Groups asked the FCC to extend comment deadlines to Sept. 27 in two proceedings, on fixed broadband competition and advanced telecom capability (ATC) deployment under Telecom Act Section 706, currently due Friday and Sept. 10, respectively (see 1807300019 and 1808100040). Granting an extension, including of the ATC Sept. 24 reply deadline to Oct. 27, "is warranted in light of the importance and complexity of the proceeding(s), the brief time allotted by the Commission in the initial notices, and conflict with the major Jewish Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot," said the motion posted Thursday in dockets 18-231 and 18-238 of Public Knowledge, Incompas, Common Cause, The Greenlining Institute, Communications Workers of America, Benton Foundation, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Texaltel, Federation of ISPs of America and Northwest Telecommunications Association. The agency plans to issue its next 706 report as part of a communications market report required in Q4 under the Ray Baum Act. The FCC declined comment

Groups asked the FCC to extend comment deadlines to Sept. 27 in two proceedings, on fixed broadband competition and advanced telecom capability (ATC) deployment under Telecom Act Section 706, currently due Friday and Sept. 10, respectively (see 1807300019 and 1808100040). Granting an extension, including of the ATC Sept. 24 reply deadline to Oct. 27, "is warranted in light of the importance and complexity of the proceeding(s), the brief time allotted by the Commission in the initial notices, and conflict with the major Jewish Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot," said the motion posted Thursday in dockets 18-231 and 18-238 of Public Knowledge, Incompas, Common Cause, The Greenlining Institute, Communications Workers of America, Benton Foundation, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Texaltel, Federation of ISPs of America and Northwest Telecommunications Association. The agency plans to issue its next 706 report as part of a communications market report required in Q4 under the Ray Baum Act. The FCC declined comment

Many parties opposed USTelecom's petition for incumbent telco relief from mandatory wholesale unbundling discounts, resale and other duties under the 1996 Telecom Act. Telco rivals, state regulators and consumer advocates said the petition for nationwide regulatory forbearance would undermine competition and should be rejected as unsubstantiated and overly broad. Verizon was one of the few to support the petition, as comments were posted in docket 18-141, mostly Tuesday, though USTelecom, ILECs and others can file replies due Sept. 5.

The FCC received more mixed views on how to curb intercarrier compensation schemes that stimulate access charges, in replies posted in docket 18-155, mostly Monday, to conflicting initial comments (see 1807230034). Incumbent telcos tended to be more supportive of the agency's main proposal -- to attack financial incentives for arbitrage by giving "access-stimulating" LECs the option of either assuming financial responsibility for traffic or allowing direct connections -- albeit with disputes, particularly over direct connection terms. Some backed a more sweeping move to bill-and-keep arrangements under which carriers generally don't pay each other for exchanging traffic. Smaller providers opposed the proposals and offered alternatives.

The FCC received more mixed views on how to curb intercarrier compensation schemes that stimulate access charges, in replies posted in docket 18-155, mostly Monday, to conflicting initial comments (see 1807230034). Incumbent telcos tended to be more supportive of the agency's main proposal -- to attack financial incentives for arbitrage by giving "access-stimulating" LECs the option of either assuming financial responsibility for traffic or allowing direct connections -- albeit with disputes, particularly over direct connection terms. Some backed a more sweeping move to bill-and-keep arrangements under which carriers generally don't pay each other for exchanging traffic. Smaller providers opposed the proposals and offered alternatives.

The FCC adopted a one-touch, make-ready policy and other pole-attachment changes in a broadband infrastructure order and declaratory ruling approved 3-1 by commissioners at a Thursday meeting. The item also said the agency will pre-empt state and local legal barriers to deployment, including express and de facto moratoriums that prohibit entry or halt buildout. "No moratoriums. No moratoriums. Absolutely no moratoriums," said Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, who also noted some targeted edits to OTMR parts of a draft. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel agreed with OTMR in concept but partially dissented over "deficiencies in our analysis."

The FCC adopted a one-touch, make-ready policy and other pole-attachment changes in a broadband infrastructure order and declaratory ruling approved 3-1 by commissioners at a Thursday meeting. The item also said the agency will pre-empt state and local legal barriers to deployment, including express and de facto moratoriums that prohibit entry or halt buildout. "No moratoriums. No moratoriums. Absolutely no moratoriums," said Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, who also noted some targeted edits to OTMR parts of a draft. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel agreed with OTMR in concept but partially dissented over "deficiencies in our analysis."

The FCC is considering some revisions to a draft order on one-touch, make-ready and other pole-attachment policies aimed at facilitating broadband deployment, an informed source said Wednesday. Commissioners are looking at making "tweaks" on "details" in response to a "laundry list" of industry requests, but the main parts of the combined OTMR/pole draft order and declaratory ruling against state and local moratoria are expected to stick, the person said. "It wouldn't surprise me if there are tweaks," said an FCC official, noting heavy lobbying on the 102-page draft (see 1807300040 and 1807260036). Other commission officials didn't comment.

The FCC is considering some revisions to a draft order on one-touch, make-ready and other pole-attachment policies aimed at facilitating broadband deployment, an informed source said Wednesday. Commissioners are looking at making "tweaks" on "details" in response to a "laundry list" of industry requests, but the main parts of the combined OTMR/pole draft order and declaratory ruling against state and local moratoria are expected to stick, the person said. "It wouldn't surprise me if there are tweaks," said an FCC official, noting heavy lobbying on the 102-page draft (see 1807300040 and 1807260036). Other commission officials didn't comment.

Incumbent interests pressed the FCC to revise aspects of a draft order on one-touch, make-ready and other pole-attachment changes aimed at facilitating broadband deployment. Filings posted Monday and late last week in docket 17-84 on final lobbying (see 1807260036) show electric utilities objected to the draft's proposed communications "self-help" remedies in the power space at the top of poles; cable sought to bolster the rights of existing attachers in the lower-down communications space; ILECs sought expanded application of a draft presumption to lower the attachment rates they pay pole owners; and the Communications Workers of America pushed for changes to uphold the safety and jobs of union members. New entrants remained supportive of the FCC direction as it prepares for a planned vote on the draft at commissioners' Thursday meeting.