Rep. Brenda Lawrence and eight other Democratic members of Michigan’s congressional delegation urged Capitol Hill leaders Wednesday to include “robust funding” for Lifeline, E-rate USF and Department of Agriculture broadband programs in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill. House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., is circulating draft language for the next COVID-19 bill that would appropriate $2 billion for emergency broadband benefit” funding rather than money for Lifeline (see 2004140062). The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (HR-748) “fell short of providing the necessary investment in high-speed internet service for low-income and rural Americans,” the Democratic lawmakers wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and their minority counterparts. “Do not forget” broadband funding. House Democrats’ Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act (HR-6379), which they floated during talks on HR-748, included emergency Lifeline and E-rate funding (see 2003230066). Lawrence and the other Democratic lawmakers want the USDA Rural Utilities Service’s Rural Broadband Access Grant, Loan and Loan Guarantee program to be “fully implemented and funded at $350 million annually” via the next epidemic measure. The letter's signers included Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Debbie Dingell, a House Communications Subcommittee member.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, N.J., is circulating discussion language to provide $2 billion in “emergency broadband benefit” funding in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill. Some lobbyists we spoke with see the draft as Democrats’ bid to resurrect plans for emergency broadband funding without providing new ammunition to Lifeline critics. Several Democratic lawmakers want future COVID-19 legislation to fund broadband and other infrastructure (see 2003260063). Some groups are urging Congress to use the coming measure to address other communications policy priorities, including media funding (see 2004090066).
Industry opposed requests to delay an FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund broadband subsidy program Phase I auction, in comments posted through Monday in docket 20-34 (see 2003270066). "Move ahead with the RDOF auction this year so that funding can be awarded to rapidly close the digital divide," USTelecom said, noting the California Public Utilities Commission argued for a delay. Telecom providers are challenged to keep networks in service during the pandemic, but "this is not an adequate reason for the Commission to delay an auction that is not due to start until October," USTelecom said: "This crisis has shown how important it is for all Americans to have access" to broadband. AT&T echoed earlier commenter skepticism for allowing unproven technologies to seek RDOF support. The company cited consensus on being "wary of short form applicants lacking two years of operational experience" and intending to rely on new low earth orbit satellite technology. NTCA wants the FCC to "reject proposals to reorient the weighting framework to favor certain lower-performing technologies that are inconsistent with the goals of the auction and that pose the risk of substantially complicating the RDOF auction." Rules should prohibit providers from using USF support to subsidize non-U.S. endeavors, GeoLinks said. "Despite these commenters’ attempts to disparage SpaceX’s network, SpaceX has now launched and operates the largest satellite constellation in the world and will soon be offering service to customers in the United States who have for too long been left behind by legacy networks," the company said. Don't "stifle broadband deployment by barring broadband service providers from using satellite technologies that can support latency-sensitive broadband services," such as medium earth orbit satellites, SES and affiliate O3b said. "Avoid making definitive conclusions about bidders or technologies prior to the short-form application process," Viasat said.
FCC staff showed areas likely to benefit from a 5G USF fund. Commissioners vote April 23 on an NPRM (see 2004020066). One of the proposed ways of awarding funds would be based on “existing data sources that identify rural areas,” Thursday's report said. The top five states in terms of land area that would qualify are: Nebraska (92%), North Dakota (91%), South Dakota (90%), Montana (89%) and Wyoming (86%). Top states based on eligible population: Vermont (47%), Maine (34%), Montana (33%), North Dakota (33%) and South Dakota (32%). The document is from the Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force and Office of Economics and Analytics. The FCC said as much as 67% of the land in 49 states and three U.S. territories would be eligible. Alaska has a separate mobile plan. The agency has different support for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry criticized the report. “Unfortunately, the FCC is publishing eligibility maps that bear little relationship to where there is or is not actually coverage,” Berry emailed: “The analysis itself notes that the maps released today may bear little resemblance to the areas actually available for funding in an auction, which is extremely concerning. At a time when everyone is recognizing the importance of bridging the digital divide, the FCC seems intent on moving forward with spending $9 billion without bothering to measure the scope of the problem they are purporting to solve.”
New America’s Open Technology Institute asked the FCC to use USF programs to extend connectivity to students without broadband access during COVID-19, in an emergency filing on docket 02-6: "Designate a substantial portion of the $2.2 billion in currently available E-Rate funding" to distribute internet hot spots to families through schools and libraries.
The PR-USVI Fund Coalition asked the FCC to waive letter of credit requirements for participants in USF telecom rebuild program for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (see 2002250038), in a petition posted Wednesday on docket 18-143. It cited different LOC requirements in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund program and "exigent circumstances" due to COVID-19. Members include Aeronet, Critical Hub Networks and VPNet.
Borrowers in the Rural Utilities Service ReConnect broadband subsidy program should be the only ones eligible to bid on census blocks serving the same territory in the upcoming FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, NTCA and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association recommended, posted Tuesday in docket 19-126. Borrowers "would by no means" be guaranteed to win USF support for the same area, the associations acknowledged. The groups spoke Monday with Preston Wise, rural broadband adviser to Chairman Ajit Pai.
MediaJustice, the United Church of Christ and 60-plus other groups asked FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to facilitate free inmate calling services during COVID-19 pandemic, in a petition in docket 12-375 and as expected (see 2003300022). ICS providers should sign Pai's Keep Americans Connected pledge, and the FCC shouldn't let Securus stop making USF contributions, they asked. Also Tuesday, Worth Rises asked for free ICS calls.
The FCC will allow indoor operations over the full 1,200 megahertz of 6 GHz, without automated frequency control and at power levels lower than what the cable industry and others sought, said a draft order released Thursday. As expected, the FCC will regulate indoor use on a power-spectral density (PSD) basis (see 2004010065). The draft proposed these devices be limited to 5 dBm/MHz radiated PSD, lower than the 8 dBm/MHz sought by cable and others (see 2003260049). Industry officials said that means less throughput for devices using the wide channels. The draft proposes higher limits for outdoor devices using AFC.
FCC commissioners finished OK'ing an emergency COVID-19 telehealth program Tuesday (see 2004010032) that directs $200 million from the Cares Act to healthcare providers to treat patients at home. Chairman Ajit Pai circulated the item Monday (see 2003300048) and Commissioner Brendan Carr voted then. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said Tuesday morning he voted yes. At that day's FCC meeting, Commissioner Mike O'Rielly asked that the item, which attached a three-year, $100 million USF Connected Care pilot long in the works (see 2003120002), be split in two so commissioners could deliberate on them separately.