The FCC should loosen letter of credit requirements for providers seeking USF support to rebuild and harden networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, stakeholders said in comments posted through Thursday in docket 18-143 (see 2004080036). "The PR-USVI Fund Coalition’s emergency request for waiver is appropriate and necessary in light of the current circumstances in Puerto Rico," WorldNet said. Puerto Rico Public Service Regulatory Board associate member Alexandra Fernandez-Navarro supported revisiting the LOC requirements so "all providers can have a reasonable opportunity of accessing the Uniendo a PR and the Connect USVI Fund while assuring that most resources go towards building resilient, quality networks." The Wireless ISP Association said, unlike other high-cost USF broadband support programs, PR-USVI Fund applicants must provide the commitment LOCs before the FCC selects winning applicants. WISPA added the COVID-19 pandemic makes "it extremely difficult for Stage 2 support applicants" to file LOCs "when the applications are likely to be due." Oriental Bank said no banks in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands meet the rating requirements of the PR-USVI Fund, and mainland banks are unwilling to be such creditors. But Virgin Islands Telephone (doing business as Viya) opposed the waiver, seeking accountability. Puerto Rico Telephone wants the FCC to "proceed with caution" as it considers which criteria to waive because "entities with no prior experience participating in the Commission’s High-Cost program are eligible to participate in the Stage 2 competitive process."
Top House Democrats said Thursday they see broadband affordability and access as a priority in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill, despite questions about the prospects for addressing such issues in future legislation. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey and other Democrats unveiled a revised broadband legislative proposal that draws largely from a January plan (see 2001290052) and other existing legislation. Senate Democrats plan to file a modified companion to the Emergency Educational Connections Act (HR-6563) in a bid for emergency E-rate funding. House Commerce ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., told us it may be possible to include some form of broadband funding in the next pandemic aid measure.
Rural Wireless Association representatives asked FCC Wireline Bureau staff about the timing of a prohibition on carriers receiving USF support to buy Huawei and ZTE equipment. RWA representatives expressed concern about how the FCC will interpret provisions of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act and FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-89. RWA asked whether the rule “goes into effect prior to August 14, 2020 pursuant to the 2019 NDAA or whether the FCC must develop a specific list of prohibited Huawei and ZTE equipment and services prior to March 11, 2021 pursuant to the Secure Networks Act." If the FCC concludes “USF support is akin to a loan and grant as defined under Section 889 of the 2019 NDAA, then RWA is concerned that its members may no longer be able to use universal service funding for the operation of Huawei or ZTE networks after August 13." Representatives of Mavenir, Nokia, Panhandle Telephone Co-op, Pine Belt Cellular and Strata Networks participated.
The FCC is “finally” getting tough on China under President Donald Trump and Chairman Ajit Pai, Commissioner Brendan Carr said during an American Conservative Union webinar Wednesday. Matthew Whitaker, former acting U.S. attorney general, warned of the threat posed by China. Carr is a critic of China's governing regime (see 2004240045).
There's no consensus whether mobile and fixed communications services are complementary or substitutes in docket 20-60 comments this week for the FCC's communications market competitiveness report to Congress. The agency got requests for further smoothing access to poles and rights of way for wireline broadband access.
Industry, policymakers and consumer advocates are seeking new ways to expand Lifeline enrollment and benefits in response to the public health and economic crisis, we're told. Some advocates are pursuing emergency funding to provide a more robust residential broadband Lifeline benefit to meet the demands of working and learning at home. Stay-at-home orders put restraints on Lifeline promotion and enrollment.
Commissioners approved an NPRM Thursday on the proposed 5G Fund over partial dissents by Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks, as expected (see 2004200063). Both said the NPRM offers a false choice and the FCC can’t rely on bad maps or wait until 2023 or later to start offering support. Commissioner Mike O’Rielly supported the NPRM, but also had concerns. Members met via teleconference, for the second month during COVID-19.
DRS agreed to return $1 million to USF in a healthcare consent decree on Alaska, said an FCC Enforcement Bureau order Wednesday. The company didn't comment.
States are directing broadband funds to COVID-19 response, but many others lack that ability, said state commissioners, legislators and broadband officials in recent interviews. The pandemic increased states’ urgency to close broadband gaps and could lead to policy changes, they said.
The FCC’s April 23 meeting will be via teleconference and in a shortened format due to COVID-19, the agency said in a sunshine notice Thursday. As expected (see 2004150057), some major items will be voted during the meeting while the rest will be voted on circulation ahead of the meeting, the notice said. Commissioners will vote during the meeting on the 6 GHz rules and Further NPRM, the 5G rural USF fund and the orbital debris item. For the March meeting, some items were voted on the day before the meeting and others that morning, FCC officials said. In March, the agency prior to the meeting issued a deletion notice on the voted items.