NTIA awarded an additional $1 million in tribal broadband connectivity program grants Monday, totaling more than $4.8 million to date, said a news release (see 2112230033). The Pinoleville Pomo Nation in California received nearly $500,000, and the Ketchikan Indian Community of Alaska received $500,000, for broadband use and adoption projects. The awards are "another milestone in our journey to close the digital divide and provide these communities with the resources they need to thrive in the 21st century," said NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson.

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina entered into default North Carolina's complaint against Articul8 and owner Paul Talbot on suspected illegal robocalls, said an order Monday in case 1:22-cv-00058 (see 2201250052). Articul8 "cooperated with the North Carolina Department of Justice investigation, supplying them with billions of records and other data so that the Attorney General could trace ... the origins since Articul8’s customers do not originate or terminate the calls," emailed Talbot: "However, instead of using the ample data provided by Articul8 to get closer to the cause of the problem, the Attorney General used it to file this complaint, by which he not only violated his own anti-robocall [principles], but also further continues to cause the people of his state to get bombarded with calls." Talbot and his company don't have the "legal or financial resources to mount a defense ... but plan to make the facts public so the industry, consumers and people of North Carolina know why their daily lives continue to be interrupted and harassed."

The FCC adopted a notice of inquiry seeking comment about cybersecurity vulnerabilities of the internet’s global routing system, said a notice Monday in docket 22-90. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated the item Friday (see 2202250062). Comments will be due 30 days after Federal Register publication, 60 days for replies.

NTIA must make deployment "job #1" in the broadband equity, access, and deployment program, Joan Marsh, AT&T executive vice president-federal regulatory relations, blogged Thursday. The program "must remain anchored in the core goal" of "universal broadband availability," Marsh said, noting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included separate funding to "directly address broadband affordability and adoption through other programs." NTIA should also keep program requirements "simple and uniform," ensure a "fair and open competitive process," and support a "holistic approach to evaluating deployment proposals," she said. The agency should also require states and subgrantees to "provide information about locations or areas subject to existing broadband deployment awards" or other "enforceable commitments" to deploy speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps in addition to relying on the FCC's maps, Marsh said. It's "critical that this transformative investment be effectively and efficiently managed," she said.

NTIA awarded more than $277 million of its $288 million broadband infrastructure program funded through the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (see 2108240067) to 12 states and Guam, said the agency Friday. Funding will support last mile and middle projects to serve more than 133,000 unserved households. An additional grant for the remaining funding is in progress. Friday's announcement is "an incredible opportunity for American businesses and will make our country more competitive globally," said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. NTIA is "eager to work closely with the grant recipients," said Administrator Alan Davidson. Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) said the ConnectMaine Authority's more than $28 million grant for last mile deployment will "help us make progress" on connecting all state residents to "reliable internet" by the end of 2024. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) also applauded the state Commerce Department's $7.3 million grant.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D) asked the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina for a default judgment against VoIP provider Articul8 and owner Paul Talbot for suspected illegal robocalls, said a filing Thursday in case 1:22-cv-00058 (see 2201250052). Talbot had asked the state for a 35-day extension to respond to the complaint so he and his company "can retain appropriate legal counsel," per an exhibit included in the filing. Special Deputy Attorney General Tracy Nayer told Talbot in an email his request came after the court's due date for a response and informed him the state would file an application for a default judgment.

ImOn Communications and Goldman Sachs asked for FCC approval to transfer control of the CLEC and interexchange carrier to the investor's Hawkeye Topco, in an International Bureau application Wednesday. They said the acquisition announced this month (see 2202170035) would give Iowa's ImOn access to Goldman Sachs' "extensive financial, managerial and operational experience," and ImOn in the immediate future "will continue to provide service to its customers at the same rates, terms, and conditions and without interruption." They said the deal "will not trigger any federal or state anti-slamming or bulk customer transfer rules because the certificated, customer-facing service provider will be unchanged" and won't diminish competition as GS doesn't provide telecom services.

Policymakers must consider four “key” principles as they implement the recent broadband programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, said former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday. “I ultimately believe you have to stay focused on the unserved Americans,” O’Rielly said, saying the “basic benchmark” should be 25/3 Mbps speeds. Another factor to consider is other barriers to deployment, he said, citing pole attachments, rights of way and other costs of building networks. Policymakers will need to address adoption beyond affordability, O’Rielly said: “It’s going to require partnerships with a lot of organizations … to really drive home the importance of the service.” Policymakers will also need to act “thoughtfully” and include transparency measures in any broadband program, he said.

The FCC will host the first of its series of public hearings on consumer broadband labels virtually March 11 at 1:30 p.m. EST, said a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Wednesday in docket 22-2. The public hearings are part of an NPRM commissioners approved in January and required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (see 2201270030). The hearing will focus on "evaluat[ing] the effectiveness of the current transparency rule" and "provid[ing] necessary background for the new label requirement," the notice said.

USDA extended the application window for the ReConnect program until 11:59 a.m. EST March 9, said a notice for Tuesday's Federal Register. The agency cited issues with the application system for the third round of funding. The notice also clarifies that the agency may increase the total level of funding "at its discretion" given the "variety of new funding sources."