The FCC Wireline Bureau approved rate-of-return Alaska Plan recipient Arctic Slope Telephone Cooperative's (ASTAC) revised performance plan Tuesday. The bureau approved revised obligations on the minimum number of locations to be reported through the high-cost universal broadband portal at the five and 10-year service milestones, said a public notice in docket 16-271. ASTAC said it was able to "negotiate access to fiber middle mile capacity at a lower rate" and "move service in Atqasuk from satellite to fiber middle mile."
An FCC order establishing a data collection for the affordable connectivity program takes effect Feb. 13, said a notice for Friday's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the item in November (see 2211230074).
The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau wants comments by Feb. 13, replies by Feb. 28, on Sorenson Communications' petition for a limited waiver of video relay service privacy screen rules. Sorenson sought a waiver to allow providers to "pilot integration of VRS with video conferencing services," said a public notice Thursday in docket 03-123.
The FCC robocall response team sent cease-and-desist letters to two providers about apparent illegal robocall traffic, said a news release Wednesday. SIPphony received a letter directing it to address apparent student loan robocalls. Vultik received a letter on apparent online shopping and student loan robocalls. "We will continue to use every tool we have to go after this fraud and stop the bad actors responsible for these calls in their tracks," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel (see 2202170039).
The Alaska Telecom Association raised concerns about low earth orbit services' impact on middle-mile services in a meeting with FCC Wireline and Wireless Bureau staff, per an ex parte posted Friday in docket 16-271. The group said its member OneWeb's constellation in Alaska's northern region doesn't have additional capacity and its service is "unlikely to meet the performance testing requirements applicable to the Alaska Plan." ATA noted Starlink's service in the state is "offered exclusively as a retail consumer service and is not available to carriers as middle mile transport." The group's members are adopting LEO services "where capacity, performance, and cost allow" and are pursuing opportunities to "construct and access terrestrial middle mile wherever economically possible."
The National Tribal Telecommunications Association backed a petition for rulemaking filed by the Alaska Remote Carrier Coalition that would address the middle-mile transport expenses in "ultra-high" cost areas of Alaska, in comments posted Friday in docket RM-11938. The proposed Alaska middle-mile expense support plan would assist carriers participating in the Alaska Plan, Alternative Connect America Model and the Connect America Fund Phase II programs. NTTA asked the FCC to consider expanding eligibility beyond those covered in the petition, noting that middle-mile costs aren't supported "in any way by federal or state universal service programs" for many providers and are "essentially treated as 'non regulated' costs to be borne by the unregulated internet service provider."
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended by 45 days the reply comment deadline on an NPRM on refunds and telecom relay access for inmate calling services (see 2212160061). A coalition of consumer advocacy organizations sought an extension. Replies are now due by March 3 in docket 12-375, said an order Thursday.
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended by 12 days the deadline to submit reply comments to a notice of inquiry on caller ID authentication for non-IP networks (see 2212130065). The Cloud Communications Alliance, NCTA, NTCA, USTelecom, Voice on the Net Coalition and WTA sought an extension. Replies are now due Jan. 23 in docket 17-97, said an order Thursday.
The FCC Wireline Bureau approved Core Communications' revised tariff refund plan for interstate access service charges to certain interexchange carriers, in an order Wednesday in docket 21-91. The bureau denied Verizon's request to reject the plan, noting the carrier made "no argument that Core’s Refund Plan would not adequately compensate carriers for excessive charges they incurred" (see 2207250055). Under the revised plan, Core lowered its monthly late-payment fee from 3% to 1.5% during the period of time at issue.
The FCC committed more than $34 million in additional Emergency Connectivity Fund support Wednesday to applicants from the third filing window. The new funding will support more than 250 schools, 15 libraries and two consortiums, said a news release. About $6.5 billion of the $7.1 billion program has been spent to date. "As we start the new year, we continue our work to make sure kids have the digital tools they need for after-school homework and connecting with teachers,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.