Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Verizon and Tracfone approval appears unlikely until after October, with the companies awaiting clearance from the FCC and California regulators, but the companies appear to be making progress. At least one deal opponent, Public Knowledge, appears poised to withdraw its objections. PK hasn’t filed anything at the FCC, but it's looking to do so soon, a spokesperson confirmed. Industry officials said Communications Workers of America will also soon lay out its latest take at the FCC.

FCC commissioners approved 4-0 an NPRM on modifying compensation methodology for IP relay service supported by the Telecom Relay Service Fund. It’s the first time in 14 years the commission is considering such new TRS methodology. The current IP relay compensation period ends June 30.

Oklahoma adopted a connections-based contribution method for state USF on an interim basis Thursday. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission voted 2-0, with a concerned third commissioner abstaining, for a proposed order to replace the 6.28% revenue-based monthly fee with a $1.14 per connection surcharge. In Texas, state senators are pushing Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and the Public Utility Commission to act before rates spike for rural customers. Alaska, California and Oregon are mulling changes.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., and Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., believe it’s unlikely the chamber will hold votes on more amendments aimed at striking or paring back language in the $65 billion broadband section of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act filed as a substitute amendment to shell bill HR-3684 (see 2108020061), they told us Wednesday. Senators voted 43-55 Wednesday against one such amendment from Wicker.

Inmate calling service providers rejected proposed California limits on intrastate rates and some fees. The California Public Utilities Commission received comments Monday on an interim order, up for a possible Aug. 19 vote, that would include a cap of 7 cents per minute on intrastate rates for debit, prepaid and collect calls (see 2107130047). Consumer groups supported the plan and urged the CPUC to next seek ways to reduce video call and text-messaging costs. Also, the CPUC teed up implementation of the state’s $6 billion broadband law.

The Biden administration is working behind the scenes on plans to name Mozilla Foundation Senior Adviser Alan Davidson its nominee for NTIA administrator, former government officials and communications sector lobbyists told us. The White House is facing increased pressure to quickly fill the post since the agency is on course to administer the bulk of $65 billion in broadband money if Congress enacts an infrastructure spending package that a bipartisan Senate group formally filed Sunday. Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., swiftly filed amendments aimed at addressing anti-digital redlining and consumer protection provisions in the broadband title he sees as a potential back door to rate regulation, as expected (see 2107300054).

NTIA's Allan Friedman, who helped lead software bill of materials (SBOM) multistakeholder work, leaves for Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, where he says he will help CISA "focus on scaling and operationalizing" SBOM, "in the context of the vulnerability and security ecosystem" ... Also at NTIA, Aadil Ginwala begins as chief of staff; he had worked at Sandpaper Medical and Walla Technologies ... Forbes Tate Partners hires ex-AT&T Assistant Vice President-Federal Relations Kevin McGrann as senior vice president, working in Public Affairs and Government Relations practices.

Provisions in the $65 billion broadband title in a developing infrastructure spending package weren't completely finalized Thursday, a day after the Senate cleared an initial test cloture vote 67-32 on proceeding to a shell bill (HR-3684). A bipartisan group of senators agreed Wednesday on the outlines of the package (see 2107280065). The Senate will vote Friday on the motion to proceed to HR-3684. Telecom-focused senators in both parties told us through Thursday that the thorniest broadband issue -- the extent of pricing transparency and digital redlining language -- remained in flux.

Broadband-focused lawmakers and industry supporters are wary about the trajectory of a bipartisan infrastructure package, amid widespread perceptions that talks are falling apart. A framework that President Joe Biden backed in June allocates $65 billion for broadband (see 2106240070). The House Rules Committee was, meanwhile, considering broadband-focused amendments to an FY 2022 appropriations “minibus” (HR-4502) Monday, before a likely floor vote later this week. The committee was eyeing a proposal to zero out CPB. The underlying HR-4502 includes $388 million for the FCC, almost $390 million for the FTC (see 2106300028), more than $907 million for Department of Agriculture rural broadband programs and $565 million for CPB in FY 2024.

FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel also announces (see this section, July 14 issue of this publication) that Mark Bykowsky, industry economist, Office of Economics and Analytics, is retiring ... At Disney, General Counsel Alan Braverman and Chief Communications Officer Zenia Mucha decide to retire from the company after their contracts expire at year's end ... Uber hires for federal affairs team Ryan Thornton from Information Technology Industry Council as the company's senior associate-external affairs.