Tribal Carriers Welcome FCC Opex USF Relief, Say More Action Needed; Mescalero Concerned
Tribal telco representatives praised FCC targeted USF relief, but one voiced concern about a left-out carrier, and the others said further steps are needed. The agency Thursday voted, with Chairman Ajit Pai partially concurring and Democratic commissioners partially dissenting, for…
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relaxed operating-expense restrictions on rate-of-return telcos primarily serving tribal lands, attaching broadband conditions to target the extra funding (see 1804050028). It's "significant for the providers and the communities they serve," emailed Patrick Halley, Wilkinson Barker counsel to Saddleback Communications, one of five carriers staff expects to be covered. "While more can certainly be done to address the Tribal broadband deployment gap, Chairman Pai and the Commission are to be commended for recognizing the higher costs incurred in maintaining and deploying broadband networks on Tribal lands," he said. "We are pleased the commission recognized the need of some of the tribes," said Randy Tyree of GRTyree Consulting, who represents the National Tribal Telecommunications Association and Mescalero Apache Telecom. "We're very concerned about Mescalero Apache not being able to receive relief just because they built out their broadband further than the others. Without this relief, Mescalero is certainly going to have to look at other alternatives" for funding. Mescalero wants "to remain constructive and see what" it can do with the agency, he added. Gila River Telecommunications, another carrier expected to receive relief, is pleased the FCC "has finally adopted this order that will ensure USF support better reflects the cost of providing service on tribal lands," emailed counsel Gregory Guice of Akin Gump, who also lauded Pai's work and lawmaker attention. "We do, however, agree with the Chairman that it is too bad that certain restrictions were placed on this change, particularly ones that penalize companies that have built out their networks, as those companies will incur more operating costs for that action."