California utility commissioners may decide if text messaging can be assessed USF fees, perhaps making it the first state to rule on whether texting is a telecom or information service. Public Utilities Commissioners could vote as soon as June 15 to open a rulemaking on whether text messaging is a telecom service that may be included in revenue-based surcharges for CPUC’s public purpose programs (PPP), which include California LifeLine, the Advanced Services Fund and other state programs, the agency said Friday. CTIA petitioned for a ruling that texting is an information service not subject to the fees, but consumer groups urged the CPUC to classify texting as a telecom service that may be assessed.

California utility commissioners may decide if text messaging can be assessed USF fees, perhaps making it the first state to rule on whether texting is a telecom or information service. Public Utilities Commissioners could vote as soon as June 15 to open a rulemaking on whether text messaging is a telecom service that may be included in revenue-based surcharges for CPUC’s public purpose programs (PPP), which include California LifeLine, the Advanced Services Fund and other state programs, the agency said Friday. CTIA petitioned for a ruling that texting is an information service not subject to the fees, but consumer groups urged the CPUC to classify texting as a telecom service that may be assessed.

Aspiring Lifeline broadband providers and others urged the FCC to reinstate nine companies whose LBP designations were revoked by a Wireline Bureau order that Chairman Ajit Pai defends. State regulators opposed reinstatement and urged the commission to repeal its LBP process, which they say illegally bypasses state authority to designate carriers eligible for the USF Lifeline subsidies. LBP aspirants urged the FCC to at least make providers eligible for the program's low-income support in states where the federal commission has jurisdiction. Parties filed comments posted Thursday and Friday in docket 11-42 on requests to reconsider the Feb. 3 revocation order (see 1702030070 and 1703020059).

Aspiring Lifeline broadband providers and others urged the FCC to reinstate nine companies whose LBP designations were revoked by a Wireline Bureau order that Chairman Ajit Pai defends. State regulators opposed reinstatement and urged the commission to repeal its LBP process, which they say illegally bypasses state authority to designate carriers eligible for the USF Lifeline subsidies. LBP aspirants urged the FCC to at least make providers eligible for the program's low-income support in states where the federal commission has jurisdiction. Parties filed comments posted Thursday and Friday in docket 11-42 on requests to reconsider the Feb. 3 revocation order (see 1702030070 and 1703020059).

Boomerang Wireless asked the FCC to delay revoking its Lifeline broadband status until the agency or state regulators act on its long-pending petitions to become a USF-eligible telecom carrier (ETC) in numerous states. Boomerang said de-enrolling 17,538 affected Lifeline subscribers under the Wireline Bureau's Feb. 3 Lifeline broadband provider revocation order would be disruptive despite a 60-day transition given the company to migrate the customers to rivals. Some other providers criticized the FCC decision to revoke the LBP designations of nine companies, including Boomerang, pending further review (see 1702030070).

Boomerang Wireless asked the FCC to delay revoking its Lifeline broadband status until the agency or state regulators act on its long-pending petitions to become a USF-eligible telecom carrier (ETC) in numerous states. Boomerang said de-enrolling 17,538 affected Lifeline subscribers under the Wireline Bureau's Feb. 3 Lifeline broadband provider revocation order would be disruptive despite a 60-day transition given the company to migrate the customers to rivals. Some other providers criticized the FCC decision to revoke the LBP designations of nine companies, including Boomerang, pending further review (see 1702030070).

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai defended a rollback of Lifeline broadband provider designations amid criticisms from Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and others (see 1702030070 and 1702060062). "It’s vital that low-income Americans have access to communications services, including broadband Internet, which Lifeline helps to achieve," Pai wrote in a Tuesday blog post, which also reiterated his broader, initial efforts to close the digital divide. He recognized there are questions about why the Wireline Bureau issued a Lifeline broadband provider (LBP) reconsideration order Friday.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai defended a rollback of Lifeline broadband provider designations amid criticisms from Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and others (see 1702030070 and 1702060062). "It’s vital that low-income Americans have access to communications services, including broadband Internet, which Lifeline helps to achieve," Pai wrote in a Tuesday blog post, which also reiterated his broader, initial efforts to close the digital divide. He recognized there are questions about why the Wireline Bureau issued a Lifeline broadband provider (LBP) reconsideration order Friday.

States are preparing low-income phone programs for federal changes to Lifeline, as the FCC Dec. 1 implementation deadline nears. With several Lifeline rules taking effect Dec. 2, under an FCC schedule (see 1610030040), NARUC General Counsel Brad Ramsay predicted some states will support a USTelecom petition to give some states more time. The Kentucky Public Service Commission plans to issue soon an order about how the changes affect its program, the Minnesota PUC released an order last week, and commissions in California and the District of Columbia are collecting comments. States have sued the FCC over the order, which added broadband internet access service (BIAS) as a supported service in the program.

States are preparing low-income phone programs for federal changes to Lifeline, as the FCC Dec. 1 implementation deadline nears. With several Lifeline rules taking effect Dec. 2, under an FCC schedule (see 1610030040), NARUC General Counsel Brad Ramsay predicted some states will support a USTelecom petition to give some states more time. The Kentucky Public Service Commission plans to issue soon an order about how the changes affect its program, the Minnesota PUC released an order last week, and commissions in California and the District of Columbia are collecting comments. States have sued the FCC over the order, which added broadband internet access service (BIAS) as a supported service in the program.