The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction continues to get criticism about certain winning bidders’ ability to deliver broadband and the speeds they bid on (see 2101190069). One of the “biggest elephants in the room” has been whether fixed wireless providers can deliver the gigabit-tier service they bid on, IdeaTek Telecom Chief Innovation Officer Daniel Friesen told an Incompas event Tuesday: “We’re confused because we don’t see that the market has the type of scalable technology, especially in rural areas.” Friesen said it's surprising the full $16 billion from Phase I wasn't awarded. Even with potential market failures, the auction was an overall success, said Brian Regan, Starry vice president-legal, policy and strategy. There are “certainly issues” with FCC broadband data, and the money would have been better targeted if the maps were better, he said: “The FCC did the best it could with what it had.” It's important to see how broadband maps are used during Phase II of the auction, said Mammoth Networks CEO Brian Worthen. “What we don’t want to do is lock down a [census] block so that future funding in that area is not going to happen,” Worthen said. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks acknowledged earlier in the day that broadband mapping is a key part of ensuring unserved and underserved areas are covered. He expects quick action to complete new maps.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina confirmed Wednesday he will again seek $100 billion in broadband funding as part of coming infrastructure legislation, as expected (see 2011200056). The House Commerce Committee, meanwhile, proposed $7.6 billion in E-rate remote learning funding as part of its portion of the coming COVID-19 budget reconciliation measure. It’s bringing the bill up for a committee markup Thursday, also as expected (see 2102090079). Commerce Democrats’ decision to fast-track consideration of the measure drew committee Republicans' ire.

Reclassify broadband as a Communications Act Title II service, advocates urged the FCC in a petition for reconsideration in docket 17-108 Tuesday. Petitioners are Common Cause, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, United Church of Christ, National Hispanic Media Coalition, New America’s Open Technology Institute and Free Press. Santa Clara County, California, and its Central Fire Protection District also filed a petition, arguing the commission "wholly failed to consider public safety" when it repealed net neutrality. Incompas and Public Knowledge filed similar petitions in the past week (see 2102080061). The FCC didn't respond to a request for comment.

Reclassify broadband as a Communications Act Title II service, advocates urged the FCC in a petition for reconsideration in docket 17-108 Tuesday. Petitioners are Common Cause, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, United Church of Christ, National Hispanic Media Coalition, New America’s Open Technology Institute and Free Press. Santa Clara County, California, and its Central Fire Protection District also filed a petition, arguing the commission "wholly failed to consider public safety" when it repealed net neutrality. Incompas and Public Knowledge filed similar petitions in the past week (see 2102080061). The FCC didn't respond to a request for comment.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks' top priority for the next few weeks is ensuring as many people as possible can access the $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program. He told Incompas Tuesday it could reach more low-income households and communities of color than any other program to help close the digital divide (see 2102090079). It's important to broadly publicize the program and encourage ISPs to participate, he added.

House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., hoped the COVID-19 aid package Democrats are aiming to pass via budget reconciliation includes additional E-rate funding. Pallone emphasized during an Incompas event the committee’s part of the pandemic bill, which it intends to mark up Thursday, is unlikely to address other telecom matters. More broadband money is almost certain to make it into additional economic aid measures and an infrastructure bill targeted for later this year, Pallone said.

Reconsider net neutrality rules, Public Knowledge petitioned for FCC reconsideration Monday. Incompas filed similar last week (see 2102050042). The commission "failed to follow proper procedure" when it issued a public notice to "refresh" the record rather than adopt an NPRM, PK argued. "In its rush to get its deregulatory orders out the door, the commission cut many procedural corners," said Kathleen Burke, PK policy counsel, in a statement: "This alone provides ground for the FCC to reopen and reverse its previous determinations."

Reconsider net neutrality rules, Public Knowledge petitioned for FCC reconsideration Monday. Incompas filed similar last week (see 2102050042). The commission "failed to follow proper procedure" when it issued a public notice to "refresh" the record rather than adopt an NPRM, PK argued. "In its rush to get its deregulatory orders out the door, the commission cut many procedural corners," said Kathleen Burke, PK policy counsel, in a statement: "This alone provides ground for the FCC to reopen and reverse its previous determinations."

Adopting final service rules for the 12 GHz band will probably take the FCC at least 18 months, with more engineering and other study needed, experts said Monday during an Incompas webinar. Commissioners approved an NPRM 5-0 in January (see 2101130067) at the last meeting under then-Chairman Ajit Pai. Experts said comments will help the FCC decide what action to take.

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and others cited the 25th anniversary Monday of the Telecom Act’s signing as a jumping-off point for a range of communications and tech policy proposals for this year, including the need for more broadband funding in coming legislation. Some noted the importance of the ongoing debate over revamping Communications Decency Act Section 230, enacted as part of the 1996 law.