through June 30, previous waiver of recertification, reverification, general de-enrollment and usage requirements. Many advocacy groups and companies wrote Congress backing more spending on broadband for the underserved (see 2004240014) as part of COVID-19 stimulus. Signers include NTCA, the Fiber Broadband Association, Incompas, Mozilla, Twitter, NATOA, Public Knowledge, NAACP and the R Street Institute.

The FCC is opening Lifeline enrollment to those newly unemployed during the pandemic. Instead of requiring three consecutive months of income documentation, new enrollees can submit an unemployment benefits statement or other official evidence of current income status, it ordered Wednesday. The order extends, also through June 30, previous waiver of recertification, reverification, general de-enrollment and usage requirements. Many advocacy groups and companies wrote Congress backing more spending on broadband for the underserved (see 2004240014) as part of COVID-19 stimulus. Signers include NTCA, the Fiber Broadband Association, Incompas, Mozilla, Twitter, NATOA, Public Knowledge, NAACP and the R Street Institute.