The proposed Q4 contribution factor for USF programs is 25 percent, the FCC Office of Managing Director announced in Friday's Daily Digest on docket 96-45. That's a record high (see 1909030010). The USF administrator projected 4Q demand of more than $2 billion for the Lifeline, E-rate subsidies to schools and libraries, rural healthcare and high-cost broadband support programs. If the FCC doesn't act on the OMD's proposal within 14 days of the public notice, it's deemed approved. The Free State Foundation wants the FCC and Congress "to look seriously at further meaningful reforms to increase the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the USF programs and to increase even further efforts to weed out waste, fraud and abuse," said President Randolph May in a statement Friday. He noted the USF surcharge was 7 percent in 4Q 2001,13 percent in 2010 and 17 percent in 2015.
The FCC authorized $112 million over a decade for broadband expansion to nearly 48,000 unserved rural homes and businesses in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin, the fifth wave of support from last year's USF Connect America Fund Phase II auction, said a public notice Thursday in docket 17-182. CAF II allocates nearly $1.5 billion over 10 years for broadband to 700,000-plus unserved rural homes and businesses (see 1807240062).
USTelecom urged 2020 presidential hopefuls Thursday to “commit to timely action” including on prioritizing broadband in “any national infrastructure plan” and “support federal legislation that puts an end to the constant regulatory back and forth about net neutrality.” The industry group released its proposal hours before the Democrats' presidential primary debate in Houston. Five of the remaining candidates propose broadband funding, though experts doubt such plans will have an appreciable effect in the general election (see 1909040061). Seventeen of the 21 Democratic hopefuls back restoring in some form the FCC's 2015 net neutrality rules. They should eschew support for restoring the 2015 rules and instead “champion and enact modern, enforceable national legislation to once and for all put consumers in control of their online experience,” USTelecom said. “Broadband companies have committed to honoring net neutrality. It’s time the most powerful social media, advertising, retail and search companies are required by law to do the same.” The group urged candidates to support policies aimed at ensuring U.S. leadership on 5G, anti-robocall and pro-FTC privacy bills and public-private partnerships to stay "one step ahead of cyberattacks.”
Half of all U.S. households will be passed by all-fiber networks by 2025, for 65.1 million households, up from 39.2 million this year, said the Fiber Broadband Association Tuesday. The FBA study by consulting firm Cartesian estimated it will cost $52 billion to reach 80 percent of households, and $18 billion more to reach 90 percent, by 2029.
The FCC Wireline Bureau posted its tariff review plan for exogenous cost filings that rate-of-return carriers are required to report for their business data services if they opt in to incentive regulation (see 1810230032), in a public notice in docket 19-47 Friday.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau proposed a $75,000 fine against AT&T Services for what appears to have been prohibited communications during a Connect America Fund phase II auction to provide voice and broadband to rural underserved parts of the country, it said Friday. The bureau said AT&T engaged in prohibited communications with AMG Technology Investment Group during Auction 903 and reported the communications to the FCC outside the required five-day reporting window. The bureau also proposed a $100,000 fine against AMG for repeated violations, it said Friday. The fine involves communications with AT&T Services, the parent of Auction 903 applicant New Cingular Wireless.
Comments are due Sept. 19, replies Sept. 26, on an application to the FCC Wireline Bureau from Polar Telcom for consent to acquire assets from MLGC, said a public notice Thursday in docket 19-234.
The Western Governors' Association noted its name includes an apostrophe (see 1908290035).
The FCC Wireline Bureau approved transfer of control of Chester Telephone, dba Tru-Vista Communications, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, to York Telecom Holdings, said a public notice in docket 19-139 and Thursday's Daily Digest. On Wednesday, DOJ withdrew its request to defer action on the companies' transfer of control application.
The FCC Wireline Bureau granted a request to transfer assets of Absaraka Cooperative Telephone to the Inter-Community Telephone, said a public notice in docket 19-164 and Thursday's Daily Digest.