Consumers’ Research and other conservative interests are once again asking the FCC to zero out the USF contribution factor, this time for Q3 2025. The group filed the day after the FCC Office of Managing Director proposed a contribution factor of 36% for Q3 (see 2506110058). The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in coming days on an appeal of a 5th Circuit en banc decision last summer, which found that the USF contribution factor is a "misbegotten tax.” Justices heard oral argument in that case in March (see 2503260061).
NCTA urged the FCC to convene an industry working group to coordinate a process for completing the IP transition. “Since 2004, the Commission consistently has recognized the importance of transitioning voice networks to IP technology,” said a filing posted this week (docket 21-479). “While significant progress has been made over the last two decades, the IP transition has stalled, with no clear target date for all networks in the United States to fully operate in an IP environment.”
The FCC Wireline Bureau announced revised deadlines Thursday for comment on a Talton petition seeking a waiver of the commission’s rules capping the rates for audio and video for incarcerated people provided to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Initial comments are now due July 2, replies July 12, and must refer to dockets 23-62 and 12-375. The bureau last month suspended “indefinitely” comment deadlines following objections that Talton hadn’t provided the data that other parties need to formulate comments (see 2505070057). The bureau said only that the deadline was suspended so that the agency could consider the complaints.
The FCC Wireline Bureau on Wednesday asked for a record refresh following up on a March 2020 NPRM (see 2003310039). Comment deadlines will come in a Federal Register notice. The bureau also asked whether “any market consolidation affected parties’ positions on the questions in the Notice,” which is part of the FCC’s efforts to “eliminate outdated and unnecessary regulations.”
NTIA and State Department representatives met with FCC staff to talk about tweaking the language regarding international waters in the commission's open proceeding on rewriting submarine cable rules. In a docket 24-524 filing posted Wednesday, NTIA said State clarified the language that it recommended instead of "international waters," since that isn't a term that has meaning under the international law of the sea. The FCC adopted the subsea cable NPRM unanimously in November (see 2411210006).
The FCC Office of Managing Director announced that the proposed universal service contribution factor for Q3 2025 will be 0.360, or 36%. That’s slightly higher than analyst Billy Jack Gregg's projection of 35% (see 2505060009). The proposed rate is based on overall demand of $2.2 billion, with a contribution requirement of $2.1 billion.
Ripple Fiber, a fiber-optic network builder and operator headquartered in Charlotte agreed to buy fellow North Carolina-based BridgeNet Fiber. “BridgeNET will continue to operate the market and will be empowered with the capital and a toolset to support rapid expansion,” Ripple Fiber said Tuesday. “This transaction embodies a new approach to augment Ripple Fiber’s expansion strategy, creating partnerships with entrepreneurs and network owner-operators across the country that intentionally mirror Ripple Fiber’s ethos.” Financial terms weren't announced.
Comments are due June 25 in docket 25-191 on Consolidated Communications’ request to discontinue legacy voice and DSL services in portions of Wexford, Pennsylvania, said a public notice posted Tuesday. The company needs to discontinue service because of a vehicle collision with its loop splitter cabinet, the application said. “Specifically, the damaged cabinet and power pedestal are located in a residential area and a recent power outage revealed that powering the cabinet with a standby generator is dangerous because of the damage to the power pedestal.” The legacy service will be replaced by “modern, fiber-based voice and broadband services,” the application said.
The FCC received both support and additional questions in response to a public notice on the telecommunications relay services (TRS) fund administrator’s latest proposed provider compensation formulas and funding requirements (see 2505220039). Comments were due Friday in docket 03-123. The proposed formulas would apply starting July 1 and run through June 30, 2026.
The FCC Wireline Bureau has denied TuCel Puerto Rico’s appeal of a Universal Service Administrative Co. decision to recover Emergency Broadband Benefit funds from the provider, said an order Friday. TuCel initially appealed the matter to USAC but requested a bureau review once that appeal was denied. “We find that USAC properly determined that TuCel improperly enrolled subscribers through an unapproved verification process without confirming their eligibility,” the order said. “We deny TuCel’s appeal and will continue the recovery action against TuCel.”