A resolution urging the FCC to expand the kinds of services whose customers are required to pay into the USF (CD Feb 11 p15) was among six approved unanimously by the NARUC board at the end of the organization’s winter meeting Wednesday. The resolution, proposed by Vermont Public Service Board Commissioner John Burke, urges the FCC to expand the USF contribution base “so that all communications services, including services such as broadband that are required to be offered in order to receive federal support, contribute to USF.” The resolution took no position on whether the size of the fund should be increased. Another resolution, by Michigan Public Service Commissioner Sally Talberg, supports efforts by the FCC to allow a variety of service providers to apply for rural broadband experiments. The resolution also asked the FCC to ensure that funds for the experiments be aimed at ensuring broadband service for rural areas, and that broadband networks deployed in rural areas remain sustainable. A third resolution, by Nebraska Public Service commissioners Tim Schram and Anne Boyle, said the FCC should clarify that rules on 911 location accuracy apply to calls made from both indoors and outdoors. A resolution by Washington Utilities and Transportation Commissioner Philip Jones expressed support and encouragement to the National Association of Public Affairs Networks to establish C-SPAN-like public affairs TV networks in all 50 states. A resolution by District of Columbia Public Service Commissioner Betty Ann Kane urges the FCC to require applicants for the upcoming IP tests to prominently provide information to customers on how to submit complaints to state regulatory agencies or the FCC. Kane’s resolution also asks the FCC to require applicants requesting a waiver of a mandatory condition from the FCC to notify state regulatory commissions and customers. It also asks the FCC to provide adequate opportunity for public comment before granting a waiver.
The FCC should begin making customers of non-wireline services, including broadband, contribute to the USF, some panelists said at NARUC’s winter committee meetings. But NCTA Vice President-State Government Affairs Rick Cimerman said taxing broadband is the wrong approach if a goal is to expand broadband.
NARUC staff approved five telecom-related resolutions Sunday. One offered by Vermont Commissioner John Burke asks the FCC to expand the USF contribution base, “so that all communications services, including services such as broadband that are required to be offered in order to receive federal support, contribute to USF.” Another by Commissioner Sally Talberg, of Michigan, supports efforts by the FCC to allow a variety of service providers to apply for rural broadband experiments. The resolution also urged the FCC to ensure the funds for the experiments not only be aimed at ensuring broadband service for rural areas, but also that broadband networks deployed in rural areas remain sustainable. A third resolution, by Nebraska Commissioners Tim Schram and Anne Boyle, asked the FCC to clarify that rules on 911 accuracy apply both indoors and outdoors. A resolution by Commissioner Philip Jones of Washington state expressed support and encouragement to the National Association of Public Affairs Networks to establish C-SPAN-like networks in all 50 states. Another resolution by South Dakota Commissioner Chris Nelson thanked Jim McConnaughey for his public service. He retired last month as NTIA chief economist.
It’s not for lack of trying that Congress hasn’t overhauled the Communications Act since 1996. In December, House Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., outlined plans to update the landmark telecom law -- initial stakeholder comments posted online Wednesday (CD Feb 6 p8) (http://1.usa.gov/1dsVahV), hearings and white papers in 2014, a bill in 2015. They are hardly the first lawmakers to say they want to transform the act, which marked its 18th anniversary Saturday. Former staffers and congressional leaders involved in past attempts told us why recent high-profile efforts, such as in 2006 led by Republicans and in 2010 by Democrats, failed to succeed and what those experiences might portend for House Republicans now.
The Free State Foundation said the FCC should take seriously Lifeline changes sought by TracFone (http://bit.ly/LQAyuc), including a proposal that eligible telecommunications carriers be allowed to retain income-based and program-based eligibility documentation. The FCC Wireline Bureau sought comment on the petition (http://bit.ly/1eyjELs). “By now, the Commission should be aware of its problematic rules which erect unnecessary barriers to efficient subscriber eligibility determinations,” FSF said in a blog post Wednesday (http://bit.ly/LzfuHL). “Reforms that help ensure Lifeline subsidies are distributed only to eligible applicants, based on a proper application review process, will help achieve the commendable goals of the program. Unlike those parts of the USF program that distribute subsidies in a more indiscriminate fashion, like the high-cost fund, Lifeline provides targeted subsidies to those in need who meet income eligibility requirements. The Lifeline program is worthwhile, but it can only be sustained if it is administered efficiently and with minimal levels of fraud and abuse. That’s why reforms like those proposed by TracFone are necessary to improve the Lifeline program and to maintain public confidence that Lifeline funds are not being wasted."
Companies, associations and think tanks began weighing in last week on how best to overhaul the Communications Act. House Commerce Committee Republicans announced a desire to update the act in December, and they solicited feedback on their first white paper last month. The deadline for commenting was Friday, and several stakeholders released proposals for tweaking the landmark telecom law, with initial comments emphasizing the role of the marketplace and a need to end regulatory silos.
NARUC will consider five telecom resolutions at its winter meeting in Washington, it confirmed this week, releasing a document with all the drafts (http://t.co/xPNT99ZbXi). One proposed resolution, sponsored by outgoing Telecom Committee Chairman John Burke, a member of the Vermont Public Service Board, would ask the FCC to revamp the contribution side of USF. Another draft resolution proposes to improve rural broadband deployment by allowing utilities and critical infrastructure industries to tap Connect America Fund money in unserved and underserved areas where no incumbent provider is given support. Another possible resolution would back location accuracy standards for wireless 911 calls, both indoor and outdoor. One proposed resolution would encourage the National Association of Public Affairs Networks “to establish public affairs networks in every State” -- non-profit television networks akin to C-SPAN, focused on public access and government transparency -- and have each PUC coordinate with the FCC and state executive branches and legislatures, among other stakeholders, to improve digital communications networks. The final draft resolution would ask the FCC to ensure a consumer protection standard before approving any IP transition trials. If approved, it would ask the FCC to make sure “residential and small business customers in affected areas avoid any (i) degradation in the capability, quality and reliability of voice services; (ii) reduction in the availability of voice service options/providers; or (iii) increase in rates for equivalent voice services (such as federal and State Lifeline services).” None of the drafts is NARUC policy until the NARUC board approves them, and the drafts can be substantially modified or rejected outright when considered by the NARUC telecom subcommittee, which consists of state commission staff members, or the telecom committee, consisting of state regulatory commissioners. The meeting will be Feb. 9-12.
The IP transition order FCC members are to vote on Thursday will okay the types of trials AT&T has suggested, where customers in a service area will be transitioned from legacy TDM to IP services, agency officials told us. The order approves and recognizes the benefits for doing trials, which include helping the commission understand the impact of technology transitions on end users, the officials said.
The FCC got lots of advice on process reform (CD Dec 6 p3), as part of an initiative being overseen by Diane Cornell, special counsel to Chairman Tom Wheeler. How much progress Wheeler will be able to make and what might come out of reform efforts is a big question mark, said industry sources including numerous former FCC officials. The full FCC is slated to get an update from Cornell at Thursday’s meeting.
The FCC must find a “coherent approach” to high-cost USF reform in Alaska that recognizes the state’s unique geography, demographics, climate and infrastructure challenges, General Communication told Commissioner Mike O'Rielly and Phil Verveer, senior counselor to Chairman Tom Wheeler, in separate meetings last week, an ex parte filing said (http://bit.ly/1bwlTu6). “Given the extremely large need for universal service support to deploy and sustain modern telecommunications and broadband networks in Alaska, it makes little sense to continue to reduce the total high-cost support to Alaska,” GCI said. “Instead, high-cost reform for Alaska should focus on better targeting that support, tied to the Commission’s broadband deployment objectives.” For example, Phase II of the Connect America Fund could target support to stay away from census blocks where GCI will be an unsubsidized competitor at the end of the wireline competitive eligible telecom carrier support phaseout, said the cable operator, which also provides phone service. It said the commission could also increase the “extremely high-cost threshold for Alaska” to reflect the higher costs of serving those areas. That would also reduce the burden on the limited Remote Areas Funds, said the company.