A summary of news from March 2019.
Kansas Rural Communications Service Provider Epic Touch To Purchase Louisiana Communications Providers
Kansas rural communications service provider Epic Touch Co., Inc. has entered into an agreement to purchase CP-TEL Holdings, Inc., the sole direct owner of Louisiana communications service providers Campti-Pleasant Hill Telephone Co., Inc. and CP-TEL Network Services, Inc.
Death Blow: Texas Court Strips ISP Grande Communications Of DMCA Safe Harbor Defense
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas has ruled that Texas-based Internet service provider Grande Communications Networks, LLC may not use the Digital Millennium Copyright Act safe harbor as part of its defense against a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by a group of record labels. The case is now set to move to trial, where the record companies are seeking to hold Grande secondarily liable for over one million instances of direct copyright infringement by Grande broadband subscribers.
Pai & O’Rielly’s Prediction Comes True: FCC Commissioner Tells USAC To Provide Information On Use Of E-Rate Funds To Overbuild Existing Fiber Networks
FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly has asked the Universal Service Administrative Company to provide information on the use of E-Rate funding to overbuild existing USF-supported fiber networks. Commissioner O’Rielly has asked USAC to respond to his request no later than April 1, 2019.
February 2019 News Update
This article is a summary of news from February 2019.
FCC Releases Revised Support Offers For Existing A-CAM Carriers, Sets March 27 Deadline To Accept
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has announced revised offers of Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) support and associated revised deployment obligations for the 262 carriers that have already been authorized to receive A-CAM. These carriers have until March 27, 2019, to notify the FCC whether they accept the revised amount of model-based support.
CAF II Auction Winners Redwire and Viasat Petition FCC For ETC Designation
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau is seeking comment on two separate petitions for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier filed by CAF Phase II auction winners Redwire, Inc. and Viasat Carrier Services, Inc.
FCC Says Digital Divide Has Narrowed Substantially – DRAFT 2019 FCC Broadband Deployment Report Concludes Broadband Is Being Deployed At A Reasonable And Timely Rate
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has circulated a draft of the 2019 Broadband Progress Report to his fellow commissioners. It is the second such report under the Pai administration, and for the second consecutive year, the report concludes that advanced telecommunications capability (broadband service) is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion. The FCC is expected to vote on the report in the coming weeks.
FCC Installs New Process For Reporting Changes To Antenna Structure Ownership
The FCC has installed a new two-step process for reporting changes in ownership of towers and other antenna structures. Under the new ownership change application process, both the assignor and the assignee must log into the FCC’s Antenna Structure Registration System, complete their respective portions of the application, and provide the signature of an authorized person.
American Cable Association Wants FCC To Revise USF Contributions Rules For VoIP Providers
In comments filed in response to the FCC’s 2018 Biennial Review of Telecommunications Regulations, the American Cable Association has urged the FCC to modify its universal service fund contributions rules because they are implemented in such a manner that is unfair to smaller communications providers. Among other things, ACA wants the FCC to revise downward the VoIP contributions safe harbor so that it more reasonably approximates the actual percentage of VoIP revenues derived from interstate and international services.