Sprint urged deferring Lifeline de-enrollments and national verifier "hard" launches until Universal Service Administrative Co. gains greater automated access to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program databases. The Lifeline provider said USAC has negotiated such access to SNAP, Medicaid and Federal Public Housing Assistance program databases in only eight of the 27 states and territories where the NV is in use (16 hard launches where it's mandatory and 11 soft launches); in 16 it has only FPHA access. The carrier said more than 60 percent of current Lifeline applicants demonstrate eligibility through SNAP and Medicaid participation, and only 0.6 percent through FPHA. "In 11 jurisdictions, the NV will launch without a connection to a state [SNAP or Medicaid] database due to cost effectiveness constraints,” the provider filed, posted Tuesday in FCC docket 11-42. That forces manual reverification that's "highly problematic and can result in large numbers of customer de-enrollments due to extremely low end user response rates," Sprint said. "The mass de-enrollment of potentially millions of otherwise-eligible Lifeline subscribers because of a difficult and ineffective reverification process clearly is not in the public interest." It backed refining database search criteria, enhancing feedback on reverification failures, establishing "consistent, transparent application of eligibility criteria" and temporarily suspending Lifeline recertification in remaining non-NV states. The National Lifeline Association urged the NV to "incorporate checks or 'dips' against the national CMS/Medicaid database, as well as any additional state SNAP databases that may come online, prior to any deenrollments." NaLA voiced "appreciation for recent stakeholder engagement toward implementing" an NV application programming interface solution to allow providers "to help consumers navigate the verification process." The FCC and USAC didn't comment.
Sprint urged deferring Lifeline de-enrollments and national verifier "hard" launches until Universal Service Administrative Co. gains greater automated access to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program databases. The Lifeline provider said USAC has negotiated such access to SNAP, Medicaid and Federal Public Housing Assistance program databases in only eight of the 27 states and territories where the NV is in use (16 hard launches where it's mandatory and 11 soft launches); in 16 it has only FPHA access. The carrier said more than 60 percent of current Lifeline applicants demonstrate eligibility through SNAP and Medicaid participation, and only 0.6 percent through FPHA. "In 11 jurisdictions, the NV will launch without a connection to a state [SNAP or Medicaid] database due to cost effectiveness constraints,” the provider filed, posted Tuesday in FCC docket 11-42. That forces manual reverification that's "highly problematic and can result in large numbers of customer de-enrollments due to extremely low end user response rates," Sprint said. "The mass de-enrollment of potentially millions of otherwise-eligible Lifeline subscribers because of a difficult and ineffective reverification process clearly is not in the public interest." It backed refining database search criteria, enhancing feedback on reverification failures, establishing "consistent, transparent application of eligibility criteria" and temporarily suspending Lifeline recertification in remaining non-NV states. The National Lifeline Association urged the NV to "incorporate checks or 'dips' against the national CMS/Medicaid database, as well as any additional state SNAP databases that may come online, prior to any deenrollments." NaLA voiced "appreciation for recent stakeholder engagement toward implementing" an NV application programming interface solution to allow providers "to help consumers navigate the verification process." The FCC and USAC didn't comment.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel dissented on a Further NPRM proposing vertical accuracy standards for wireless calls indoors to 911. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks voted yes in part and concurred in part. The questions were expected (see 1903140043). The FNPRM proposes a vertical location accuracy metric, or z-axis, of plus or minus 3 meters for 80 percent of indoor wireless calls to 911.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel dissented on a Further NPRM proposing vertical accuracy standards for wireless calls indoors to 911. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks voted yes in part and concurred in part. The questions were expected (see 1903140043). The FNPRM proposes a vertical location accuracy metric, or z-axis, of plus or minus 3 meters for 80 percent of indoor wireless calls to 911.
Vermont agreed not to enforce its net neutrality law or executive order, and ISPs agreed to pause their lawsuit against the state, while the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit weighs the FCC’s 2017 order rescinding 2015 open-internet rules. “Parties wish to avoid a waste of judicial and party resources,” said a stipulation (in Pacer) Thursday at U.S. District Court in Burlington. An industry motion for summary judgment and Vermont motion to dismiss were pending (see 1902060057). Vermont restricted state procurement to ISPs that follow net neutrality rules. The agreement is “a win for consumers that will allow continued innovation and investment while these deliberations continue,” said the American Cable Association, CTIA, NCTA, New England Cable & Telecommunications Association and USTelecom, adding that Congress should pass a national law. Gov. Phil Scott (R) and the FCC didn't comment. California struck a similar deal with ISPs and DOJ in October (see 1810260045). Free State Foundation President Randolph May said that "from a legal perspective, it just doesn’t make sense for any state to move forward until the Mozilla case is resolved."
Vermont agreed not to enforce its net neutrality law or executive order, and ISPs agreed to pause their lawsuit against the state, while the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit weighs the FCC’s 2017 order rescinding 2015 open-internet rules. “Parties wish to avoid a waste of judicial and party resources,” said a stipulation (in Pacer) Thursday at U.S. District Court in Burlington. An industry motion for summary judgment and Vermont motion to dismiss were pending (see 1902060057). Vermont restricted state procurement to ISPs that follow net neutrality rules. The agreement is “a win for consumers that will allow continued innovation and investment while these deliberations continue,” said the American Cable Association, CTIA, NCTA, New England Cable & Telecommunications Association and USTelecom, adding that Congress should pass a national law. Gov. Phil Scott (R) and the FCC didn't comment. California struck a similar deal with ISPs and DOJ in October (see 1810260045). Free State Foundation President Randolph May said that "from a legal perspective, it just doesn’t make sense for any state to move forward until the Mozilla case is resolved."
The FCC paused the informal 180-day shot clock on its review of T-Mobile’s proposed buy of Sprint Thursday and asked for additional comment on new data submitted by the companies. On Feb. 21 and March 6, “the Applicants filed significant additional information regarding their network integration plans for 2019-2021, an extension of their previously filed merger simulation analysis to cover the years 2019-2021, and additional information regarding their claims related to fixed wireless broadband services,” said a public notice in docket 18-197. The FCC sought comment on just the new submissions, due March 28.
The FCC paused the informal 180-day shot clock on its review of T-Mobile’s proposed buy of Sprint Thursday and asked for additional comment on new data submitted by the companies. On Feb. 21 and March 6, “the Applicants filed significant additional information regarding their network integration plans for 2019-2021, an extension of their previously filed merger simulation analysis to cover the years 2019-2021, and additional information regarding their claims related to fixed wireless broadband services,” said a public notice in docket 18-197. The FCC sought comment on just the new submissions, due March 28.
The FCC paused the informal 180-day shot clock on its review of T-Mobile’s proposed buy of Sprint Thursday and asked for additional comment on new data submitted by the companies. On Feb. 21 and March 6, “the Applicants filed significant additional information regarding their network integration plans for 2019-2021, an extension of their previously filed merger simulation analysis to cover the years 2019-2021, and additional information regarding their claims related to fixed wireless broadband services,” said a public notice in docket 18-197. The FCC sought comment on just the new submissions, due March 28.
Americans for Free Trade, a coalition of more than 150 trade associations, sent a letter to the White House Feb. 27 offering praise for the pause in escalations of tariffs on Chinese goods and asking that an agreement be reached that takes all tariffs away. "It is our hope that this momentum will build in the weeks ahead and lead to a final deal that addresses structural issues in China, removes tariffs on both sides, and eliminates trade uncertainty facing American businesses and farmers," they wrote. "Our coalition represents every part of the U.S. economy, including manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, retailers, technology companies, service suppliers, natural gas and oil companies, importers, exporters, and other supply chain stakeholders. Collectively, we support tens of millions of American jobs through our vast supply chains." Customs brokers and apparel, travel goods, furniture and jewelry importers were among those who signed the letter.