In light of the FCC’s notice Wednesday to the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation that 10 petitions for review are pending in six appellate courts, all challenging the commission’s Nov. 20 digital divide order (see 2402070058), the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hold the two petitions under its watch in abeyance, said its two separate orders Thursday. The petitions are from the Minnesota Telecom Alliance (docket 24-1179) and the Missouri Internet & Television Association (docket 24-1183). The cases will be held in abeyance pending further order from the panel, said the orders.
NCIC Communications urged the FCC to act on its pending petition that partially waives rules requiring correctional facilities to deploy certain forms of advanced telecom relay services (see 2311220052). The company said in a meeting with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel that "unique security, technical, and regulatory issues" continue to delay deployment of such services, according to an ex parte filing posted Tuesday in docket 23-62. In addition, the agency should expand its authority to include non-incarcerated people's communications services video visitation providers, NCIC argued.
A coalition of advocates for incarcerated individuals urged the FCC to adequate oversight of alternative payment structures and pilot programs that providers of incarcerated people's communications services offer. The Wright Petitioners, United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry and Worth Rises told Wireline Bureau and Office of Economic and Analytics staff that consumers should have "sufficient information in a clear format that enables them to make informed choices," according to an ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 23-62 (see 2401120067). The groups also urged that the commission "not permit alternative pricing structures that include non-IPCS services, which lack visibility and transparency in their pricing."
The FCC Wireline Bureau granted United Telephone Association's transfer of control request for Panhandle Telephone Cooperative (PTCI) to "assign substantially all of the assets held by United in the South Englewood telephone exchange" from United to PTCI. A public notice Thursday in docket 23-255 also granted the companies' joint petition for a waiver of the commission's definition of a "study area" subject to PTCI's "commitment not to seek Safety Valve Support" following the transaction.
The FCC deferred until Jan. 1 the start of its next five-year deployment obligation term for legacy rate-of-return carriers receiving Connect America Fund broadband loop support (CAF BLS) this year, said a notice for Wednesday's Federal Register (see 2305310053). The deferment takes effect Wednesday, allowing the commission to "address the future budget and deployment obligations for CAF BLS carriers and give the commission additional time to evaluate the impact of" NTIA's broadband, equity, access and deployment program along with other "broadband program commitments made by eligible providers."
Oppositions to an Edison Electric Institute petition for reconsideration of the FCC's December declaratory ruling on pole attachment and replacement costs are due Feb. 13 in docket 17-84, said a notice in Monday's Federal Register. However, the notice lists an incorrect reply date. An FCC spokesperson confirmed replies to opposition are due Feb. 23. EEI sought reconsideration of the circumstances where a utility pole owner must provide a copy of its easement to an attacher and clarification on when a pole replacement isn't "necessitated solely" by an attachment request in its petition.
TruConnect urged the FCC to also freeze benefit transfers for affordable connectivity program subscribers when the new enrollment freeze begins Feb. 8 (see 2401110072. The company made its argument during meetings with aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr, Nathan Simington and Geoffrey Starks. TruConnect also met with Wireline Bureau staff, said an ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 21-450. "An enrollment transfer freeze may provide additional time for Congress to renew ACP program appropriations by enabling the program funds to last longer than the projected late April expiration of funds," the company said.
The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates urged the FCC to move forward with its Further NPRM on direct numbering access. Commissioners adopted the item in September (see 2401020055). NASUCA backed expanding requirements for existing authorization holders, it said in a letter posted Friday in docket 13-97. There are "serious abuses of our numbering resources and a need for additional oversight of the processes and procedures involved in the use of our nation’s telephone numbers." In addition, the group encouraged that the FCC "explicitly prohibit the temporary rental of outward dialing telephone numbers."
The FCC appointed Commissioners Nathan Simington and Anna Gomez to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service and Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations, according to an order Thursday in docket 96-45. Both commissioners are members of the Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Services. Gomez was appointed chair of the universal service joint board and advanced series joint conference. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will continue to serve as the chair of the separations board.
Service providers must comply with the FCC's permanent disconnection reporting rule for the reassigned numbers database even if they don't have "permanent disconnections to disclose," the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau said in a public notice Thursday in docket 17-59. Providers must submit monthly reports on permanent disconnections of numbers assigned to them.