All in Broadband
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has announced that the FCC will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking during its August open meeting to formally establish the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The RDOF is planned to provide $20.4 billion over the next 10 years to support the construction of broadband networks in areas that lack access to broadband service at speeds of at least 25/3 Mbps.
The FCC has released a draft Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking aimed at collecting more accurate broadband deployment data and producing more precise broadband maps. In the Report and Order, the FCC creates the Digital Opportunity Data Collection, a new initiative distinct from the Form 477 process, which will require all fixed broadband providers to submit coverage polygons depicting the areas where they actually provide service. The FCC also adopts a process to begin collecting public input on the accuracy of service providers’ broadband deployment data. The FCC expects to vote to adopt the item during its August 1st open meeting.
The FCC has extended the deadline, by 30 days, for rate-of-return carriers to accept or turn down their offers of A-CAM II support. Rate-of-return carriers must now indicate, on a state-by-state basis, whether they will transition to model-based support by July 17, 2019.
An update on news from June 2019.
Wisper ISP, Inc. has responded to Conexon, LLC’s opposition to Wisper’s petition for waiver of the deadline for certifying its designation as an ETC in Oklahoma. Wisper’s reply also addresses Conexon’s request to declare Wisper in default of its CAF Phase II compliance obligations in Kansas because Wisper was granted ETC status based on incorrect broadband speed obligations. In its reply, Wisper maintains that the FCC lacks any authority to declare Wisper in default of its state obligations in Kansas.
Conexon, LLC has asked the FCC to declare that Wisper ISP, Inc. is in default of its CAF Phase II broadband speed obligations in the state of Kansas. When Wisper applied for ETC designation in Kansas, Wisper stated its CAF II broadband speed obligation is 25/3 Mbps, when in fact it is actually 100/20 Mbps. Wisper’s Kansas ETC petition was granted four months ago.
An update on news from May 2019.
In a span of six days, the U.S. federal government took three actions against Huawei that will ban the company from the U.S. market and force U.S. companies and consumers that own Huawei equipment to stop using it.
Rate-of-return local exchange carriers have a very important decision to make in the next 41 days: move to Alternative Connect America Cost Model II support or continue to receive cost-based universal service fund support. They have until June 17, 2019 to decide. Even rate-of-return carriers that will receive less support under A-CAM II are considering the move. If they so choose, these “glide path” carriers will shift to A-CAM II support under a three-tiered transition process.
Rate-of-return local exchange carriers have until June 17, 2019 to decide whether to move to Alternative Connect America Cost Model support or continue receiving cost-based legacy support. One important factor in this decision will be the broadband deployment obligations required under the cost model.
