Monica Hogan

Democratic commissioners will likely dissent when the FCC declares broadband is deployed in a reasonable and timely manner, current and former officials predicted in interviews this week. The Communications Act Section 706 report's statutory deadline is Monday (see 2004030074) and a vote isn't expected much sooner. An official said this report follows methodology used in last year's, with updated deployment figures and a few other changes. Commissioners' aides are determining whether there's opportunity to revise the language.

Waive letter-of-credit requirements for Connect America Fund Phase II, industry asked the FCC in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 10-90. Skybeam and the CAF II Coalition petitioned for waivers to conform with recent Rural Digital Opportunity Fund rules (see 2003110034). CAF-II LOC requirements are "far more onerous than the less restrictive obligations of future RDOF auction winners," USTelecom said. Use the same logic that led to RDOF LOC to support "a retroactive decision now to establish parity for CAF II auction winners," the group added. The Wireless ISP Association called it "entirely reasonable" to ensure requirements establish parity, "particularly where equal treatment will foster the timely delivery of improved broadband service" to "advance Commission policy objectives." NCTA said "granting the request will serve the public interest by allowing support recipients to deploy broadband more expeditiously while continuing to provide adequate protection in cases where buildout commitments are unmet." "Lift the yoke" off small, family-owned providers by revising LOC rules, LocalTel Communications said.

ISPs are adopting evolving protocols to help keep service technicians and residential customers safe during COVID-19, they said in interviews last week. Actions include screening customers for their risk of exposure to the virus before scheduling a truck roll, equipping tech staff with personal protective gear, limiting repair work to what can be done outside, and promoting self-installation and repair. Even before the pandemic, cable operators and telcos sought to limit how frequently they send staff to customers' homes.

Industry opposed requests to delay an FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund broadband subsidy program Phase I auction, in comments posted through Monday in docket 20-34 (see 2003270066). "Move ahead with the RDOF auction this year so that funding can be awarded to rapidly close the digital divide," USTelecom said, noting the California Public Utilities Commission argued for a delay. Telecom providers are challenged to keep networks in service during the pandemic, but "this is not an adequate reason for the Commission to delay an auction that is not due to start until October," USTelecom said: "This crisis has shown how important it is for all Americans to have access" to broadband. AT&T echoed earlier commenter skepticism for allowing unproven technologies to seek RDOF support. The company cited consensus on being "wary of short form applicants lacking two years of operational experience" and intending to rely on new low earth orbit satellite technology. NTCA wants the FCC to "reject proposals to reorient the weighting framework to favor certain lower-performing technologies that are inconsistent with the goals of the auction and that pose the risk of substantially complicating the RDOF auction." Rules should prohibit providers from using USF support to subsidize non-U.S. endeavors, GeoLinks said. "Despite these commenters’ attempts to disparage SpaceX’s network, SpaceX has now launched and operates the largest satellite constellation in the world and will soon be offering service to customers in the United States who have for too long been left behind by legacy networks," the company said. Don't "stifle broadband deployment by barring broadband service providers from using satellite technologies that can support latency-sensitive broadband services," such as medium earth orbit satellites, SES and affiliate O3b said. "Avoid making definitive conclusions about bidders or technologies prior to the short-form application process," Viasat said.

The FCC seeks to prevent one-ring scams. A notice of inquiry appearing on Friday's circulation list responds to Traced Act requirements (see 1906250071) and precedes a rulemaking, a spokesperson said. Callers from outside the U.S. dial a number, hang up after one ring, and hope confused recipients call back and incur phone charges. Some scams leave a voicemail with instructions to call an international number. The NOI seeks broad comment including feedback on cost-effectiveness of suggestions, the spokesperson said. In 2019, the FCC received about 2,600 consumer complaints about one-ring scams. The NOI follows Section 12, an official said.

The telehealth industry fears the $200 million the FCC has available for emergency COVID-19 funding will quickly run out, before all forthcoming applications are considered. Stakeholders we spoke with this month are seeking additional funding, but called the funds included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act a good start. Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Don Young, R-Ala., proposed an additional $2 billion in such spending Friday via their Healthcare Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act (HR-6474).

The scope of the digital divide exposed during COVID-19 is "an inflection point for action, and we need to seize it," FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said during a Brookings Institution webinar Wednesday. She applauded the ISPs that have taken the Keep Americans Connected pledge but said Americans shouldn't have to rely on industry generosity for internet access: "Having digital justice means getting everyone connected."

The FCC and FTC told USTelecom gateway providers facilitating robocalls preying on COVID-19 fears would have all calls blocked to U.S. phone network traffic if they don't stop transmitting the robocalls within 48 hours, in a letter Friday to CEO Jonathan Spalter. The USTelecom Industry Traceback Group identified VoIPMax from the Philippines and Oberlo Peer BPO from Pakistan as originators, the letter said. The FTC sent cease and desist letters to SipJoin, Connexum and VoIP Terminator/BL Marketing. In a statement Friday, Spalter said, “Robocall scammers are out in force during this public health emergency, using COVID-19 to prey on vulnerable consumers. As soon as these scams started popping up, we began aggressively tracing them -- literally around the world." Gateway providers have a choice, said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. "Move forward as responsible network providers or see themselves cut off from the phone system. ... To any other service provider that’s carrying or is thinking of carrying such traffic, be warned: If you do so, you too will find yourselves excluded from our phone system.” The FTC "will not stand for illegal robocallers that harm the public, particularly in the middle of a health crisis,” said Chairman Joe Simons. The number of robocalls "is INSANE," tweeted Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. "It shouldn’t have taken this crisis for the FCC and FTC to join forces to do something about it. But it’s a good thing it’s happening. Because scam calls are multiplying during this pandemic and stopping them at the source is vital."

An FCC draft says advanced telecom capability is deployed to Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion, an agency official told us Friday. An FCC spokesperson declined to comment. The annual broadband report circulated March 30, the circulation list said Friday. In comments last fall on a notice of inquiry for the 15th Communications Act Section 706 report, industry asked the FCC to stay the course (see 1911250002). Under statutory guidelines, the report should be issued by April 20. Last year's report missed its deadline due to bad data (see 1903060034) that was later corrected but not without controversy.

The FCC proposed a $6 million fine against Lifeline prepaid wireless service provider TracFone, in a Thursday notice of apparent liability. The Enforcement Bureau said that in 2018, TracFone obtained federal Lifeline support for hundreds of ineligible subscribers in Florida. The 5-0 NAL came with statements from the two Democratic commissioners, citing in part the coronavirus. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and 21 other Senate Democrats pressed TracFone and 20 other ISPs that receive Lifeline funds to improve service to low-income customers amid the pandemic.