The FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau has given ClearCaptions the go-ahead to forgo the volume-control reset requirement for wireline phones. People with hearing loss won't have to turn the volume back up on ClearCaptions phones covered by the waiver before using them again, said the order (docket 18-307).
Fiber is available to more than half of all broadband serviceable locations (BSL) in the U.S., CostQuest Associates said in a report Thursday. Each release of the FCC's broadband coverage map sees a drop in the number of locations without fiber coverage, it noted, adding that between the first version, released in June 2022, and the most recent one, 35.7% more BSLs have fiber. There was a 6.9% increase in the past six months, between Versions 5 and 6 of the map. AT&T is the single largest fiber provider in the U.S., reaching 15% of BSLs, CostQuest said.
NTCA filed in support of UP Fiber’s proposed acquisition of 40 wire centers in 42 exchanges and the associated customers from AT&T’s Michigan Bell (see 2507310023). Its comments, the only ones filed so far on the transaction, address a requested waiver to allow the creation of a study area for UP Fiber. “The transaction … will enable the provision of robust and reliable voice and broadband services to the areas that are the subject of the waiver without affecting existing” USF distributions, the group said this week in docket 25-281. UP Fiber's name is tied to its proposed service to the sparsely populated Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Members of the ACAM Broadband Coalition spoke with FCC staffers about continuing concerns about the enhanced alternative Connect America cost model (E-ACAM), said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 10-90. Coalition members said it was critical that the agency release “a complete and proper adjudication of all locations, service availability, and enforceable commitment issues before the eligible locations list to be used in the adjustment process is finalized.”
AT&T sought permission Tuesday from the FCC to stop accepting applications for optical carrier network point-to-point and LightGate special access services everywhere they’re still available across the company’s 21-state legacy wireline footprint. Last month, AT&T made a similar request on DS3 services (see 2508180039).
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners spoke with FCC staff about the group's opposition to a NumberBarn application for authorization to obtain numbering resources (see 2412090055). Association representatives met with an aide to Commissioner Olivia Trusty, Wireline Bureau Chief Joseph Calascione and other bureau staff, said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 19-99.
Colt Telecommunications asked the FCC for permission to delay submission of its biannual broadband data collection filings, which were due Tuesday, following a cyberattack. The incident occurred Aug. 12 and didn’t involve customer data, the carrier said in a filing in docket 19-195. It requested a new deadline of Nov. 3. “While our technical team is focused on restoring the affected systems, Colt has not yet determined when its internal data may be sufficiently accessible for Colt to prepare and submit its biannual BDC report.”
The Universal Service Administrative Co. projected an end-user revenue base of $7.87 billion in Q4, which will be used to calculate the USF contribution factor. USAC collected data from 3,164 contributors who filed Form 499-Q reports and 188 non-de-minimis service providers who had previously submitted information, said a filing Friday in docket 06-122.
Fiber operator Metronet said Tuesday it has purchased another fiber ISP, Minnesota's US Internet. Financial terms weren't disclosed. USI's network reaches more than 140,000 locations around Minneapolis, and the deal boosts Metronet's presence there, the company said. A T-Mobile/KKR joint venture purchased Metronet in July (see [Re:2507240027]), and Metronet said Tuesday that USI's residential customers will become T-Mobile Fiber customers, while its commercial customers will fall under Metronet.
The FCC asked for comment by Sept. 12 on an application by Clear Rate Communications for authorization to obtain North American Numbering Plan phone numbers directly from the numbering administrator. The company is an interconnected VoIP provider that “intends to initially request numbers in Michigan,” said a notice last week in docket 25-128.