ClearCaptions urged the FCC to update its operating margin for video relay services and IP captioned telephone services funded by the Telecom Relay Services Fund based on "more comparable companies and recent data." A "cost-plus-percentage of 16% to 21% above all real costs represents a reasonable range for the commission's VRS and IP CTS ratemaking," it told Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau staff, the Office of Managing Director, and Office of Economics and Analytics staff, per an ex parte filing posted Wednesday in docket 03-123. The record shows providers "support updating the operating margin," ClearCaptions said: "The 7.6% to 12.35% operating margin the commission relies on is outdated and the industry has changed so that the companies used to establish the operating margin are no longer comparable."

The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau reminded contributors to the Telecom Relay Services Fund they must pay a percentage of their intrastate, interstate and international end-user revenue for all internet-based forms of TRS beginning July 1, in a public notice Tuesday in docket 03-123. The bureau noted the revised contribution factor for internet-based support is 0.01615 and non-internet-based support is 0.00025. Contributors will receive a statement from the TRS Fund administrator about their required contribution amount.

Martini Security raised concerns about enforcing Stir/Shaken requirements and standards, a letter to the FCC posted Friday in docket 17-97. The company, which is a Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority certified authority (STI-CA) of Stir/Shaken certificates, said "most" STI-CA participants "are failing to meet the stated requirements of the standards and policies governing both the functioning and interoperability of" the Stir/Shaken ecosystem. Martini Security noted the STI-GA didn't implement "any observable changes" to address non-conformance issues it discovered in a 2022 report. It recommended the FCC require the STI-GA to "regularly report" on the state of compliance, establish a "problem-reporting mechanism for STI-CA non-conformity," and require STI-CAs to make their issued certificates publicly available.

An FCC order expanding certain robocall rules to all voice service providers takes effect Jan. 8, said a notice for Monday's Federal Register. Comments on an NPRM and notice of inquiry on additional proposals to curb illegal robocalls are due by Aug. 9, replies by Sept. 8, in docket 17-59. Commissioners adopted the items in May (see 2305180036).

E-rate advocates urged the FCC to make cybersecurity expenses eligible for E-rate category two support, in a meeting with Wireline Bureau staff (see 2210130065). The advocates, which included the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, Consortium for School Networking and the American Library Association, noted cybersecurity is "the number one networking issue faced by schools across the country," per an ex parte filing Wednesday in docket 13-184. The FCC should consider a "trial project to test the applicability" of including such expenses under category two, adding there shouldn't be limits placed on the types of cybersecurity defenses supported, said the filing.

The FCC's broadband data task force opened its third data collection filing window for facilities-based providers Monday, per a public notice in docket 11-10. Providers have until Sept. 1 to submit their availability data as of June 30. Also Monday, the task force released the latest version of the broadband serviceable location fabric. Bulk challenges are due by Sept. 8 to ensure challenges are considered in time for the next iteration of the broadband maps that will be released in December.

Oppositions to Viya's petition for partial reconsideration of the transitional support period for fixed network support in the U.S. Virgin Islands through the Bringing Puerto Rico Together Fund and Connect USVI Fund are due by July 17 in docket 18-143, said a notice in Friday's Federal Register. Replies to opposition are due by July 27.

All IP-based voice service provider networks must have implemented Stir/Shaken by Friday, said an FCC news release. "While there is no single cure-all when it comes to robocalls, having this technology in our networks is real progress and we will continue to push forward with this and every other tool we have to fight these junk calls," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Facilities-based small voice service providers and gateway providers "not subject to an extension" are now required to implement the caller ID authentication framework in the IP portion of their networks after having a two-year extension to do so.

A coalition of electric utility companies raised concerns about make-ready pole replacement cost allocations and refund rules, in separate meetings with the FCC Wireline Bureau and aides to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Electric utilities "do not benefit" from make-ready pole replacements, the companies said, adding it's "unjust and unreasonable to shift any portion of the cost" to them, per an ex parte filing posted Tuesday in docket 17-84. The coalition -- which included Southern Co., Oncor Electric Delivery, Entergy, Duke Energy, American Electric Power Service and Ameren Services -- said in a meeting with Rosenworcel aides the current refund rule "creates a significant accounting problem for electric utilities," citing the FCC's lack of jurisdiction over rates paid to ILECs by electric utilities.

A coalition of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction winners met with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel about a June letter from Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; JD Vance, R-Ohio; and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., on supplemental funding for winning bidders, per an ex parte filing posted Wednesday in docket 19-126. The providers, which included Aristotle Unified Communications and TekWav, sought "assistance for relief that is available under its existing and already funded RDOF program" to address "huge cost increases" that "could never have been anticipated by the commission and RDOF winners" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Supplemental funds "should not be limited to those RDOF winners with less than 250,000 current broadband subscribers" because cost increases "impacted all RDOF winners," the providers said.