FCC commissioners approved 5-0 an order rejecting Huawei’s application for review of a June 30 Public Safety Bureau order designating it as a covered company barred from participating in the USF. Commissioners also agreed to move forward on a proceeding revoking China Telecom America's U.S. authorizations for international telecom services following a recommendation by executive branch agencies, led by DOJ. “Network security is national security,” said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks.
Supply chain security is likely to remain a top FCC focus under President Joe Biden, said Umair Javed, aide to FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, during an FCBA webinar Tuesday. Rosenworcel is expected to be named interim, and possibly permanent, chair, during the next administration. FCC and industry officials told us commissioners are likely to approve a final security item proposed by Chairman Ajit Pai 5-0 (see 2011190059), at their meeting Thursday.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission aims to spur broadband with its first pole-attachment dispute resolution since the state asserted authority in March by reverse preempting the FCC, Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille said at Thursday's virtual meeting. Commissioners voted unanimously to reduce telecom attachment rates FirstEnergy charges Verizon. In other states that day, California Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D) announced a second go at her Broadband for All bill and Colorado’s Broadband Advisory Board held its first meeting.
An omnibus FY 2021 appropriations measure under negotiation is likely to include funding for the FCC to implement the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (S-1822), said House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Thursday. He told a USTelecom webinar that he believes movement on infrastructure legislation like the House-passed Moving Forward Act (HR-2) is “not going to happen” during the waning days of the lame-duck session, but “hopefully we can get it passed” and enacted after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. Many advocates of federal broadband spending are optimistic a Biden administration will be able to reach a deal with Congress on infrastructure legislation (see 2011200056).
The Q1 USF contribution factor is projected to reach a record 31.8%, consultant Billy Jack Gregg emailed stakeholders Wednesday. That comes amid dropping revenue.
Senate Republican leaders are eyeing a floor vote as soon as next week to confirm FCC nominee Nathan Simington, setting up what’s likely to be a partisan showdown over the prospect of a 2-2 commission deadlock at the start of President-elect Joe Biden's incoming administration. The Commerce Committee advanced Simington Wednesday, as expected (see 2012010064), on a 14-12 party-line vote. Senate Democrats are already watching the potential implications for Biden’s pick for the party’s third FCC seat, when Chairman Ajit Pai leaves Jan. 20 (see 2011300032).
The Senate Commerce Committee appeared on track before its Wednesday meeting to advance FCC nominee Nathan Simington’s confirmation to the full chamber. That's despite continued uncertainty about whether panel member Dan Sullivan of Alaska will join other Republicans in backing the nominee. Opponents of Simington’s confirmation claim President Donald Trump picked him to displace Commissioner Mike O’Rielly because the nominee supports the push for a rulemaking on its Communications Decency Act Section 230 interpretation (see 2011100070).
The Wyoming Business Council should "immediately release" coverage maps for broadband network projects funded by Cares Act grants and "halt any funding for projects that will result in subsidized overbuilding," said FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly in a letter to Gov. Mark Gordon (R) Wednesday. Local fiber and cable-based broadband providers raised concerns about the duplication of networks in already-serviced areas. O'Rielly said such duplication would "artificially impair the value of" FCC USF subsidies, because at least one of the grants will allegedly overbuild a recipient of Connect America Fund Phase II auction funding. Gordon's office didn't comment Monday.
Backers and some critics of Ajit Pai agreed he was a particularly effective FCC chairman, leaving behind a legacy of major accomplishments and changes. Pai announced Monday he will step down on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20 (see 2011300020). Supporters said his scorecard includes enacting policies that accelerated broadband deployment and steering the agency through the pandemic.
Rules barring USF recipients from using equipment suppliers that were deemed national security risks should be “technology neutral,” asked the Telecommunications Industry Association in calls last week with aides to FCC Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Brendan Carr, per filings posted Wednesday in docket 18-89. “Follow this time-honored technology neutral approach in determining what equipment and services can be used by U.S. providers to replace at-risk equipment.” Some language in the FCC’s draft item “could be read as promoting certain solutions over others,” TIA said.