The sale of 49.99% of Altice's Lightpath fiber business to a Morgan Stanley investment fund is expected to conclude in Q4, the cable ISP said Tuesday evening. Altice said it will receive $2.3 billion in cash and will remain in control of the company. It said the investment will help pay for Lightpath growth and improved performance.
COVID-19 is a good reason to extend Lifeline waivers for recertification, reverification, non-usage and income documentation rules until Dec. 31, TracFone told the FCC. The wireless eligible telecom carrier supports the National Lifeline Association’s July 8 petition, said the letter posted Tuesday in docket 11-42. The company said the FCC should temporarily freeze minimum service standards for mobile broadband service at 3 GB, and the mobile voice-only subsidy at $7.25 monthly.
Expand broadband to improve rural healthcare in communities most hurt by coal’s decline, recommended North Carolina’s broadband office and the state health department. “A stark economic, broadband, and health divide exists between those living in one of the 20 coal-impacted counties in North Carolina’s Appalachian region and the average North Carolinian.” If telehealth were widely available, more than 71,600 households wouldn’t have the internet to access it, Friday's study said.
Federal officials staged “a militarized counter-insurgent effort" to "suppress" protesters and residents in Portland, Oregon, said dozens of groups Friday. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Fight for the Future, Media Justice and Free Press signed. They dismissed the federal government’s claim that U.S. marshals and Customs and Border Protection officers were protecting federal buildings.
Dozens supported a proposal the FCC extend the Aug. 3 2.5 GHz rural tribal priority application window deadline (see 2007220021). The agency “declared broadband is needed ‘for every facet of daily life,’” the groups said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-120: “However, less than half of housing units on rural Tribal lands have access to broadband. … Unfortunately, approximately 80% of eligible Tribes will not be able to take advantage of this spectrum unless the FCC extends the deadline.” Access Humboldt, Access Now, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Common Cause, First Nations Development Institute, Free Press, Incompas, Internet Society, Media Alliance, Mobile Beacon, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, National Tribal Telecommunications Association and United Church of Christ were among signers.
The Wireless Infrastructure Association released a paper Wednesday on “best practices” on fiber deployment for 5G and the IoT. “Municipalities can adopt practices that promote transparency, foster trust among stakeholders, and allow efficiencies that save time, money, and promote connectivity,” WIA said.
The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates joined NARUC Thursday in backing (see 2007090051) the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Act (S-4021) and criticizing the rival Rural Broadband Acceleration Act (HR-7447/S-4201). S-4021 would allocate $6 billion to an FCC-run Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund that would provide money to Rural Digital Opportunity Fund phases I and II awardees that commit to begin speedy construction and service (see 2006220059). HR-7447/S-4201 would require the FCC to award funding by Sept. 30 to some RDOF Phase I applicants and eliminate a requirement companies be designated eligible telecom carriers (see 2006300010). S-4021 “is best designed to ensure that auction winners continue to offer Federal, and, where available State, subsidies for Lifeline service for qualifying low-income individuals,” said NASUCA President Jackie Roberts and Executive Director David Springe in a letter to lead sponsor Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. They said ETC requirement elimination “would be a significant departure from the existing statutory structure, would weaken consumer protections, and likely undermine complementary state programs.”
Frontier Communications settled with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) to resolve three investigations of allegedly deceptive, misleading and fraudulent internet billing and sales practices, the AG said Monday. The telco agreed to spend at least $10 million over four years to improve its network and pay $750,000 in restitution to customers. It agreed to fully disclose internet prices to new customers before they take service and let many current customers cancel service without penalty. “For too many Minnesotans, Frontier broke its promises,” said Ellison, who began investigating in 2018 after getting complaints from customers. The AG alleged Frontier overcharged customers by billing them more than they were quoted, failing to disclose fees and surcharges in sale presentations and ads, and billing customers for services not delivered. The carrier “is pleased to have this matter resolved," a spokesperson emailed. The Public Utilities Commission cleared a separate state probe in October (see 1910170052). The carrier paid Washington state $900,000 earlier this month to end a probe (see 2007080039). States are looking into the company’s bankruptcy (see 2007140042).
With coronavirus cases in Florida spiking, ITEXPO tech trade show organizers are still pressing ahead with the Feb. 9-12 physical event at the Miami Beach Convention Center. “It’s not a normal year,” organizers emailed prospective exhibitors Tuesday. “But by not taking action now, you may miss opportunities for sales and growth later. Plan now for a huge bounceback in 2021.” The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center reported Tuesday that Miami-Dade, Florida, surpassed Queens, New York, in fourth place among U.S. counties with the highest volume of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
A New York state bill seeking a broadband availability study cleared the Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee Monday. A-6679 is “very important in light of COVID and so many children having to learn online,” said Chair Amy Paulin (D) at the livestreamed virtual hearing. It would direct the Public Service Commission ask the public rather than rely completely on FCC availability data submitted by companies, she said. The panel sent the bill to the Rules Committee. A similar measure (S-5696) awaits full Senate action.