State officials want to promote mobile coverage and broadband deployment, said Lukas, Nace attorney David LaFuria at an FCBA panel Friday on state universal service issues. “They all have a desire to do something,” said LaFuria, who represents wireless carriers in FCC and state proceedings. He said some state regulators face statutory limitations but states could “regulate” broadband USF by following an FCC approach that combined “voluntary” industry acceptance of support with broadband conditions. States can help by removing regulatory barriers to broadband deployment, said Micah Caldwell, ITTA vice president-regulatory affairs. Jennifer Schneider, vice president-legislative affairs for Frontier Communications, said more states should reduce ILEC voice regulations, including carrier-of-last-resort (COLR) obligations.
State officials want to promote mobile coverage and broadband deployment, said Lukas, Nace attorney David LaFuria at an FCBA panel Friday on state universal service issues. “They all have a desire to do something,” said LaFuria, who represents wireless carriers in FCC and state proceedings. He said some state regulators face statutory limitations but states could “regulate” broadband USF by following an FCC approach that combined “voluntary” industry acceptance of support with broadband conditions. States can help by removing regulatory barriers to broadband deployment, said Micah Caldwell, ITTA vice president-regulatory affairs. Jennifer Schneider, vice president-legislative affairs for Frontier Communications, said more states should reduce ILEC voice regulations, including carrier-of-last-resort (COLR) obligations.
Net neutrality sparked familiar divisions but also some projections and legal analysis from attorneys on a Digital Policy Institute webinar Wednesday. While the FCC’s order faces many court challenges, Andrew Schwartzman, Georgetown Institute for Public Representation senior counselor, said he believes judges will likely focus on the commission’s authority to reclassify broadband as a Title II telecom service under the Communications Act and accord the agency’s view deference. But Brent Skorup, a George Mason University telecom research fellow, and Stuart Brotman, a University of Tennessee electronic media professor, questioned FCC deference in this case. Skorup suggested the commission was vulnerable on First Amendment grounds, but Schwartzman was skeptical. The three speakers did agree Congress is unlikely to pass a legislative compromise for now.
Net neutrality sparked familiar divisions but also some projections and legal analysis from attorneys on a Digital Policy Institute webinar Wednesday. While the FCC’s order faces many court challenges, Andrew Schwartzman, Georgetown Institute for Public Representation senior counselor, said he believes judges will likely focus on the commission’s authority to reclassify broadband as a Title II telecom service under the Communications Act and accord the agency’s view deference. But Brent Skorup, a George Mason University telecom research fellow, and Stuart Brotman, a University of Tennessee electronic media professor, questioned FCC deference in this case. Skorup suggested the commission was vulnerable on First Amendment grounds, but Schwartzman was skeptical. The three speakers did agree Congress is unlikely to pass a legislative compromise for now.
The FCC this year repeatedly delayed releasing information on proceedings to the public in the federal government's central repository, a Communications Daily review of Federal Register publications found. Net neutrality rules, processes ensuring that consumers can keep their phone numbers when they change service providers, USF provisions, rules on telemarketing calls and other proceedings affecting a wide array of consumers and industries were among those rulemakings subject to publication delays of more than a month and sometimes approaching a year.
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai is anxious about how little time remains this year to resolve the stand-alone broadband issue, he told us. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler committed to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., that the agency would find a way by the end of the year to provide USF support for telecom companies that offer only broadband service. Industry stakeholders, Wheeler and Pai have kicked around different ideas this year about how to best resolve the situation, with the solution still unclear.
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai is anxious about how little time remains this year to resolve the stand-alone broadband issue, he told us. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler committed to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., that the agency would find a way by the end of the year to provide USF support for telecom companies that offer only broadband service. Industry stakeholders, Wheeler and Pai have kicked around different ideas this year about how to best resolve the situation, with the solution still unclear.
Some regulators and telcos want state and federal USF contribution revisions, while others representing wireless ISPs would rather see the entire system shut down and overhauled, said speakers during a National Regulatory Research Institute tele-seminar. Speaking Thursday, the deadline day for telcos to accept FCC Connect America Fund Phase II offers (see 1508270068), experts said the funds wouldn't cover building out all networks to FCC standards, so it’s up to states to try to supplement that spending to improve the networks' reach to rural areas. The companies are aware the investment needed will be more than the funding, so they're ready to work with each state on how far it will go and whether other assistance is available, telco representatives said.
Some regulators and telcos want state and federal USF contribution revisions, while others representing wireless ISPs would rather see the entire system shut down and overhauled, said speakers during a National Regulatory Research Institute tele-seminar. Speaking Thursday, the deadline day for telcos to accept FCC Connect America Fund Phase II offers (see 1508270068), experts said the funds wouldn't cover building out all networks to FCC standards, so it’s up to states to try to supplement that spending to improve the networks' reach to rural areas. The companies are aware the investment needed will be more than the funding, so they're ready to work with each state on how far it will go and whether other assistance is available, telco representatives said.
State policymakers must continue to address how to ensure communications services are available and affordable for consumers so industry can adapt and bring everything into the now broadband-focused playing field, USF experts said in interviews Friday. A white paper, released Friday, by Sherry Lichtenberg, National Regulatory Research Institute principal researcher, said state USF support includes high-cost support, funds for broadband access for schools and libraries, funding for Lifeline and dedicated broadband funding. A key finding in the review is the limitation on high-cost support for areas where competition has driven down the cost of service, reducing the need for support, Lichtenberg said.