Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, told us Thursday he believes he and the FCC are getting close to a solution on his USF Rural Health Care Program concerns that will allow him to lift his hold on Senate confirmation of Commissioner Brendan Carr to a full five-year term, but “we're still working through” that process. Sullivan made similar comments last week (see 1812050050). Sullivan went public with his hold in September and noted progress on his RHCP concerns after a November meeting with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (see 1811160043). The hold on Carr delayed confirmation of Democratic FCC nominee Geoffrey Starks via pairing (see 1809130059). Sullivan cited the FCC's Wednesday adoption of an order to offer rural telcos more USF support in exchange for deploying more 25/3 Mbps broadband (see 1812120039) as a sign of further progress toward resolving his concerns. “The goal” remains to reach a final resolution on RHCP improvements before the Senate adjourns later this month, but there's no guarantee that will happen, he said. The Senate is expected to be in session at least next week to deal with FY 2019 federal spending legislation, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., threatened to keep the chamber in session during Christmas week “if necessary” to handle other agenda items.
The Department of Agriculture opened its $600 million rural e-connectivity loan and grant pilot ReConnect Program Thursday, including an online portal for the program. Congress appropriated funding for the pilot in the FY 2018 omnibus federal spending bill (see 1803230038). The department said its Rural Development division will be the primary agency in charge of the program, with assistance from other federal partners. USDA set out details in a notice for Friday's Federal Register. $200 million of the appropriated funds will go toward grants, $200 million to loan and grant combinations and $200 million for low-interest loans. Grant applications are due April 29, loan-grant combination applications are due May 29 and loan applications are due June 28, the department said. The department will begin accepting applications early next year, starting no later than the "second or third week of February," said Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue during an event announcing the program's rules and application schedule. The ReConnect Program, in conjunction with Rural Utilities Service broadband language in the farm bill Congress passed this week (see 1812120053), will go “hand in hand” to improve Agriculture's ability to improve rural broadband connectivity, Perdue said. “Our goal is to … open up the opportunity for transformative connectivity” in rural areas. Approved projects will be allowed to serve only rural communities of fewer than 20,000 people and that currently have either no broadband service or services with a maximum of 20/2 Mbps, Agriculture said. Projects must create a minimum 25/3 Mbps service. The department said it's prioritizing projects that will connect rural homes, agriculture production facilities, e-commerce, healthcare and educational institutions. It's "dedicated to spurring broadband deployment and investment in the areas that need it most,” said White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios in a statement. “We can’t allow rural America to fall behind.” NTIA “looks forward to providing technical assistance to potential applicants,” said Administrator David Redl. “NTIA’s BroadbandUSA team has extensive experience working in the telecommunications industry, building broadband networks and consulting with service providers and local governments.” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said the program and similar initiatives “can help us close the digital divide." She "will continue to push for similar resources” in future bills. NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield praised the launch. The program and the farm bill's broadband provisions “highlight a much-needed shift in federal policy to make rural broadband a possibility for the estimated 23 million Americans who lack it,” said National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson.
House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., told us he's operating under the view that the legislative deadline for the discharge petition to force a floor vote on his Congressional Review Act resolution to undo FCC rescission of 2015 net neutrality rules is Dec. 17 rather than the previous Monday because of the extended congressional session (see 1812100049). “We still have more time” to get the minimum of 218 signatures needed to put the discharge petition into effect, Doyle said. He noted two more House Democrats had signed on -- Frederica Wilson of Florida and Susan Wild of Pennsylvania.
Much attention during Tuesday's House Communications Subcommittee hearing on implementation of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization and spectrum statute focused on language to aid the broadcast incentive auction repacking process, as expected (see 1812070040). Industry witnesses praised the act and highlighted areas where additional Capitol Hill action may be needed to improve implementation, also as expected (see 1812100049). The FCC also got implementation comments (see 1812110025).
Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told us Monday night he's abandoning plans for an amendment to FY 2019 federal spending legislation that would force the FCC to revisit its Mobility Fund phase II broadband-service coverage data (see 1812050049). Wicker cited the FCC's decision last week to investigate if top wireless carriers submitted incorrect coverage maps in violation of MF II rules (see 1812070048). Longstanding concerns about the FCC's broadband mapping tactics “would be moot” given the new investigation, Wicker said. “I don't think the [MF-II] auction will proceed any time soon based on the investigation that's going to be required.”
Industry witnesses at a Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing will laud the passage and ongoing implementation of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization and spectrum statute, in written testimony. They will outline additional legislative measures for consideration in the 116th Congress. The House Communications hearing is expected to emphasize the statute's language to aid the broadcast incentive auction repacking process. Lawmakers are likely to again raise concerns about the FCC's broadband coverage data mapping practices (see 1812070040). The hearing begins at 2 p.m. in Rayburn 2322.
Supporters and opponents of a Congressional Review Act resolution to undo FCC rescission of 2015 net neutrality rules are disputing whether Monday was the last legislative day to get the minimum of 218 signatures on a discharge petition to force a House floor vote on the CRA measure. Democrats who favored the CRA push, meanwhile, lauded reports the FBI launched an investigation into the alleged fake comments submitted in the lead-up to commissioner's vote on the rescission order. New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood (D) is also conducting a probe (see 1810160071).
A Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing on implementation of the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (Ray Baum's) Act FCC reauthorization and spectrum statute is expected to emphasize the law's language to aid the broadcast incentive auction repacking process. The hearing also will likely be an opportunity for House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., to showcase the act as the committee's top telecom policy achievement this Congress, before the end of the GOP majority in the chamber, lawmakers and communications lobbyists said. The act's language was included in the FY 2018 federal spending law (see 1803230038).
The House and Senate Commerce committees are likely to make the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization debate and further work on spectrum and broadband-centric legislation some of their top 2019 priorities, said telecom aides during a Thursday Practising Law Institute event. Aides also cited interest in continuing to talk about net neutrality policy next Congress. Lawmakers and communications lobbyists we recently interviewed were skeptical of progress on a net neutrality compromise given the upcoming shift to split partisan control of Congress (see 1811290042). FCC Commissioners Mike O'Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel meanwhile told PLI the commission shouldn't be cautious in pursuing policies to keep the U.S. competitive (see 1812060056).
Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told us Wednesday he's “close to getting a consensus” on a proposed amendment to FY 2019 federal spending legislation that would force the FCC to revisit its Mobility Fund phase II broadband-service coverage data. He's waiting “for sign-off” from enough fellow lawmakers to allow it to advance. “We want to prohibit [the FCC] from distributing” $4.5 billion in MF-II funding “based on their flawed map,” said Wicker, likely the next Senate Commerce Committee chairman. He repeatedly has criticized the FCC's broadband mapping tactics this year (see 1810040055). “Everybody, including” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai “knows that the map is far from accurate,” Wicker said. “So far from accurate that we don't even need to head down that road.” Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., another critic of the FCC's mapping practices, “would certainly be interested in addressing this issue during the appropriations process,” a spokesperson said. Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., members of Commerce and the Appropriations Committee, are also looking at Wicker's proposal, aides said. The MF-II data challenge process recently ended (see 1811270051).