The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the FCC's unopposed motion to stay its ruling in favor of Consumers' Research's USF contributions challenge pending the commission's petition for a writ of certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court in an order Monday (docket 22-60008). The stay will expire Oct. 1, the order said. The FCC said in its motion that the Solicitor General "recently authorized the filing of a petition," adding that the decision "threatens to disrupt the operation of a multi-billion-dollar subsidy program."

Universal Service Administrative Co. board member Daniel Domenech will resign effective Dec. 31, USAC told the FCC in a letter Friday. Domenech, who serves as the executive director of the American Association of School Administrators and represents schools and libraries eligible for USF support on the board, gave no reason for his decision in a resignation letter. USAC requested that the Wireline Bureau begin a nomination and selection process to fill the seat "in conjunction with the board members whose terms will expire on Dec. 31."

CTIA, USTelecom and the Competitive Carriers Association jointly asked that the FCC delay by three weeks the comment deadlines on a July Further NPRM on the broadband data collection process (see 2408150009). The groups asked that the initial comment deadline be delayed from Sept. 16 to Oct. 7 and the reply comment deadline moved from Oct. 15 to Nov. 5. “The FNPRM raises complex issues … that warrant a robust record from those directly impacted, including member companies of the Joint Petitioners,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 19-195. “Key subject matter experts at the member companies dedicated to BDC issues are currently preparing the next BDC filing” due on Sept. 3, the groups said: “The intervening Labor Day holiday further reduces the time available to respond to the multitude of system-specific questions asked in the FNPRM. A brief three-week extension is consistent with precedent, in the public interest, and warranted to afford the Joint Petitioners’ member companies sufficient time to develop a complete record.”

Former FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly filed an amicus brief Friday (docket 24-7000) in support of industry groups in their challenge of the FCC's net neutrality rules (see 2408200052). O'Rielly told the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that broadband is an information service and Title II regulations contravene the Telecom Act of 1996. "Broadband offers users the capability to generate, store, transform, process, retrieve, utilize, and make available information," O'Rielly said, noting those are "precisely the functional capabilities that define an information service." He urged the court to grant the industry groups' petition for review and vacate the order.

There's a "good chance" the debate over net neutrality may come to an end "at least in the courts, leaving the issue of how broadband should be regulated to Congress," Free State Foundation President Randolph May wrote in a Friday blog (see 2408140043). It's "impossible to know for certain" how the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will rule or if an appeal will reach the U.S. Supreme Court, May blogged. "My prediction is that the stay panel's reasoning" that Title II classification of broadband providers "constitutes a major question that Congress has not clearly authorized the commission to decide," he added. May noted there's "evidence that public utility regulation of broadband discourages investment in new facilities and development of innovative applications and services." The regulatory "flip-flopping," he said, is "not conducive to longer-term business planning in an arena so important ... to the nation's social and economic well-being."

More than 17,000 Communications Workers of America members across the Southeast remain on strike after walking off the job last week, protesting unfair labor practices and AT&T’s “bad faith bargaining tactics,” CWA said Thursday. In a news release Wednesday, CWA said it and AT&T entered federal mediation and had their first meeting with the mediator that morning. The strike includes CWA members in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. “Though negotiations began in late June, AT&T has refused to bargain over mandatory subjects and has failed to send a representative with authority to make decisions,” CWA said Thursday. Union President Claude Cummings said, “I expect AT&T to treat every member with respect and to send representatives to the table who have authority to bargain and who are serious about bargaining in good faith.” AT&T remains "committed to reaching a fair agreement with CWA District 3, and we suggested the use of a federal mediator to ensure there is no question about either side’s commitment to this process," an AT&T spokesperson emailed: "Until a deal is reached, we have business continuity measures in place so that we can continue to provide our customers with the great service they deserve.” The spokesperson said claims of unfair labor practices during current negotiations are "false."

Global Tel*Link's ViaPath asked the FCC to issue an enforcement advisory following an apparent letter another incarcerated people's communications service (IPCS) provider sent to correctional facilities. The letter said the commission's new rules have no effect on the provider's operations because its "application-based services" aren't provided on a per-minute basis (see 2407180039). ViaPath said in a letter Wednesday in docket 23-62 that the "misinformation may also have been circulated to correctional facility customers who are served by other IPCS providers." ViaPath said it "cannot be understated the degree of chaos and confusion being created in the IPCS marketplace by the inaccurate interpretation of the order." The company sought an enforcement advisory clarifying that the rules apply to "all services meeting the revised definition of IPCS regardless of technology, device or transmission format used."

The FCC Wireline Bureau Tuesday posted updated responses to questions on the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program as well as a new user guide. “We encourage Reimbursement Program recipients to regularly consult the Reimbursement Program webpage for updates,” the bureau said. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has urged Congress to close the more than $3 billion shortfall in the rip and replace program, which pays for replacing Huawei and ZTE communications gear and services from mostly wireless networks (see 2405020071).

Ericsson said Friday it has an agreement to sell iconectiv to Koch Equity Development for $1 billion. As part of its Telcordia acquisition in 2012, Ericsson picked up the U.S. network planning and management services subsidiary. Private equity firm Francisco Partners co-owns the subsidiary. “The Transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, with completion targeted during the first half of calendar 2025,” Ericsson said. Iconectiv, which is the local number portability administrator (LNPA), and Koch told the FCC iconectiv will be able to continue serving in that role. “The proposed ownership structure will ensure iconectiv’s neutrality and impartiality post-closing of the transaction,” a filing posted Monday in docket 07-149 said.

Comments are due Sept. 16, replies Oct. 15, on a July NPRM from the FCC on broadband data collection rules. The FCC is seeking comment on proposed changes limiting publication of data on ‘‘grandfathered’’ services. The NPRM also proposes collecting "terrestrial fixed wireless spectrum authorization information, and additional certifications and supporting data from satellite broadband providers,” a Thursday notice in the Federal Register said. “We propose to amend our rules to permit filers to indicate that the service offered at a location is a grandfathered service only,” the NPRM says: “We also propose that information on the availability of these services would only be disclosed by the Commission on an aggregated, redacted or otherwise de-identified, differentiated or masked basis.” The section on fixed wireless notes that the commission has an obligation “to verify providers’ broadband availability data filed in the BDC.” In verifying broadband availability based on terrestrial fixed wireless service, “we must also ensure that the reported availability is authorized based upon applicable FCC spectrum licenses or other forms of authorizations (as reported by technology category code), as a claim of terrestrial fixed wireless service availability would be invalid if the service provider’s operations were unauthorized,” the notice says. Comments should be filed in dockets 19-195 and 11-10.