Arizona Corporation Commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday to require staff to open a state USF rulemaking in docket T-00000A-20-0336. Chairwoman Lea Marquez Peterson (R) seeks to support broadband (see 2111090001). Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Anna Tovar voted no.
Hold Consumers' Research's challenge of USF's Q4 contribution factor in abeyance until the FCC issues its report to Congress on the future of USF, the agency asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, per a filing Tuesday in case 21-3866 (see 2111180018). The report "should address petitioners’ arguments with respect to the lawfulness of the FCC’s rules and procedures for adopting the universal service contribution factor," the agency said: Consumers' Research opposed the motion and interveners supported it.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is open to renewing, at least temporarily, an interim change to the state USF contribution method. At a livestreamed meeting Tuesday, OCC members reviewed the state’s November’s shift to a connections-based mechanism. Commissioner Todd Hiett reserved his right to support moving back to revenue-based reporting if he doesn’t see progress on legislative changes.
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will vote “later this week” on draft affordable connectivity program rules, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, he said during an Information Technology Industry Council webinar Tuesday. “I expect a lot from this program going forward” (see 2201070060). ACP rules must be finalized within 60 days of the law's enactment, which is Friday.
Open a rulemaking "promptly" to consider "potential modifications" to the FCC high cost Connect America Fund and "whether high-cost support is available for operating expenses in high-cost areas after network deployment is completed," Premier Communications told an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, per a filing Monday in docket 21-476. Premier said waiting for a notice of inquiry for the future of USF report to be submitted to Congress would "delay resolution of this issue" (see 2112220051): It would "be desirable" for the FCC to complete a rulemaking before 2023 when states are expected to receive broadband grants (see 2111240021).
The FCC Wireline Bureau granted a request by more than a dozen groups to extend the comment period for its notice of inquiry on a report on the future of USF, said an order Tuesday in docket 21-476 (see 2112220051). The bureau said the record would "benefit from commenters having had the opportunity to further monitor the commission’s implementation of the affordable connectivity program and NTIA’s implementation of broadband programs." Comments are now due by Feb. 17, replies by March 17.
Utah USF rule changes took effect Saturday, said a Public Service Commission notice Wednesday on docket 21-R008-04. The Utah Rural Telecom Association supported changes earlier this month and nobody filed opposition (see 2112160058). The changes included establishing an $18 per line monthly broadband subsidy for low-income customers and setting a standard $25 per line monthly rate to be imputed to rate-of-return regulated providers for wholesale consumer broadband-only loops, up from the current weighted $8.97 average.
Reject USF's Q1 contribution factor and set it at zero, said Consumers' Research, Cause Based Commerce and others in comments posted Wednesday in FCC docket 96-45 (see 2112130050). It's "an unconstitutional tax raised and spent by an unaccountable federal agency," the groups said, asking the agency to "do the same for all future proposed Universal Service contribution factors due to the illegality of this entire scheme and process." Consumers' Research challenged the Q4 contribution factor in October (see 2110050056).
Legislation was proposed to require the FCC to launch a rulemaking to expand USF's contribution base. Reps. Joe Neguse, D-Colo.; Kat Cammack, R-Fla.; Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas; Jack Bergman, R-Mich.; Diana DeGette, D-Colo.; and Angie Craig, D-Minn., introduced a House version of the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act (S-3236) that was introduced in November. HR-6314 would require the FCC to do a study assessing USF's contribution base and open a proceeding to revise the contribution system. NTCA endorsed it. "There isn't anyone who doesn't think" the contribution system is "antiquated," said WTA Senior Vice President-Government/Industry Affairs Derrick Owens.
Industry and advocacy groups are preparing comments by the Jan. 18 deadline for an FCC notice of inquiry on its report to Congress on the future of USF (see 2112160074). The document is due by August on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s impact on existing programs and what they should look like moving forward.