Kansas Broadband & Telecom News - January 2025
Brightspeed Of Kansas Revises General Exchange Service Tariff
January 17, 2025 – Brightspeed Companies of Kansas has filed revisions to its General Exchange Service Tariff with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Brightspeed’s tariff filing “increases monthly rates for various Custom Calling Service Packages and various business and residential bundles.” Brightspeed has filed the revisions “on at least seven days’ advance notification and anticipate[s] a February 1, 2025 effective date.” The KCC Docket Number for the proceeding is 25-UTDT-283-TAR.
Rural Telephone Service Company Files Tariff Revisions
January 17, 2025 – Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc., dba Nex-Tech has filed revisions to its local exchange tariff with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Nex-Tech’s filing removes certain charges and revises the pricing of various services offered under the tariff. Nex-Tech states that the revisions’ annual impact on regulatory revenue is approximately $7,377. The KCC Docket Number for the proceeding is 25-RRLT-282-TAR.
Moundridge Telephone Company Revises General Exchange Tariff
January 17, 2025 – Moundridge Telephone Company has filed revisions to its General Exchange Tariff with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). The revisions implement changes to the rates for various services. Moundridge states that the revisions’ annual impact on regulatory revenue “is approximately $2,469.” The KCC Docket Number for the proceeding is 25-MRGT-281-TAR.
Kansas Office of Broadband Development Releases Update On BEAD Applications
January 15, 2025 – The Kansas Office of Broadband Development has released the following information on the applications it has received for Broadband Equity Access & Deployment (BEAD) program funding:
Applications Received: 200
Total Applicants: 23 Organizations
Total Funding Requested: $673 Million
Available BEAD Funding: $451.7 Million
Total Cost Of Proposed BEAD Projects: $943 Million
Applicants’ Total Proposed Matching Funds: $270 Million
Total Coverage Of Proposed Projects: 96%
Total Locations Covered By Proposed BEAD Projects: 50,209
Total BEAD-Eligible Locations: 52,343
Pro Forma Transfer Of Control & Name Change Application Filed For Consolidated Communications of Kansas & Missouri
January 13, 2025 – Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc. (CCHI), Consolidated Communications of Kansas Company (Consolidated-Kansas), Consolidated Communications of Missouri Company (Consolidated-Missouri), and Fidium Fiber Finance Holdco LLC (Fidium Finance) have submitted a Joint Application to the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). The applicants are seeking KCC approval of: (1) a pro forma transfer of control of Consolidated-Missouri and Consolidated-Kansas (the Kansas Operating Entities), and (2) changes to the legal names resulting from the re-domestication and conversion the Kansas Operating Entities to be Delaware limited liability companies. The applicants have requested the KCC grant the application no later than March 31, 2024.
As explained in the application, the Kansas Operating Entities became indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of Condor Holdings, LLC in December 2024. Condor is now undertaking a series of internal restructuring and other internal corporate changes, which involve, among other things, “changes in the intermediate holding company structure of the Kansas Operating Entities and the conversion of the Kansas Operating Entities to Delaware limited liability companies, with corresponding name changes.” The Kansas Operating Entities will become direct, wholly owned subsidiaries of Fidium Finance, and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Fidium Fiber Holdco LLC and other intermediate holding companies that are directly, wholly owned by Condor. As a result of the Kansas Operating Entities re-domesticating and converting to Delaware limited liability companies, their legal names will be: (1) Consolidated Communications of Kansas Company, LLC, and (2) Consolidated Communications of Missouri Company, LLC. The KCC Docket Number for the proceeding is 25-CCHT-279-CCN.
Blue Valley Tele-Communications Revises General Exchange Tariff
January 13, 2025 – Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Inc. has filed revisions to its General Exchange Tariff with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Blue Valley’s filing revises “bundle services rates to reflect the upcoming March 1, 2025 local rate change and pricing changes to non-regulated services.” The KCC Docket Number for the proceeding is 25-BLVT-274-TAR.
Elkhart Telephone Company Revises Tariff – Bundled Service Rates
January 13, 2025 – Elkhart Telephone Company has filed revisions to its General Exchange Tariff with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Elkhart Telephone’s filing revises “bundle services rates to reflect the upcoming March 1, 2025 local rate change.” The KCC Docket Number for the proceeding is 25-ELKT-273-TAR.
Brightspeed Companies of Kansas Revises Local Exchange Tariff To Increase Monthly Rates For All Business Flat Access Lines And Certain Residential And Business Key Trunks
January 8, 2025 – Brightspeed Companies of Kansas has filed revisions to its Local Exchange Tariff with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). The KCC Docket Number for the proceeding is 25-UTDT-271-TAR. Brightspeed Companies of Kansas explains the tariff revisions as follows:
This filing increases monthly rates for all business flat rate access lines and certain residential and business Key Trunks. These increases comply with HB 2131 changes to 66-2005(q)(1)(F) effective July 1, 2016, and are within the change permitted by the increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers. In addition, the monthly rate for Metroplus will be decreased for residence and business services. Included as Attachment A, please find the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers in 2023 and 2024. Attachment B is information supporting the business access line rate changes proposed in this filing. The changes are guided by the change in the Consumer Price Index as noted in Attachment A. Attachment C includes a copy of the customer notification. In compliance with existing rules, we make this filing on at least thirty days’ advance notification and anticipate a February 5, 2025 effective date.
Kansas Voice Service Providers Must Comply With New FCC Robocall Mitigation Database Filing Requirements & Procedures
January 8, 2025 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a Report And Order containing new Robocall Mitigation Database filing requirements and procedures. Below is a summary of the new requirements:
All entities are required to update any information submitted to CORES within 10 business days of any change to that information.
The Report And Order establishes a base forfeiture of $10,000 for each violation for filers that submit false or inaccurate information to the Robocall Mitigation Database, and establishes a base forfeiture of $1,000 for failure to update information that has changed in the Robocall Mitigation Database within 10 business days.
The Report And Order directs the Wireline Competition Bureau to establish a dedicated reporting mechanism that will allow stakeholders to notify the FCC of deficient Robocall Mitigation Database filings.
To assist filers with their robocall mitigation compliance obligations, the Report And Order directs the Wireline Competition Bureau to issue additional guidance, educational materials, and “best practices” for filing in the Robocall Mitigation Database.
In the Report And Order, the FCC concludes that Robocall Mitigation Database filings are “applications” within the meaning of Section 8 of the Communications Act, and therefore adopts an application fee for initial submissions, and annually thereafter. The FCC has set a $100 application processing fee for initial Robocall Mitigation Database submissions and for annual certifications.
To better secure the Robocall Mitigation Database, the Report And Order directs the Wireline Competition Bureau and OMD to develop a two-factor (or more) authentication solution for accessing the database.
The Robocall Mitigation Database was established by the FCC in 2021. All voice service providers and intermediate providers – entities that neither originate nor terminate voice traffic – must file a certification in the Robocall Mitigation Database which shows their level of STIR/SHAKEN implementation, describes their robocall mitigation plans, and provides additional identifying information that the FCC can use to monitor compliance with anti-robocall rules.
Blue Valley Tele-Communications Revises Tariff To Account For No Longer Providing Printed Telephone Directories And Other Changes
January 8, 2025 – Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Inc. has filed revisions to its General Exchange Tariff with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Blue Valley’s filing revises tariff language related to no longer providing a printed telephone directory, removes services which are no longer provided, and updates two CLASS features rates. In its filing, Blue Valley states that “[t]here is no ($0.00) revenue effect as a result of these changes and no customers are impacted.” The KCC Docket Number for the proceeding is 25-BLVT-270-TAR.
Nex-Tech Wireless Acquiring Spectrum License From US Cellular
January 7, 2025 – Kansas mobile wireless provider Nex-Tech Wireless, LLC is acquiring a lower 700 MHz band spectrum license from United States Cellular Corporation (US Cellular). The license – CMA 435 – covers Dickinson, Ellsworth, Marion, McPherson, Rice, and Saline counties in Kansas. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. US Cellular began exiting the wireless market last year. In May 2024, US Cellular announced it had entered into an agreement to sell T-Mobile US, Inc. most of the company’s wireless operations for approximately $4.4 billion. In November 2024, US Cellular agreed to sell spectrum licenses that were not part of the T-Mobile deal to AT&T for roughly $1.02 billion.
ETC Tracker: 10 ETC Applications Currently Pending At The Kansas Corporation Commission
January 1, 2025 – There are currently 10 eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) applications pending before the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Five applications request an initial designation as a Lifeline-only ETC. Four applications were filed by entities that have been designated as ETCs and are seeking an expansion of their ETC service areas. One applicant is seeking a relinquishment of its ETC designation. The dockets for the ETC applications are listed below:
23-DWLZ-676-ETC, DISH Wireless L.L.C. Application for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of Kansas for the Limited Purpose of Providing Lifeline Service to Qualifying Customers.
24-SAGT-326-ETC, Application Sage Telcom Communications, LLC to Expand Its Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Service Area.
24-MCCT-411-ETC, Application of Midcontinent Communications, A South Dakota General Partnership, for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier.
24-IMTT-515-ETC, IM Telecom, LLC d/b/a Infiniti Mobile's Application for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier.
24-NTHT-589-ETC, Application of Nex-Tech, LLC for an Order Confirming Relinquishment of its Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation In Specified Census Blocks.
24-TCCZ-659-ETC, Application of TruConnect Communications, Inc. Application for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier.
24-NTWZ-672-ETC, Application of Nex-Tech Wireless, LLC for Expansion of its Designation as a Lifeline-Only Eligible Telecommunications Carrier.
25-GOMT-124-ETC, Application of Go MD USA LLC For a Limited Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier for the Purpose of Offering and Operating a Lifeline Service for Low Income Consumers.
25-VMBZ-235-ETC, Application of the Assurance Wireless USA, L.P. to Expand its Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designated Service Area and to Receive Lifeline Support for Eligible Services.
25-AVWZ-250-ETC, Application of Air Voice Wireless, LLC for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 for Lifeline Purposes Only.
New Kansas Corporation Commission Telecom Dockets Opened In January 2025
25-UTDT-283-TAR – Brightspeed Companies of Kansas Filing Tariff Revisions to Increase Monthly Rates for Various Custom Call Service Packages and Various Business and Residential Bundles.
25-RRLT-282-TAR – Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc. Filing Tariff Revisions to Update Removal of Video Services Bundled Pricing and Internet Bundled Pricing, Remove EAS Additional Charge, Increased Residential and Business Rates and Other Modifications to its Tariff.
25-MRGT-281-TAR – Moundridge Telephone Company, Inc. Application for Tariff Revisions for Sheets 4 and 5, Section 3, Sheet 1 thru 14.
25-ELKT-273-TAR – Elkhart Telephone Company Filing Revision to its Bundles Tariff Changes.
25-CCHT-279-CCN – Joint Application of Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc., Fidium Fiber Finance Holdco LLC, Consolidated Communications of Kansas Company, and Consolidated Communications of Missouri Company for Approval of (1) a Pro Forma Transfer of Control of Consolidated Communications of Kansas Company and Consolidated Communications of Missouri Company to Fidium Fiber Finance Holdco LLC and (2) Name Changes of Consolidated Communications of Kansas Company and Consolidated Communications of Missouri Company to Reflect a Re-Domestication and Corporate Conversion.
25-BLVT-274-TAR – Blue Valley Tele-Communication Filing Tariff in Revisions in Section 2, 4 Sheet 14 and Section 2, 8 Sheet 15.
25-UTDT-271-TAR – Brightspeed Companies of Kansas Filing Tariff Revisions to Increase Monthly Rates for all Business Flat Access Lines and Certain Residential and Business Key Trunks.
25-BLVT-270-TAR – Blue Valley Tele-Communication Filing Tariff Revisions to No Longer Provide a Printed Telephone Directory and Remove Services Which No Longer Provided.
