Sprint and Verizon didn't satisfy the "heightened burden of proof" to warrant suspension or rejection of a recent tariff transmittal from Northern Valley Communications (see 2001100040), that telco replied, posted Tuesday in docket 20-11. Sprint's Jan. 3 petition to investigate posted that day.
Rate-of-return carriers receiving Connect America Fund broadband loop USF support must report geolocated broadband information and send deployment certifications to the Universal Service Administrative Co. by March 1, 2021, said an FCC Wireline Bureau public notice for docket 10-90 and Tuesday's Daily Digest. The deadline applies to locations for which 25/3 Mbps or higher has been deployed since May 25, 2016.
The FCC Wireline Bureau wants to clear from its docket December 2011 petitions on intercarrier compensation provisions that haven't received filings for years, said a public notice Tuesday on dockets including 10-90. Petitioners have 45 days after Federal Register publication to object. Staff will dismiss those petitions that receive no objections.
Consolidated Communications must pay Vermont $120,000 in penalties or commit to investing $150,000 in upgrading plant in rural areas this year to make up for service-quality problems, the Vermont Public Utility Commission ordered Monday in case 18-3231-PET. Consolidated failed to satisfy metrics for troubles not cleared in 24 hours, and it violated commission rules on bill credits, said the order. All three commissioners signed: Chairman Anthony Roisman and members Margaret Cheney and Sarah Hofmann. The agency noted public comments describing “poor quality of service, unreliable service, persistent service outages, long and unpredictable repair times for outages, deteriorating plant, and poor customer service.” The commission attributed the company’s performance to “inadequate staffing, failure to make sufficient plant upgrades, failure to conduct due diligence prior to its purchase of [FairPoint Communications], and weather-related events.” The PUC rejected the Vermont Department of Public Service recommendation to impose an automatic bill credit of $5 daily for troubles not cleared in 24 hours (see 1911220054), saying the commission has power to impose only penalties paid to the general fund. Consolidated didn't comment.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied a CarrierX emergency motion for stay, including an administrative stay, in Great Lakes Communication v. FCC. The denial (in Pacer) came Friday in case 19-1233 (see 1911200061). The D.C. Circuit ordered respondents to file responses to the emergency motion by noon Friday, replies by noon on Jan. 21.
The FCC Wireline and International bureaus granted applications to transfer control of Fusion Connect and its subsidiaries to Telecom Holdings (see 1910150031), said a public notice Friday in docket 19-262.
"Substantial questions regarding the lawfulness" of Northern Valley Communications' proposed tariff revisions after a recent access arbitrage order (see 1910250067) require "further investigation," said an FCC Wireless Bureau public notice Friday for docket 20-11. The bureau suspended the proposed revisions for one day and started an investigation. Sprint and Verizon petitioned for such, which Northern Valley opposed.
Comments are due Feb. 12, replies March 13 on FCC truth-in-billing rule updates, says Monday's Federal Register for docket 98-170. It proposes to extend the rules to providers of VoIP services and require carriers to separate government-mandated charges from other charges on phone bills. Also, rules take effect Feb. 12 on the Connect America Fund Phase II process for reviewing long-form applicants' defined deployment obligations on a state-by-state basis when actual locations in eligible areas are less than funded locations, says Monday's FR.
The Agriculture Department's Rural Utilities Service will spend $48 million to support rural Virginia broadband infrastructure through ReConnect pilot, it announced Thursday. Money to Wilkes Telephone should support more than 22,600 homes plus health and educational facilities.
CenturyLink will pay Minnesota $8.9 million to settle a July 2017 complaint alleging the company fraudulently overcharged customers since 2011. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) announced a consent judgment Wednesday at Anoka County District Court requiring CenturyLink to disclose true prices in advertisements, give consumers at time of sale an order confirmation with full summary of prices, end “sham internet fees,” and submit audits over the three years. “CenturyLink broke the law by fraudulently overbilling hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans and illegally raising” prices, Ellison said. In July 2017, then-CEO Glen Post called such allegations “unsettling” and contrary to company values (see 1707240068). “CenturyLink repeatedly obstructed the State’s attempts to uncover audits and information about customers the company defrauded,” the AG office said. “CenturyLink’s obstructive tactics required the Attorney General’s office to file and win three motions to compel and two motions for sanctions.” The carrier might have overbilled more than 300,000 Minnesota customers, the AG said. The AG coordinated investigations with counterparts, leading to similar settlements with Colorado, Oregon and Washington state, and other state AGs continue to investigate, Ellison’s office said. "While we disagree with the Attorney General’s position, we believe it is in the best interests of our company and our customers to amicably resolve these matters," emailed the telco's spokesperson. "CenturyLink has entered into a consent decree to settle disputed claims and avoid the distraction and costs of litigation."