Lumen expects its sale of its incumbent local exchange carrier business in 20 states to Apollo's Brightspeed to close "early in the fourth quarter," pending “customary closing conditions,” the company announced Monday, after the FCC's approval last week. The companies announced the $7.5 billion deal in August 2021, with Lumen retaining ILEC assets in 16 states (see 2108030077). The deal received its final state regulatory approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in June (see 2206290041).
Gabriella Novello
Gabriella Novello, Assistant Editor, is a journalist for Communications Daily covering telecommunications and the Federal Communications Commission. She joined the Warren Communications News staff in 2020, after covering election integrity and the 2020 presidential election at WhoWhatWhy. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in health promotion at American University. You can follow Novello on Instagram and Twitter: @NOVELLOGAB.
Advocacy organizations and industry groups welcomed an FCC notice of inquiry seeking ways to expand access to the Lifeline and affordable connectivity programs for survivors of domestic and sexual violence (see 2207140055). Some sought additional flexibility in providing eligibility documentation for survivors, in comments posted Friday in docket 22-238.
Industry disagreed whether the FCC should impose additional requirements on certain voice service providers to combat illegal robocalls (see 2207150053). Some agreed with a proposal to impose additional measures on intermediate providers, in comments posted Thursday in docket 17-97. Others sought flexibility as providers continue to implement Stir/Shaken caller ID authentication.
The FCC rejected LTD Broadband and Starlink's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction long-form applications Wednesday, citing a "failure to demonstrate that the providers could deliver the promised service." LTD was the largest winning bidder, preliminarily bidding about $1.3 billion to serve 528,088 locations in 15 states (see 2012070039). Starlink's preliminary award was about $885.5 million.
Broadband industry officials Tuesday emphasized the need for partnerships between ISPs and local communities as states prepare for NTIA-administered funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (see 2206140075). High speed internet is “essential to the success of individuals … and to our country,” said NTIA Director-Communications Policy Initiatives Russell Hanser, during a Fierce Telecom virtual event Tuesday on the digital divide: “Internet access has just remained elusive for too long for too many.”
With more than 13 million households now enrolled in the FCC’s affordable connectivity program, commissioners approved an order Friday establishing an outreach grant program to further boost participation (see 2207150063). Commissioners at the monthly meeting also adopted an order establishing a one-year pilot program to increase ACP enrollment among households receiving federal housing assistance and a notice of inquiry seeking comment on space innovation and operations.
Consumer advocacy organizations welcomed a draft order aimed at increasing awareness of and boosting enrollment in the FCC’s affordable connectivity program, highlighting the need for organizations on the ground to enroll hard to reach populations (see 2207150063). Commissioners during the agency’s meeting Friday will consider an outreach grant effort and a pilot program targeting households receiving federal housing assistance.
Industry sought improved coordination and transparency through the FCC, USDA and NTIA’s interagency agreement established under the Broadband Interagency Coordination Act of 2020. Some asked the agencies to make the shared information available publicly and to increase reliance on the FCC’s maps when coordinating broadband programs, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 22-251.
Industry officials welcomed FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s announcement that the commission is considering a notice of inquiry proposing to update the national broadband standard from 25/3 Mbps to 100/20 Mbps (see 2207150065). Some said the proposed increase may show an even greater number of unserved or underserved households throughout the country.
Industry groups asked the FCC to streamline its rules for its annual data collection of subscription rates and plans offered through the affordable connectivity program (ACP). Some said the FCC should rely on the forthcoming broadband consumer labels and raised privacy concerns if data is collected at the subscriber level in comments posted Tuesday in docket 21-450.