The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is seeking comment, due April 30, on a proposed NPRM on “Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain,” said a notice for Friday’s Federal Register. The rulemaking is intended to assist BIS “in determining the technologies and market participants that may be most appropriate for regulation” under a 2019 executive order by former President Donald Trump, the notice said.

A coalition of nearly 70 broadband experts, ISPs, community leaders and nonprofit organizations urged the FCC to grant a "brief amnesty period" for certain Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and Connect America Fund II areas in a letter Wednesday (see 2308170049). Among those signing the letter were the American Association for Public Broadband, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Communications Workers of America and Connect Humanity. The coalition warned that large and rural areas intended to be connected through both programs "will remain disconnected due to the inability or unwillingness of ISPs to fulfill their obligations." In addition, the group said areas that will be served through either program aren't eligible for support through NTIA's broadband, equity, access, and deployment program. "Unfortunately, there are a large number of census blocks throughout the country where RDOF and CAF II awardees have not even begun to build their networks for a variety of reasons," the letter said. An amnesty will let states include these communities on their maps because of "unfulfilled RDOF and CAF II commitments," the group argued. The letter noted it's "entirely in the commission's power to ensure that large swaths of rural America are not left out."

USDA's Rural Utilities Service extended until May 21 the deadline to apply for ReConnect funding (see 2402210072). The change gives applicants "a full 60 days to prepare their complete applications," said a notice for Monday's Federal Register. The March 22 application window opening remains unchanged.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau removed 12 carriers from its robocall mitigation database. The Thursday bureau order removed certifications for Viettel Business Solutions, Etihad Etisalat's Mobily, TeleCube.PL, Nervill LTD, Textodog and Textodog Software, CIS IT & Engineering, Datacom Specialists, DomainerSuite, Evernex SMC, Humbolt Voip and My Taxi Ride for failing to "correct their facially deficient database certifications" or prove why they should not be removed following an October inquiry. All intermediate providers and voice service providers were directed to cease accepting calls from the listed carriers. In a separate order Thursday, the bureau removed Teleclub's certification for "fail[ing] to include any description of any robocall mitigation efforts" the company is taking.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr is in New Delhi holding bilateral meetings on security, supply chain and connectivity issues, a Wednesday release said. “Over the course of two days, Carr will meet with his Indian counterparts, including officials at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the Department of Telecommunications, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the National Cyber Coordination Centre,” the release said. “The strong bond between the world’s oldest democracy and its largest has never been more important,” Carr said.

USDA Rural Utilities Service will open its fifth round of funding for the ReConnect program on March 22, said a notice in Wednesday's Federal Register. Applications are due by April 22 at 11:59 a.m. EDT. The agency made up to $150 million available in grants and $200 million for loans. Up to $200 million was also available for potential awardees seeking a combination. Tribal entities seeking a grant don't have a funding match requirement.

Former APCO CEO Derek Poarch launched a consultancy targeting public safety clients. A former FCC Public Safety Bureau chief, Poarch became APCO CEO in 2011 and left the group last year (see 2306300039).

NTIA is inappropriately trying to set prices in Virginia through the broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program by demanding that the state put a specific rate on low-cost plans, former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly blogged Friday. “Despite repeated public reassurances by [Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo] and select staff that BEAD implementation would reject setting specific broadband rates -- an act prohibited by provisions of the infrastructure law -- that’s exactly what is this underhanded attempt is all about,” the Republican wrote. “Contrary to claims being made, setting a price is ratemaking. And by putting Virginia’s application in purgatory, Secretary Raimondo is trying to bend the state to Commerce’s will.” NTIA and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development didn’t comment.

The FCC announced an in-person workshop March 6 that will provide information about identifying and evaluating opportunities "to develop more robust broadband infrastructure and services in tribal communities." The commission said in a public notice Wednesday that the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will host the workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. On March 5 at 2 p.m. there will be an "optional tribal library tour."

The FCC's affordable connectivity program is a "true unicorn among public policies," USTelecom President-CEO Jonathan Spalter wrote in a Tuesday blog (see 2402120068). Spalter urged that policymakers consider "rolling the ACP into the Universal Service Fund." This would "bring greater accountability to Big Tech" and "create a stable, permanent source of funding." ACP's future "offers a telling gut check on whether our nation remains committed to our shared goal of connectivity," Spalter said: "Congress abandoning ACP funding a mere two years into its existence would be profoundly disruptive to the country’s digital affordability and equity goals."