Free Press urged lawmakers to make the FCC’s affordable connectivity program permanent as part of any USF revamp legislation. Congress should “appropriate the funding” for ACP “needed to ensure that low-income households can afford broadband long after the initial appropriation from” the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act “is expended,” FP said in comments to Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., and other USF revamp working group members released Monday. Some other commenters also urged Congress to make ACP permanent, in some cases suggesting it outright replace the Lifeline program (see 2308250064). FP also asked lawmakers and the FCC to “reject the cynical call from some of the nation’s largest businesses to massively lower their own USF contribution burdens by imposing a regressive tax on residential broadband services. These parties have for years falsely warned that the USF contributions system is in a death-spiral,” which “is simply not true. The fact is that the total USF contribution pool in real terms peaked in 2012, and has declined substantially since. While the overall contribution factor percentage has risen, the average residential consumer has seen their contribution burden decline slightly, as the burden borne by large businesses increased slightly.”
Three telecom policy stakeholder groups urged Senate Communications Subcommittee leaders Friday to include stronger accountability rules in USF revamp legislation but diverged on some other goals. The entities were responding to a late July feedback request from Communications Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., and other USF working group members for feedback on the path forward on legislation (see 2305110066). FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, meanwhile, is pushing back against criticisms from House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, of the agency's Learning Without Limits proposal to allow E-rate program money to pay for Wi-Fi on school buses and for hot spots (see 2307310063).
Consumers' Research filed an objection against the FCC's proposed Q4 2023 USF contribution factor and asked the Office of Managing Director to set the factor at zero. The USF "has been established and operates in excess of statutory authority and the commission ... should not permit further collections," the group said in comments posted Friday in docket 96-45, citing the nondelegation doctrine.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh granted a Consumers Research request to extend until Oct. 27 the deadline to file a petition for writ of certiorari Tuesday (see 2307310061). The group sought the extension for its challenge of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding the FCC's USF 2021 Q4 contribution factor. Kavanaugh is the justice assigned to the 6th Circuit.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh granted a Consumers Research request to extend until Oct. 27 the deadline to file a petition for writ of certiorari Tuesday (see 2307310061). The group sought the extension for its challenge of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding the FCC's USF 2021 Q4 contribution factor. Kavanaugh is the justice assigned to the 6th Circuit.
Consumers' Research asked the U.S. Supreme Court to extend the deadline to file its cert petition challenging a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding the FCC's USF 2021 Q4 contribution factor (see 2305300009). The group asked in an application posted Friday that the court extend the Aug. 28 deadline by 60 days, to Oct. 27, to file its petition. The group noted the 5th Circuit's decision to grant rehearing for its challenge of a separate contribution factor, saying it "signals that it may soon split from the Sixth Circuit on these important nondelegation matters" (see 2306290074).
Consumers' Research asked the U.S. Supreme Court to extend the deadline to file its cert petition challenging a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding the FCC's USF 2021 Q4 contribution factor (see 2305300009). The group asked in an application posted Friday that the court extend the Aug. 28 deadline by 60 days, to Oct. 27, to file its petition. The group noted the 5th Circuit's decision to grant rehearing for its challenge of a separate contribution factor, saying it "signals that it may soon split from the Sixth Circuit on these important nondelegation matters" (see 2306290074).
AUSTIN -- New NARUC Telecom Committee Chair Tim Schram praised NTIA efforts making broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) allocations, in a Wednesday interview. Also, Schram and another Republican committee member, South Dakota Commissioner Chris Nelson, told us they’re glad the FCC may soon finally have all five seats filled.
Consumers' Research petitioned the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review and vacate the FCC's approval of the Q3 2023 USF contribution factor, per a filing Friday in case 23-60359. The group has a pending en banc rehearing of its challenge of the FCC's Q1 2022 contribution factor (see 2306300086).
Consumers' Research petitioned the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review and vacate the FCC's approval of the Q3 2023 USF contribution factor, per a filing Friday in case 23-60359. The group has a pending en banc rehearing of its challenge of the FCC's Q1 2022 contribution factor (see 2306300086).