FCC Items Circulate on Sec. 706 ATC Deployment, WRC-12 Implementation Rules

the commission's inquiry into whether broadband-like ATC is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion pursuant to a mandate in Section 706 of the Telecom Act. Past reports under the Democratic FCC found ATC isn't being adequately deployed and were used to help justify net neutrality rules, but there's more uncertainty this time because of the Republican takeover Jan. 20. The report has a Jan. 31 deadline, according to the FCC. GOP Commissioner Ajit Pai, who's expected to be named acting chairman, concurred on last year's report and said it showed the FCC and President Barack Obama's administration failed in their broadband efforts, despite much USF support and stimulus spending. His colleague, Commissioner Michael O'Rielly, dissented. Parties filed a mixture of comments on the FCC's Section 706 notice of inquiry (see 1609070039 and 1609220058). "The 706 report on broadband deployment has become a political exercise lacking analytical rigor and consistent methodology," emailed network engineer Richard Bennett, who filed comments seeking a consistent methodology to replace past analysis he called flawed. "The Commission needs to create an assessment framework immune from the winds of political fashion. It should define broadband in terms of network-enabled activities and focus on deployment in rural and low-income areas. Akamai says the average broadband connection in the US is now faster than 70 Mbps, so the traditional goal of the 706 report has been achieved." FCC officials didn't comment. An item circulated Jan. 6 on amendments to various parts of the FCC's rules to implement the final acts of the WRC-12 and other issues.