The Rural Utilities Service wants comments by Sept. 26 on information collection associated with funding requests for equipment contracts for telecom and broadband loan borrowers, said a notice in Wednesday's Federal Register. Comments are due in docket RUS-22-TELECOM-0044. RUS also announced it intends to request an extension of an already approved information collection for the distance learning and telemedicine loan and grant program.

States and territories participating in NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment program and applicants for the middle-mile broadband infrastructure program should “familiarize themselves” with resources on identifying “project-specific climate-related threats” when establishing their broadband plans, said NTIA Director-Communications Policy Initiatives Russ Hanser during a webinar Wednesday. “This is an important part of these programs” and "we do expect increased climate and severe weather-related risks to be a factor in network design and network maintenance over the next 20 years,” Hanser said, so “this is the best way to get started on thinking about those issues and building into the design when proposing projects and building projects with these federal funds.” Projects won’t be considered “cleared” under the National Environmental Policy Act “until NTIA issues that decision document” confirming it is, said Amanda Pereira, First Responder Network Authority NEPA coordinator-program analyst: “When we are looking at project descriptions, what we are trying to assess is what's going to be the impact on the physical environment and so, having an understanding of the physical imprint of the project is critical.” Applicants should “turn in the best project that they think is the best solution and we will work with them” if there are any categorical exclusions during an environmental assessment, said NTIA Middle Mile Director Sarah Bleau.

The FCC issued notices of apparent liability for more than $4 million Friday against 73 Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I applicants for allegedly defaulting on their bids between July 26, 2021, and March 10. “Each of these applicants defaulted on its respective bids for support by withdrawing its application with respect to certain areas, or by its failure to meet deadlines and requirements to which it agreed when it participated in Auction 904,” the FCC said: “By defaulting on their bids, these applicants hindered the disbursement of funds that could have otherwise been expended for the advancement of broadband access across primarily rural areas in the United States.”

The FCC Enforcement Bureau issued an order Thursday directing all voice service providers to "stop carrying traffic regarding a known robocall scam marketing auto warranties," said a news release. The order directs providers to block the robocall traffic made by Roy Cox, Aaron Jones and affiliated company Sumco Panama. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) earlier filed a lawsuit against nearly two dozen individuals for engaging in a suspected illegal robocall campaign (see 2207070072).

The FCC Wireline Bureau partially granted a request to extend the deadline for reply comments on a Further NPRM on pole replacement rules (see 2207130057). Replies are now due by Aug. 26, said a public notice Tuesday in docket 17-84. Utility companies asked the FCC to extend the deadline to Sept. 26. The bureau said comments filed "have indeed demonstrated the complexity of the issues at hand" and in part granted the extension based on "identified uncertainty regarding the status of confidential filings in the record."

FCC staff scheduled a workshop at the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma Aug. 9-10 for tribal governments, employees, and members to "identify and evaluate opportunities to develop more robust broadband infrastructure and services in tribal communities," said a public notice Monday. Attendees will also get information about various FCC programs and data collection efforts. The commission invited representatives from NTIA to speak about its programs and the Universal Service Administrative Co. to provide training on the E-rate program's application process.

The North American Numbering Council will meet virtually Oct. 4. at 2 p.m. EDT, said a public notice Friday in docket 92-237. The group will vote on the numbering administration oversight working group's recommendations on "the feasibility of individual telephone number pooling trials." NANC had been scheduled to vote on the recommendations in August (see 2205020041).

Dish Network met its AWS H block, AWS-4 and lower 700 MHz E-block deployment obligations by the June 14 deadline, the company said Friday in an FCC docket 22-212 status report. It said that as of Thursday, it offered 5G service to 72.77 million Americans, or nearly 22% of the U.S. population, with its AWS-4 and AWS H-block licenses and covered more than 26% of the population in the markets where it holds an E-block license. It was obligated by June 14 to offer 5G broadband to at least 20% of the U.S. population and to have deployed a core network for its licenses. Chairman Charlie Ergen indicated earlier this year no deadline extension would be needed (see 2205060036). Dish said meeting the deadline meant overcoming such hurdles as supply chain shortages of radios and other equipment and delays in power availability at 5G sites due to utility companies' supply chain and workforce issues. It said it so far has opened 39 offices in 28 states in support of its network deployment. It said its commercial broadband is now available in more than 120 cities.

The FCC's compensation formula for IP relay providers through the Telecom Relay Service Fund takes effect Monday, said a notice for that day's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the formula in June (see 2206300058).

AT&T Alascom workers represented by Teamsters Local 959 voted to authorize a strike, the union said Wednesday. “The 175 tower climbers, technicians and other frontline workers who build, maintain and monitor Alaska's telecommunications infrastructure are taking a stand against AT&T's labor law violations and neglect of Alaskan communities,” said a news release. "AT&T pockets billions of dollars but refuses to invest in workers or communities," said Sean O'Brien, Teamsters general president. "We’re proud to be one of the largest employers of union-represented employees in America," an AT&T spokesperson emailed: "While not surprising, we are disappointed the local Teamsters union voted to authorize a strike. Whether they strike or not, we will continue bargaining in good faith toward a mutually beneficial agreement."