Ericsson announced Tuesday it joined the Mission Critical Alliance, a strategic partner program for technology providers established by L3Harris Technologies in 2019.
The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society launched an online tool Tuesday showing the actual and expected number of households enrolled in the FCC's affordable connectivity program. The tool will "enable communities to better understand where ACP enrollment exceeds expectations and where it does not" to "help decision makers target outreach more precisely in areas with the greatest need," said Senior Fellow John Horrigan. The tool will make people aware of ACP and "help communities target efforts to increase enrollment," said Executive Director Adrianne Furniss. The tool allows users to view the actual level of enrollment, predicted level of enrollment, and how an area is performing at the five-digit ZIP code-level.
Lukas LaFuria’s David LaFuria, who represents smaller carriers, raised process concerns on the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (SCRP) in a call with FCC staff. The process is improving, but concerns remain, said a filing Tuesday in docket 21-232. “When a reimbursement request does not precisely match the original application, a carrier must amend its application,” LaFuria said: This “freezes the processing of the entire application, and it threatens the congressionally mandated timeline for completing the SCRP. The amendment process is also time-consuming for applicants, as it requires creating and updating a detailed and highly particular macro-enabled Excel spreadsheet each time.” He also urged the FCC to “develop a means for applicants to process a single invoice multiple times when the purchased goods are used in multiple projects.” The agency “could allow items purchased in bulk to be put into an ‘inventory’ category and removed in increments as needed on a site based on average unit cost,” he said.
Representatives of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition met with staff for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on a petition SHLB filed with the Consortium for School Networking seeking an extension of Emergency Connectivity Fund service delivery dates. SHLB “reiterated that the Commission should extend the deadline to allow applicants that have received or will receive funding commitments to use all of the committed funding for two reasons: (1) it appears that there is enough funding remaining to cover all pending demand and (2) even if there was not enough funding, it is unlikely [the Universal Service Administrative Co.] could identify unused funding fast enough to turn around and distribute it to other applicants,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 21-93.
The FCC proposed fines of $8.8 million against 22 applicants in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction for apparently violating agency requirements by defaulting on their bids last year between May 3 and Dec. 16. Two applicants also failed to submit audited financial paperwork, resulting in additional fines. “The FCC provided clear guidance in its rules and notices on the monetary forfeitures associated with defaults in Auction 904,” the FCC said Monday: “The bid defaults prevented 2,994 census block groups in 31 states and an estimated 293,128 locations from receiving new investments in broadband infrastructure.” Leading the list, California Internet, a CLEC, faces a fine of more $3 million and Connect Everyone, a wholly owned subsidiary of Starry, a fine of more than $3.8 million. Some proposed fines were less than $10,000. “Not following the rules has consequences,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “For those who failed to meet their obligations, today’s action shows the Commission takes seriously its commitment to hold applicants accountable and ensure the integrity of our universal service funding.”
National Alliance on Mental Illness representatives met with FCC Wireline Bureau staffers to discuss agency progress toward required routing of 988 calls based on the caller's location, per a filing Friday in docket 18-336. It urged the agency to contact relevant stakeholders about ways of addressing dispatchable geolocation issues.
The recommendation by the Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division that Charter Communications modify or drop advertising claims about its wireless Speed Boost offering (see [Re:2304260004]) "reaffirms Charter’s ability to provide consumers with accurate information regarding our innovative Speed Boost technology," the company emailed Wednesday.
NTIA wants feedback on its proposed guidance for the broadband, equity, access and deployment program's state challenge process by midnight May 5, the agency said Tuesday. Comments should be sent to BEAD@ntia.gov. The agency proposed issuing a policy notice and model challenge process in response to inquiries from eligible entities and other stakeholders.
NTIA awarded more than $5.8 million in additional Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program grants to 12 tribes Tuesday. The new funding will help expand internet access for 164 tribal households, said a news release. The agency said it will release an additional notice of funding opportunity for the program "in the next few months."
Applications for the Rural Utilities Service's $20 million broadband technical assistance program are due by June 20, said a notice for Wednesday's Federal Register (see 2304170045). The agency anticipates making awards by Sept. 30.