NCTA defended its "Accelerated and Safe Access to Poles" plan against criticism from Google Fiber and Verizon (see 1803060030 and 1803140060). "The ASAP Proposal is a balanced, comprehensive proposal that meets the Commission’s goal of accelerating the process by which broadband providers are able to attach to utility poles in a manner that reflects the legitimate interests of all parties," said the cable group's filing Wednesday in docket 17-84. "Google advocates a regime in which a new attacher would have near total control over the network facilities of existing attachers with no obligation to take serious responsibility for its actions. And Verizon simply appears resistant to any changes that would require it to process applications more quickly." Verizon replied by email: “There’s a growing consensus that a real one touch make ready approach would go far in spurring broadband deployment. NCTA has been consistent in its efforts to fight this approach and maintain the existing levers to delay or prevent competitive deployment. We hope the FCC will see these efforts for what they are.” Google didn't comment. An Incompas filing Thursday on a meeting with Wireline Bureau officials voiced support for the one-touch, make-ready proposals of the FCC's Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee.

Frontier Communications promotes AJ Burton to vice president-federal regulatory affairs, succeeding Mike Saperstein, hired (see 1803220014) by USTelecom, effective April 9 ... FirstNet Association begins, led by Al Gillespie, past president, International Association of Fire Chiefs; Ray Flynn, retired assistant sheriff, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; and Richard Mirgon, past president, APCO ... StreamSearch Live hires Marty Lafferty, ex-Telecommunications Industry Association, as chief content officer ... Ex-aide to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Denzel Singletary hired by eBay, joins Government Relations team to lead Small Business Ambassador Network.

StreamSearch Live hires Marty Lafferty, ex-Telecommunications Industry Association, as chief content officer ... Ex-aide to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Denzel Singletary hired by eBay, joins Government Relations team to lead Small Business Ambassador Network ... Riverbed Technology moves Paul Mountford to CEO, succeeding Jerry Kennelly, who co-founded the company and now retiring ... Appointments at ShelterZoom creator of blockchain real estate transaction products include Dmitry Goroshevsky, co-founder of blockchain projects, as chief architect and Donna Oliva, who co-founded w-Technologies with ShelterZoom Technical Adviser Sergey Fradkov, to general counsel.

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Wednesday urged the FCC to postpone a vote on wireless infrastructure rules, slated for Thursday. The draft order, developed by Commissioner Brendan Carr, faced criticism from tribal groups concerned about the consultation process and groups representing local governments. With snow still falling in Washington on Wednesday, the FCC said the meeting is to start at 9:30 a.m., unless the Office of Personnel Management delays the opening of the federal government, in which case it will start at 11:30 a.m.

Challengers to the FCC net neutrality repeal order remained quiet on plans immediately after a court lottery Thursday chose the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the case. Representatives of several of the parties that filed petitions for review in the D.C. Circuit declined to comment or didn't respond to our queries about whether they will seek to have the case transferred to the D.C. Circuit. After the FCC notified the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation there were 10 timely petitions in the D.C. Circuit and two in the 9th Circuit, a panel order said the 9th Circuit was "randomly selected" to review the consolidated case (see 1803080055). The two in the 9th Circuit were filed by the California Public Utilities Commission and Santa Clara County, California. The litigation timetable will likely depend on which circuit hears the case, said Markham Erickson, a Steptoe & Johnson attorney, speaking at an Incompas conference Feb. 7 (see 1802070037). The D.C. Circuit generally can decide cases within a year, but the 9th Circuit could take up to a couple of years, he suggested. Erickson is representing Mozilla in the net neutrality litigation and also represents Incompas.

Challengers to the FCC net neutrality repeal order remained quiet on plans immediately after a court lottery Thursday chose the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the case. Representatives of several of the parties that filed petitions for review in the D.C. Circuit declined to comment or didn't respond to our queries about whether they will seek to have the case transferred to the D.C. Circuit. After the FCC notified the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation there were 10 timely petitions in the D.C. Circuit and two in the 9th Circuit, a panel order said the 9th Circuit was "randomly selected" to review the consolidated case (see 1803080055). The two in the 9th Circuit were filed by the California Public Utilities Commission and Santa Clara County, California. The litigation timetable will likely depend on which circuit hears the case, said Markham Erickson, a Steptoe & Johnson attorney, speaking at an Incompas conference Feb. 7 (see 1802070037). The D.C. Circuit generally can decide cases within a year, but the 9th Circuit could take up to a couple of years, he suggested. Erickson is representing Mozilla in the net neutrality litigation and also represents Incompas.

Parties opposed an FCC plan to retarget Lifeline USF to facilities-based providers and impose certain other funding restrictions, in comments being posted this week in docket 17-287 on an NPRM and notice of inquiry (see 1711160021). "This package of proposals runs the risk of harming over eight million Lifeline households and millions more eligible veterans, older Americans, and households with school-aged children,” said Olivia Wein, National Consumer Law Center attorney, in a release Wednesday highlighting NCLC comments filed with many other groups. The FCC plan "to restrict and reduce Lifeline services will cut off whole communities from these necessary connections," commented the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, urging rejection of "proposals to radically disrupt the Lifeline program."

Parties opposed an FCC plan to retarget Lifeline USF to facilities-based providers and impose certain other funding restrictions, in comments being posted this week in docket 17-287 on an NPRM and notice of inquiry (see 1711160021). "This package of proposals runs the risk of harming over eight million Lifeline households and millions more eligible veterans, older Americans, and households with school-aged children,” said Olivia Wein, National Consumer Law Center attorney, in a release Wednesday highlighting NCLC comments filed with many other groups. The FCC plan "to restrict and reduce Lifeline services will cut off whole communities from these necessary connections," commented the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, urging rejection of "proposals to radically disrupt the Lifeline program."

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., bucked the FCC's order to rescind its 2015 net neutrality rules and congressional Democrats' planned Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval aimed at undoing the FCC action, saying at an Incompas event Wednesday his planned 21st Century Internet Act is aimed at reaching a bipartisan compromise. Coffman was one of the few congressional Republicans who urged FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to delay the commission's December vote on rescission of the 2015 rules (see 1712120037). Coffman began teasing his legislative plans soon after the December vote (see 1712140044). He told us Tuesday he's aiming to file the bill by late this month.

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., bucked the FCC's order to rescind its 2015 net neutrality rules and congressional Democrats' planned Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval aimed at undoing the FCC action, saying at an Incompas event Wednesday his planned 21st Century Internet Act is aimed at reaching a bipartisan compromise. Coffman was one of the few congressional Republicans who urged FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to delay the commission's December vote on rescission of the 2015 rules (see 1712120037). Coffman began teasing his legislative plans soon after the December vote (see 1712140044). He told us Tuesday he's aiming to file the bill by late this month.