The FCC proposed fines of $8.8 million against 22 applicants in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction for apparently violating agency requirements by defaulting on their bids last year between May 3 and Dec. 16. Two applicants also failed to submit audited financial paperwork, resulting in additional fines. “The FCC provided clear guidance in its rules and notices on the monetary forfeitures associated with defaults in Auction 904,” the FCC said Monday: “The bid defaults prevented 2,994 census block groups in 31 states and an estimated 293,128 locations from receiving new investments in broadband infrastructure.” Leading the list, California Internet, a CLEC, faces a fine of more $3 million and Connect Everyone, a wholly owned subsidiary of Starry, a fine of more than $3.8 million. Some proposed fines were less than $10,000. “Not following the rules has consequences,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “For those who failed to meet their obligations, today’s action shows the Commission takes seriously its commitment to hold applicants accountable and ensure the integrity of our universal service funding.”
Representatives of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition met with staff for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on a petition SHLB filed with the Consortium for School Networking seeking an extension of Emergency Connectivity Fund service delivery dates. SHLB “reiterated that the Commission should extend the deadline to allow applicants that have received or will receive funding commitments to use all of the committed funding for two reasons: (1) it appears that there is enough funding remaining to cover all pending demand and (2) even if there was not enough funding, it is unlikely [the Universal Service Administrative Co.] could identify unused funding fast enough to turn around and distribute it to other applicants,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 21-93.
National Alliance on Mental Illness representatives met with FCC Wireline Bureau staffers to discuss agency progress toward required routing of 988 calls based on the caller's location, per a filing Friday in docket 18-336. It urged the agency to contact relevant stakeholders about ways of addressing dispatchable geolocation issues.
The recommendation by the Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division that Charter Communications modify or drop advertising claims about its wireless Speed Boost offering (see [Re:2304260004]) "reaffirms Charter’s ability to provide consumers with accurate information regarding our innovative Speed Boost technology," the company emailed Wednesday.
NTIA wants feedback on its proposed guidance for the broadband, equity, access and deployment program's state challenge process by midnight May 5, the agency said Tuesday. Comments should be sent to BEAD@ntia.gov. The agency proposed issuing a policy notice and model challenge process in response to inquiries from eligible entities and other stakeholders.
NTIA awarded more than $5.8 million in additional Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program grants to 12 tribes Tuesday. The new funding will help expand internet access for 164 tribal households, said a news release. The agency said it will release an additional notice of funding opportunity for the program "in the next few months."
Applications for the Rural Utilities Service's $20 million broadband technical assistance program are due by June 20, said a notice for Wednesday's Federal Register (see 2304170045). The agency anticipates making awards by Sept. 30.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel traveled to Boston Wednesday to promote the affordable connectivity program with Mayor Michelle Wu (D), the agency said in a Friday news release. "The response to this program demonstrates that an internet connection is vital for success in today’s world, but there are still more families we can reach,” Rosenworcel said. Wu said more than 34,000 households in Boston have enrolled in the program. Massachusetts is expected to receive $550,000 in ACP grant funding through the national competitive outreach program, the FCC said.
States, political subdivisions, Indian tribes and villages or regional corporations are asked to submit information by July 17 on their jurisdiction’s authority to collect 988 fees or charges, the amount collected in 2022, and how the revenue was used, the FCC Wireline Bureau said in a public notice in Thursday's Daily Digest. The information will inform the FCC's mandated report to Congress on 988 funds, it said.
Statistics show FTC efforts to combat foreign robocalls are curbing the amount of illegal calls, the agency said Tuesday. The FTC’s Project Point of No Entry identified 24 “target point of entry service providers responsible for routing and transmitting illegal robocalls between 2021 and 2023,” the agency said, noting most illegal robocalls originate overseas. Industry Traceback Group data shows “22 of the 24 targets significantly curbed or altogether stopped the flow of illegal robocalls entering the country over their networks” after agency contact, the FTC said. Before agency contact, the targets had a combined 1,043 tracebacks, which dropped to 196 after the targets were informed of the legal ramifications, the FTC said. It can seek civil penalties and court injunctions against Telemarketing Sales Rule violations. “Of the 196, 147 are linked to two uncooperative providers, one of which is subject to an FCC law enforcement action,” the FTC said.