Terms governing access to sensitive information in the FCC investigation into South Dakota Network access tariff revisions are in a Wireline Bureau protective order Wednesday in docket 18-100.

The National Multifamily Housing Council lobbied FCC leadership, calling the apartment industry "very competitive," with "owners keenly aware" of the need to provide modern communications services for residents. "This debate is really about whether the commission should help a handful of potential competitors carve up the high end of the market," said NMHC on meetings with Chairman Ajit Pai, Brendan Carr, Jessica Rosenworcel and aides, posted Tuesday in docket 17-91 (here, here and here). "Providers control the market. There is a lack of competition in the market today, but it is in the smaller, less lucrative buildings that competitive providers choose not to serve." NMHC backed a petition to pre-empt a San Francisco code that requires multi-tenant buildings let occupants request access to competing providers (see 1612150006). It opposed further FCC steps toward regulation from a multiple tenant environment inquiry (see 1706220036) and Article 8 of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee's proposed Model State Act (see 1807270020), which it said "would force the rental apartment industry to subsidize" broadband deployment. In a USTelecom forbearance proceeding, Incompas pressed the FCC to keep discounted wholesale unbundled network elements, which it said facilitate fiber networks that assist 5G. An enhanced satellite image of San Francisco showing fiber deployments by Zayo in business districts and Sonic Telecom in residential areas -- with Sonic crediting UNEs "as a stepping stone" -- illustrates the potential for competitive "fiber rich networks for fronthauling of small cells in residential areas," wrote Incompas on meeting a Pai aide, in docket 18-141.

NTCA backs using "any or all of the three generally accepted" geolocation methods cited by Universal Service Administrative Co. for identifying actual locations to be served Connect America Fund Phase II auction winners. "To the extent there are other verifiable, proven methods, such as 911 data created by local or state authorities, NCTA supports allowing" their use, though they "must be derived from a well-established third-party resource, evidentiary based, and auditable," said its reply, posted Tuesday in docket 10-90. Calling initial comments "divided" on how to resolve location discrepancies, NTCA said that regardless of method, all locations "should ultimately be entered" into USAC's high-cost universal broadband portal. Replies were posted through Wednesday. The Wireless ISP Association said "the views of numerous commenters -- on topics including the need for flexibility in participant selection of location data methodologies; correctly defining 'relevant stakeholders;' and extending the timeframe for participants to reply to stakeholder challenges -- echoed" its comments. GeoLinks urged a flexible approach and backed commenters asking the FCC "not to require CAF II recipients to include prospective developments into the definition of 'actual location.'" It agreed with WISPA that recipients should be allowed to do so if they "provide information to show that specific prospective locations are more likely than not to be constructed and inhabited within the six-year buildout."

Lifeline national verifier application programming interfaces would ease consumer enrollments, said Judson Hill, adviser to TrueConnect and Telrite and ex-state senator in Georgia. Absent APIs, potential Lifeline users "must learn and self-navigate the eligibility verification process without assistance before then repeating the same process with a Carrier, often through an independent sales agent, who must collect the same information and again verify eligibility," he wrote on a meeting with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Commissioner Brendan Carr and aides, posted Tuesday in docket 17-287. "This process creates more opportunities for fraud and abuse" and may be so challenging that it discourages "many otherwise eligible people" from enrolling. Hill suggested "conduct-based requirements" for Lifeline resellers, rather than the FCC's proposed ban, "plus more accountability for independent sales agents." The National Lifeline Association pressed Wireline Bureau staffers on ordering Universal Service Administrative Co. to implement a verifier API and to secure access to eligibility databases before hard launches in states. It urged FCC reconsideration of USAC's current verification process coinciding with state launches, which otherwise "will result in the de-enrollment of millions of eligible subscribers from an already shrinking Lifeline program." It opposed the proposed reseller ban and said the FCC should reverse a scheduled phaseout of support for "essential voice service" beginning Dec. 1, 2019. Also meeting with staffers, CTIA discussed possible API deployment that can "enable efficient verification for eligible low-income consumers and safeguard program integrity."

Viasat said its broadband satellite service must meet "stringent" FCC criteria, defending the $122 million of Connect America Fund Phase II support it won at auction. Satellite CAF II recipients must "offer a service tier and pricing that they otherwise do not offer in the marketplace, including a usage allowance that is expected to increase," responded Chris Murphy, associate general counsel-regulatory affairs, to Windstream criticism (see 1811080031). "A core reason satellite providers have been given the opportunity to participate in CAF-II -- and have committed to offer high-quality broadband to the hardest-to-reach places in the U.S. -- is because incumbent [telcos] declined to take even more support from the FCC."

GCI Communications asked the FCC to reverse a Wireline Bureau reduction in its USF Rural Health Care Program support by 26 percent to $77.8 million for FY 2017 (see 1810110062). The decision "prescribes rates $28 million below those determined through competitive bidding in a competitive market -- which were also in line with commercial rates for comparable services, and supported by GCI cost studies -- and imposes an unstated methodology for FY2018 and FY2019," said an application for review posted Tuesday in docket 17-310, after GCI criticism of the cut (see 1810120057). Absent full commission review, the bureau order "will have dramatic and far-reaching consequences" for the RHC program, said the application. "The FCC has been a steadfast partner" in efforts to improve rural service, "which is why the abrupt reduction was so unexpected and puzzling," said GCI General Counsel Tina Pidgeon, calling the bureau decision "a disincentive" to Alaska carrier investment.

The Florida Public Service Commission pressed the FCC to take "necessary actions" before transferring oversight of IP captioned telephone service to state telecom relay service programs. "Provide detailed cost information regarding IP CTS usage by state and address existing waste and abuse," recommended the FPSC, posted Friday in docket 13-24. "Provide sufficient transition time, which would be necessary for Florida to consider state statutory revisions and implement a sufficient funding mechanism." Provider ClearCaptions sought "alternatives for compensation rates for IP CTS currently being considered" under a Further NPRM, in a meeting with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The company proposes a "multi-tiered rate structure to compensate IP CTS providers in lieu of rate proposals offering a single rate for all." It met Commissioner Brendan Carr and aides to Commissioners Mike O'Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel, and with Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Chief Patrick Webre.

The FCC launched an investigation into lawfulness of tariff revisions Aureon (Iowa Network Access Division) filed Sept. 24 (transmittal 38), focusing on cost support. Aureon's direct case is due Nov. 28, oppositions Dec. 5, rebuttal Dec. 12, said a Wireline Bureau order Friday in docket 18-60. Issues for investigation: "(1) whether the increase in Aureon’s central office switching equipment investment in Transmittal No. 38 as compared to Aureon’s February 2018 tariff filing (Transmittal No. 36) represents investment that is used and useful in Aureon’s provision of regulated interstate service; and (2) whether the annual network lease expense of $4,299,4274 (Filed Lease Expense) complies with the Commission’s affiliate transaction rules."

ATN International urged the FCC to give subsidiary Viya Stage 2 fixed-service USF support for improving storm-damaged broadband and voice service in U.S. Virgin Islands. It's the only ILEC "charged with serving the USVI in its entirety as the carrier of last resort, and the sole operator of a Territory-wide wireline broadband network," filed ATN on a meeting Wireline Bureau staffers, posted Thursday in docket 18-143. ATN noted "enormous differences between the USVI and Puerto Rico markets." It said Viya has restored services to all locations it served on its hybrid fiber-coaxial network before the 2017 hurricanes, with FCC Stage 1 fixed support (see 1808080011) covering $6.9 million of its $80 million in recovery costs. Viya needs "sufficient and stable" USF support and has deferred decisions on further hardening and extending its network, pending the FCC outcome. Competitors oppose allocating $186.5 million in USVI Stage 2 fixed support to Viya (see 1808090021).

A USTelecom, ITTA and Wireless ISP Association petition for reconsideration of FCC staff-imposed broadband performance testing duties on Connect America Fund recipients (see 1809200035) got support from AT&T, Midcontinent Communications and Alaska Communications, plus some rural opposition. "Many of the Bureaus’ performance measurement decisions are counterproductive ... and were not subject to notice and comment," said AT&T, as comments were posted Wednesday and Thursday in docket 10-90. It urged the Wireline and Wireless bureaus and Office of Engineering and Technology to clarify CAF recipients may test to the nearest internet access point, and to harmonize latency and speed testing requirements and compliance. Midcontinent supported the entire petition, while Alaska Communications particularly backed requests that "speed testing should measure compliance only with the applicable minimum CAF-required speed" and for "reconsideration of the decision to exclude speed test results that substantially exceed the 'advertised speed.'" NTCA, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Utilities Technology Council supported reducing some burdens, but not "changes that would reduce the rigor with which latency standards are ensured." They believe the order met Administrative Procedure Act notice requirements. ITTA backed NTCA and WTA applications for review to postpone the scheduled Q3 2019 launch of carrier testing. Adtran opposed a Hughes Network Systems recon petition and Hughes opposed a Viasat petition.