The FCC got pushback against CTIA and Wireless Infrastructure Association proposals seeking more changes to wireless infrastructure rules designed to accelerate siting of towers and other gear for things like broadband and 5G. Big and small cities and their lobbying groups weighed in, along with industry allies of what CTIA and WIA seek. Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee state and local government members at September's BDAC meeting asked for an ad hoc committee on collocation issues. But Chairman Ajit Pai took no action. Filings were posted mostly Wednesday in docket 19-250. Industry officials said discussions with localities and state officials may be ongoing. The FCC didn’t comment. “We are seeing this level of pushback because the petitions ask for significant changes to the FCC’s rules that go well beyond the minor modifications" the 2012 spectrum law "was intended to allow,” NATOA General Counsel Nancy Werner told us. BDAC should be involved, said Angelina Panettieri, National League of Cities principal associate-technology and communications. “If the petitioners are interested in addressing their concerns through a voluntary process, rather than regulation, then conducting that work in public, through the existing BDAC structure, with a working group that is fairly balanced between public and private interests, seems like a logical solution.” WIA President Jonathan Adelstein told us industry's willing to talk. CTIA said more FCC “action is needed to advance its priority to remove barriers to 5G deployment.”
More should be done to promote broadband competition, reported Jonathan Sallet, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society senior fellow, on broadband for the 2020s. He said Wednesday states should repeal laws that restrict localities from broadband deployment or Congress should pre-empt them. Federal funding designed to avoid overbuilding ISP networks confuse well-being of competitors with consumers, he said: Those most likely having limited broadband competition are rural, or with median household incomes below $60,000. Sallet cited the National Digital Inclusion Alliance showing pockets of high-poverty neighborhoods in Cleveland, Detroit, Toledo, Dallas and Dayton where incumbent telecoms hadn't deployed fiber. Proposed Lifeline changes to eliminate mobile resellers would effectively end Lifeline broadband access for millions, the report said. Sallet instead recommends schools and libraries be allowed to provide Lifeline, too. Such competition could increase once the national verifier is fully implemented, Sallet suggested. "An even more efficient mechanism would make Lifeline enrollment automatic when people are enrolled in a qualifying federal program." The 150-page footnoted document acknowledged a persistent problem of areas unserved by broadband, saying the executive branch should establish an Office of Broadband Coordination for Tribal Lands.
The California Public Utilities Commission may extend the state LifeLine fund authorization until Feb. 28 to make up for the loss of federal support for participants who qualify only under California eligibility criteria. The CPUC plans to issue a final decision on California-only participants funding issues by Feb. 28 after taking more comments, said a Monday proposed decision by Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma (D) in docket R.11-03-013. Extension would “avoid disruption in service to approximately 81,800 participants,” it said. Commissioners must vote on the proposed decision; their next meeting is Nov. 7.
C Spire seeks an opportunity in the next few years to deliver a multistate or national health-based service via the web or smartphone app rather than reliant on its broadband or wireless infrastructure, said Hu Meena, CEO of Mississippi-based telecom provider C Spire. C Spire has a partnership with the University of Mississippi Medical Center to deliver certain routine medical services via smartphone. For its national service, the company would likely need to negotiate state-by-state licensing, and the project isn't that far along, Meena said in an interview Monday. Several years ago, the carrier participated in a UMMC diabetes monitoring trial (see 1807180040).
The Interactive Advertising Bureau seeks comment by Nov. 5 on a draft framework for publishers and tech companies to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act. IAB plans to finalize the guide before CCPA takes effect Jan. 1.
The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau wants comment by Dec. 5, replies Jan. 6, on how best to facilitate and improve dialogue and coordination between tribes and eligible telecom carriers to ensure successful broadband deployment and adoption on tribal lands, said a public notice on docket 10-90 and in Tuesday's Daily Digest.
That AT&T no longer offers DirecTV Now makes Charter Communications' broadband subscription data in Massachusetts irrelevant, the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable said in a docket 18-283 FCC posting Monday. MDTC said Charter data is immaterial to a LEC having to be physically able to deliver the service to all potential customers in a franchise area, not just Charter customers. The state agency said much of the Charter data is about statewide broadband subscriptions, not data about the specific franchise areas. MDTC argued Charter's petition on effective competition due to DirecTV Now is moot due to AT&T now offering a different over-the-top service, AT&T TV Now (see 1910160022).
USDA is giving Forked Deer Electric Cooperative $2.86 million to support broadband infrastructure for 347 households in rural Tennessee as the first round of investments in its ReConnect pilot, it said Friday and as expected (see 1910170024).
The FCC Wireline Bureau designated Mid-Hudson Data an eligible telecom carrier in high-cost areas within New York state, in an order Friday. Mid-Hudson can receive federal Connect America Fund support to deploy broadband in coordination with New NY Broadband.
NTIA launched a pilot of an updated national broadband availability map this month in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia to compare data from federal, state and commercially available systems, said acting Administrator Diane Rinaldo Friday. The prepared remarks were from a Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition conference. Such maps need updating, SHLB heard (see 1910170024).