The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission during an agency meeting Thursday unanimously denied Lumen's petition for reconsideration of an order finding violations of the state's service quality rules (see 2410070044). A Lumen spokesperson told us the company will "continue our extensive efforts to address their concerns while exploring our procedural options moving forward."
Attorneys general of 46 states and the District of Columbia urged the FCC to proceed with its proposed revisions to the robocall mitigation database (RMD). In reply comments posted Wednesday in docket 24-213 (see 2410160037), several industry groups also backed the proposal and sought some changes that will ensure information filed by providers is as accurate as possible.
Several industry groups continued calling on the FCC to permanently eliminate the requirement that a certified professional engineer (PE) verify and certify a company's broadband data before it's submitted through the broadband data collection (BDC). The groups made the remarks in comments posted through Wednesday in docket 19-195 (see 2408300036). Others raised concerns with a proposal for adopting additional reporting requirements for satellite and fixed wireless providers.
Rural and high-cost areas throughout Alaska remain "some of the hardest and most costly to serve in the country," the FCC acknowledged in a Monday order establishing the Alaska Connect Fund (ACF), complementing the 2016 Alaska Plan (see 2410150048). The order will take effect 30 days after Federal Register publication. Also adopted on Monday was a Further NPRM seeking comment on implementation of the fund.
A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit pressed LTD Broadband Tuesday on its challenge of the FCC's denial of its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction long-form application (see 2405090056). Judges during oral argument questioned LTD and the FCC on the standard of review applied to the ISP compared with other RDOF applicants, as well as the potential impact on rural broadband access in the areas where LTD won bids.
A three-judge appeals court panel hearing a challenge (docket 24-7000) of the FCC's Title II reclassification of broadband questioned industry groups and the agency Thursday about the major questions doctrine (see 2409030030). Oral argument was held at the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where judges also questioned the relationship between the doctrine and Chevron deference, as well as the statutory interpretation of the Communications Act and the FCC's changing positions over time.
State broadband regulators and industry officials highlighted efforts at addressing pole attachment processes to facilitate broadband deployment Tuesday. During an FCBA webinar (see 2312130044), some mentioned increased coordination among utilities, attachers and other stakeholders to streamline the process and enable faster deployment. Several highlighted workforce issues as a barrier.
The New Jersey Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs unanimously approved a bill Thursday requiring cable and broadband providers to let consumers admitted to a long-term care facility to pause or cancel service contracts. Moreover, under the bill, customers who pause or cancel contracts would not incur additional fees.
Incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS) providers and public interest groups urged the FCC to revise its proposed rules on rate caps for video IPCS (see 2409200019). Commissioners adopted the Further NPRM in July along with an order lowering rates for audio IPCS and establishing interim rate caps for video IPCS. Providers opposed establishing service quality standards and expanding the definition of a correctional facility in comments posted Tuesday in docket 23-62. Public interest groups sought additional data, allowing more refinement of interim rate caps.
The FCC's mapping broadband health in America platform will soon include additional details on telehealth access and maternal health, the Connect2Health Task Force told commissioners during their open meeting Thursday (see 2409250041). While the FCC has adopted rules requiring georouting wireless calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, it's uncertain whether it will require georouting to other emergency helplines, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said during a news conference following the meeting. The 5-0 988 georouting approval was expected (see 2410040005). Commissioners also unanimously voted for adoption of an order on hearing aid compatibility requirements (see 2410170030) and tentatively selected applicants for new low-power FM station construction permits.