A final order on rules for an upcoming auction of more than 17,000 numbers in the recently opened 833 toll-free code had no major changes from the draft order circulated three weeks earlier, based on a side-by-side comparison. Commissioners approved the rules 5-0 last week (see 1908010011). Only Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Mike O’Rielly had written statements. “The 833 Auction will serve as an experiment in using competitive bidding to assign toll free numbers equitably and efficiently,” Pai said in an attachment to the docket 19-101 final order: “These procedures will promote the transparency and efficiency of the 833 Auction and reduce the potential for conflicts of interest and anticompetitive strategic behavior by participants.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an unopposed order (in Pacer) in Irregulators v FCC (case 19-1085) granting a joint motion to modify the briefing schedule, with a respondents' brief now due Sept. 12 and final briefs due Oct. 31 (see 1907220051). The court also allows the National Exchange Carrier Association and NTCA to file amicus briefs in support of the respondents.
The FCC will hold a tribal workshop Aug. 20-21 focused on broadband, telecommunications and broadcast infrastructure and services in tribal communities. The Billings, Montana, event will include representatives from the Agriculture Department, FirstNet and the Universal Service Administrative Co.
Verizon received 140,341 demands for customer data from law enforcement in the U.S. during the first half of 2019, compared with 139,659 requests in the second half of 2018, the company said in a transparency report Wednesday (see 1901300046). That includes 68,192 subpoenas, 13,870 warrants and 30,365 emergency requests, it said. Verizon also tracks national security letters and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act orders. It received "between 0 and 499" NSLs from the FBI in the first half of 2019, and "between 0 and 499" FISA orders for content from the second half of 2018. The federal government requires a six-month delay on reporting data on FISA orders, Verizon said.
U.S. broadband providers invested about $80 billion in network infrastructure in 2018, according to research and analysis published by USTelecom Wednesday. Since 1996, the industry, including wireline, cable and wireless providers, made capital investments totaling more than $1.7 trillion, it said. The trade group also said Wednesday that USTelecom, ITTA and Wireless ISP Association completed the initial phase of their broadband mapping initiative showing "serious discrepancies" with a current data collection approach "that relies on existing census block level data" to determine which areas of the country are unserved with high-speed broadband. The FCC is to address broadband mapping and a proposed $20.4 million Rural Digital Opportunity Fund at Thursday's meeting.
Comments are due Aug. 28 at the FCC on a new matching program to help verify USF Lifeline eligibility of applicants and subscribers, said a notice in the Federal Register Monday. The National Verifier program launch was criticized because much of the data hasn't been widely available through an accessible, national database (see 1907080009). The FCC, Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services matching program is to begin Aug. 28 "unless written comments are received that require a contrary determination," and to end Jan. 29, 2021.
The FCC and the Irregulators filed a joint motion Tuesday (posted in Pacer) asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to delay briefings in their case by one week to Sept. 12, modify a petitioner's reply brief deadline by two weeks to Oct. 10, and adjust remaining filing deadlines, including final briefs to Oct. 31 (see 1907220051).
DOJ selected AT&T to provide communications technology, with an award through the General Services Administration’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions technology procurement program. The total value is about $984 million over 15 year, AT&T said Monday. “Through this award, the DOJ will transition to a next-generation communications platform supporting more than 120,000 employees across more than 2,100 locations,” AT&T said. “The fully managed solution includes a breadth of networking capabilities, including IP voice, data, security, cloud access and professional services. This will serve as a catalyst for the DOJ’s long-term technology priorities.”
Comments are due Aug. 29, replies Sept. 30 for an FCC NPRM on a USF pilot program to support connected care for low-income Americans and veterans, says a notice for Tuesday's Federal Register and on docket 18-213. The three-year, $100 million program received broad support (see 1907100073).
California's Education Department opposes FCC-proposed USF changes (see 1905310069), saying a single funding cap would “not facilitate greater broadband access, promote operational efficiencies, or otherwise serve the public interest.” Establishing a single cap for E-rate and rural healthcare would violates Congress’ intent and slow schools’ progress on broadband connectivity, the department said, posted Friday in docket 06-122.