Gabriella Novello

The FCC has the authority to include broadband services revenue in the USF contribution base but would need to establish a comment period before making any changes, industry groups said in recent interviews. A new report suggests adding broadband providers could drop the contribution factor to as low as 4% and avoid facing direct congressional appropriations (see 2109130053).

Free Press is “reviewing the petition submission” it filed with the FCC on its request for a notice of inquiry into the agency’s history of anti-Black racism, it said Wednesday after former officials condemned the language (see 2109140041). The petition included some attached personal comments that were submitted to Free Press by members of the public and contained violent language. Free Press condemned the comments and “[apologized] to FCC staff who received this submission.” Reject the petition, ex-commission officials said a series of tweets. Commissioner Brendan Carr condemned the comment in a tweet and said the FCC “should dismiss this submission today.” NAB General Counsel Rick Kaplan tweeted Free Press should withdraw its filing because the attached comments “are ridiculous and many have zero to do with apparent point of the filing in the first place.” Kaplan said it “arguably violates FCC rules.” “Calls for violence are unacceptable,” said FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. A spokesperson said the commission “will no longer consider this petition as-is for further comment” and “encouraged” Free Press to refile: “Acting Chair Rosenworcel remains committed to advancing an inclusive vision for the FCC and we condemn anyone who resorts to threats that undermine that mission.”

Winning FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction bidders seek increased scrutiny of LTD Broadband efforts to obtain eligible telecom carrier designation for its provisionally won bids in California (see 2108260036). LTD stands to lose more than $187 million in RDOF support for nearly 77,000 locations there.

The FCC will issue the first round of Emergency Connectivity Fund funding commitments "in the very near future," said Wireline Bureau Telecom Access Policy Division Attorney-Adviser Molly O'Conor during an FCC Consumer Advisory Committee meeting Friday. The committee also heard updates on the emergency broadband benefit program, COVID-19 telehealth program and the commission's efforts to curb illegal robocalls. CAC expects FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to "assign specific topics" for the working groups to make recommendations about, said Chairman Steve Pociask.

Utility companies are hopeful the FCC will act on the Edison Electric Institute’s petition for clarification that the statute of limitations on all pole attachment complaint proceedings is two years and refunds aren't "appropriate" before a "good faith notice of dispute” (see 2104210046). ISPs remain opposed to the petition and say the issue has been addressed by the commission in recent rulings. Replies are due Sept. 10 in docket 17-84.

FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the several items that she and her colleagues tentatively will vote on Sept. 30. They include public-safety spectrum and 911 issues, plus paving the way for more robust Wi-Fi and cracking down further on some robocalls, she blogged Wednesday afternoon. The drafts will be released Thursday, a spokesperson told us. Our earlier news bulletin is here.

FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced what she and her colleagues will vote on Sept. 30. They include public-safety spectrum and 911 issues, plus paving the way for more robust Wi-Fi and cracking down further on some robocalls, she blogged Wednesday afternoon. The drafts will be released Thursday, a spokesperson told us.

The FCC revived its proceeding on broadband access in multiple tenant environment buildings Tuesday, announcing it will seek comments on revenue sharing and exclusivity agreements. President Joe Biden signed an executive order in July encouraging the FCC to prevent ISPs from signing exclusivity agreements with landlords and promote competition (see 2107090006).

Industry backed an Alarm Industry Communications Committee request to delay AT&T's Feb. 22 3G data termination sunset, in comments posted Tuesday in FCC docket 21-304 (see 2108200021). AICC "clearly demonstrated the harmful impact" of the planned sunset, said the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. The auto industry "has been constrained in its ability to address or mitigate the impact of the 3G sunset," the group said, adding that it supported AICC's proposed Dec. 31, 2022, deadline. The Alcohol Monitoring Systems and AARP backed a 10-month extension. A "global semiconductor chip shortage" has affected the electronic monitoring industry's 4G transition, AMS said. AARP cited "clear linkages" between the COVID-19 pandemic and "the ability of AICC members to successfully complete the 3G transition." An "abrupt, premature, or disorganized shut-down of this key element of wireless connectivity threatens millions of people that rely on 3G," said Public Knowledge, Access Humboldt, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Center for Rural Strategies and New America's Open Technology Institute. The FCC is "well-positioned to serve as an honest broker that can collect and protect information necessary to make an objective evaluation of the obstacles facing the transition," they said. AT&T disagreed, saying alarm companies are "fully capable of replacing 3G radios" used by customers. The chip shortage "has not kept the major alarm companies from ... winning and activating new customers," it said. A delay would "undercut AT&T’s 5G rollout and overall network performance," it said. AT&T will respond to others' comments in replies due Sept. 14, said a spokesperson.

Nearly seven in 10 households getting the FCC emergency broadband benefit chose to receive mobile broadband services rather than fixed broadband. Experts said in recent interviews that the trend is likely because most enrolled households participate in Lifeline.