Slower M&A activity in the U.S. communications market over the past 12 months hasn't notably affected valuations for private communications companies, CoBank said Monday. It said the slowdown stems from concerns about the overall economy, rising interest rates and supply chain delays, and a big drop in deals for fiber transport likely has more to do with the lack of networks available for sale. It said private market valuations are often performing better than their publicly traded counterparts -- often because smaller rural providers are in less competitive markets. Private communications providers also benefit from having growth opportunities via unserved and underserved markets, it said, while fiber overbuilders benefit from having no linear video assets to manage as they target high-growth vulnerable markets. It said M&A activity should pick up once a corner is turned on economics.
An FCC Wireline Bureau order extending the service and equipment delivery deadlines for Emergency Connectivity Fund recipients is effective Monday, said a notice for that day's Federal Register. The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and the Consortium for School Networking's joint petition on the issue in May (see 2305120061).
The North American Numbering Council will meet June 28 at 2 p.m., said a public notice Thursday in docket 23-1. It's the first time the group will meet in person in the commission meeting room since the group began meeting virtually. The group will consider two reports and recommendations from the numbering administration oversight working group and a report from billing and collections agent Welch.
The FCC's final rule on information collection for the Lifeline program takes effect Wednesday, said a notice for that day's Federal Register. Commissioners adopted the rule in 2018 (see 1801120046).
The FCC Enforcement Bureau proposed a $1.4 million fine against PayG for failing to timely file telecom reporting worksheets with the Universal Service Administrative Co. between 2018 and 2021, said a notice of apparent liability Tuesday. The notice said PayG failed to file and pay on time for the USF, Telecom Relay Service Fund, North American numbering plan and federal regulatory fees.
The FCC issued two additional notices of funding opportunity for outreach grants to promote the affordable connectivity program (see 2304100010). Applications for the up to $5 million national competitive outreach program are due by June 30 at 6 p.m. EDT. Applications for the up to $5 million tribal competitive outreach program are due by July 8 at 6 p.m. EDT, said a Thursday news release. “We’ve had great success so far -- with more than 18 million households enrolled," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, "but we know there are many more households we can reach with help to get online and stay online."
USTelecom sought redesignation of its Industry Traceback Group as the FCC's registered traceback consortium, in a letter posted Friday in docket 20-22 (see 2208220055). The group said its tracebacks "aid in the ongoing fight against fraudulent, abusive, and unlawful robocalls in several ways," noting ITG data resulted in "an eight-fold decline in the number of student loan robocalls over the course of 2022." The ITG "continues successfully to meet the criteria established in the Traced Act for the registered consortium" and its track record "demonstrates that it remains the right entity for the role," USTelecom said.
The FCC committed more than $12 million in additional Emergency Connectivity Fund support Wednesday. The new funding will support 45 schools, five libraries and one consortium from the third application filing window, said a news release. “While the school year is winding down, the need to get all our students connected remains a priority so kids can access online assignments and engage with teachers,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
The Rural Utilities Service confirmed its final rule published on Jan. 30 and effective May 1 without change on the ReConnect program's definition of non-funded service area and audit submission requirements, per a notice for Thursday's Federal Register (see Ref:2301270069]).
NTIA awarded $4.5 million in additional tribal broadband connectivity program grants to nine tribes Wednesday. The new funding will support broadband deployment and planning and feasibility studies, said a news release. “Tribal communities deserve access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service,” said NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson: “These grants will help lower barriers to internet access today and plan for the future high-speed internet infrastructure projects of tomorrow.”