The FCC should fully fund model-based and cost-based rate-of-return USF mechanisms before considering a second Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM) offer with new demands, said WTA in meetings with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Wireline Bureau staffers, posted Friday in docket 10-90 (here, here). The RLEC group also discussed "implementation and technical and economic feasibility of potential changes to associated broadband build-out obligations" and "potential impact of the growth of Customer Broadband Only Line ('CBOL') services upon cost-based RoR budgets and budget control." Hargray Communications urged adoption of consensus RoR budget hike proposals from NTCA, USTelecom, ITTA and WTA (see 1810010045). "Current funding uncertainty is deterring investment" that could help close the digital divide, it said on a discussion with bureau staffers. It opposed "arbitrary reductions" in support for seven years, "the term of many commercial loans."
A draft FCC jurisdictional separations freeze item is an order, a spokesperson told us Friday, describing an item on the circulation list. An NPRM proposed to extend by 15 years the freeze on federal-state separations rules apportioning rate-of-return telco regulated costs and revenue between interstate and intrastate jurisdictions (see 1807180059), drawing objections from state regulators and support from telco interests (see 1808280021). The spokesperson noted the circulation list included a draft order on a Sandwich Isles petition for reconsideration of a December 2016 order requiring the company repay $27 million in "improper" USF support, which was released with a proposed $49 million fine. It also included a draft item on Spectrum Networks Group "Applications and Waiver Request to Allow it to Provide Private, Internal Machine-To-Machine Communications to Businesses on 900 MHz Business/Industrial/Land Transportation Channels."
The Oregon Public Utility Commission plans to further weigh requiring interconnected VoIP companies to contribute to the state USF. The agenda for Monday at 9:30 a.m. includes a schedule for docket AR-615 and discussion of proposed rules, forms and instructions to be released Tuesday. The PUC plans a Dec. 4 public meeting on staff’s recommendation that the commission issue a notice of proposed rulemaking. At an October workshop, AT&T and cable providers raised doubts about PUC authority over VoIP (see 1810100042).
The National Tribal Telecommunications Association recommended changes to USF support mechanisms for carriers serving predominantly rural tribal areas, in a report filed Thursday at the FCC in docket 10-90. NTTA "proposes a Tribal Area Solution to revise current federal universal service programs for [rate-of-return] carriers. These revisions, proposed for the High Cost Loop Support, Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support, and Alternative Connect America Cost Model support programs, recognize the unique challenges faced by carriers serving rural Tribal areas of the lower 48 states in the country.” Efforts to help tribal areas appear on paper to be “fairly substantial,” the group said: “However, the facts are clear -- Tribal areas, especially rural Tribal areas in the lower 48 states, lag significantly behind the rest of the country in regards to broadband availability.”
The FCC needs to revise the USF in way that's “sufficient and predictable,” said NTCA and Golden West Telecommunications CEO Denny Law in meetings with aides to all four FCC commissioners and staff from the Wireline Bureau, said an ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 10-90. Stakeholders have shown “overwhelming support” for “longer-term funding to promote universal service in rural areas,” the filing said. The agency also needs to “ensure the sustainability of any budgets adopted” to provide incentives to invest in broadband “for the benefit of rural consumers,” the filing said.
The FCC Wireline Bureau sought comment Friday on the implications of a provision in the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act that would bar use of money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain. The FCC had been expected to deepen its inquiry in light of the NDAA (see 1810190025). The bureau asks specifically about Section 889(b)(1), which bars federal agencies from using “loan or grant funds to procure or obtain, extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain, or enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to procure or obtain equipment, services, or systems” with Huawei, ZTE and other Chinese companies. “Does the prohibition in section 889(b)(1) apply to support provided by the … USF?” the bureau asks. “To the extent the provision is intended to apply to USF, what obligation might it impose upon the Commission? Would the Commission’s proposed rule in the Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain NPRM satisfy the intent of section 889(b)(1)?” Comments are due Nov. 16 in docket 18-89, replies Dec. 7.
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska issued a 4-1 final decision adopting USF changes proposed by the Alaska Telephone Association. Wednesday’s order in docket R-18-001 follows commissioners’ August 5-0 oral vote to sunset the Alaska USF in five years and adopt the ATA plan (see 1808090025). “Our decision to make significant revisions to the AUSF is intended to correct the escalating crisis resulting from a large decrease in assessable intrastate revenues and the resultant increase in the AUSF surcharge paid by intrastate telecommunications consumers,” RCA said. The ATA plan “continues to promote parity of intrastate and interstate long distance rates and also maintains a support mechanism designed to compensate LECs for reductions in access charge revenues and for fulfilling [carrier of last resort] duties,” RCA said. It’s “an acceptable transitional measure that will prevent further escalation of the AUSF and related surcharge,” the agency said. The decision may be appealed within 30 days, it said. Commissioner Stephen McAlpine dissented from the written order.
FCC Wireline Bureau Chief Kris Monteith said staff is examining USF contribution issues. "I think you'll see us acting" on USF contributions in the relatively near future, she said Thursday at an FCBA event. "It is being worked on." She said Chairman Ajit Pai is focused on all USF programs and mechanisms and "how we can do better." Asked about a Lifeline rulemaking and possible action, Monteith "would expect you'd see something in the near term." Deputy Bureau Chief Lisa Hone said staff is particularly focused on matters that have deadlines, such as disputes over Aureon Network Services and South Dakota Network tariff filings and on a possible extension of a jurisdictional separations freeze that expires at year-end. Bureau officials noted Pai's goal of acting by year's end to firm up rural telco USF support mechanisms. Among the lobbying tips officials offered attorneys: when scheduling ex parte meetings, let the bureau know with some specificity the topic to be discussed so the appropriate staffers can attend; let staff know upfront if parties need action by a date certain; if parties have complaints about bureau actions, let the bureau know before going to commissioner offices; and make ex parte filings as complete as possible, because sometimes valuable input is provided in meetings but not cited in filings, meaning the FCC can't officially rely on it in making decisions.
Judges pressed the FCC to justify tribal Lifeline support limits and procedures, while questioning arguments of industry and tribal petitioners challenging the rules. A three-judge merits panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard oral argument Thursday on the 2017 order that barred resellers from receiving enhanced tribal Lifeline subsidies and targeted the USF support to rural areas (see 1711160021) in National Lifeline Association v. FCC. No. 18-1026. A separate motions panel of three Democratic appointees Aug. 10 stayed the tribal rules pending review by the merits panel (see 1808100027).
Hughes Network Systems said FCC distribution of new USF support for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands without an auction must contain "clear and unambiguous" criteria for scoring the network "resiliency, cost, timing and performance" of bids considered by a neutral third party. The satellite provider has concerns about distributing "Stage 2" support without an auction, but backed an "objective, non-auction format for this one-time funding allocation" to "expediently restore and expand resilient broadband communications" to the hurricane-struck islands, it said, posting Tuesday in docket 18-143. It responded to a staff request at a Sept. 12 meeting. The company recommended a "rubric, based on the Commission’s four enumerated priorities -- 40 points for price per location; 20 points for network resiliency; 20 points for network deployment timing; and 20 points for network performance." Puerto Rico Telephone Co. urged increasing the Stage 2 budget for fixed service providers and giving the carrier a right of first refusal, it said in meetings its CEO Enrique Ortiz de Montellano and others had with Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel, Brendan Carr and aides to all four commissioners. It discussed how to "structure an alternative competitive request for proposal process, if necessary."