The FCC should define broadband based on "an evidence-based model that reflects actual demand from actual users in actual real-world circumstances," blogged Free State Foundation President Randolph May and Senior Fellow Andrew Long Thursday. May and Long cited Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's proposal circulated in July that would seek comment on the state of broadband deployment and increase the national fixed broadband standard to 100/20 Mbps (see 2307250068). A fact-intensive assessment of real-world use cases taking into account the actual speeds and performance Americans require today and in the foreseeable future" would "produce a more informed, more fiscally responsible working definition" of broadband, they said.
NTIA awarded seven grants totaling nearly $3.5 million through the tribal broadband connectivity program Thursday. The new funding will support broadband deployment and planning projects for seven tribes in New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington, per a news release. Applications for the next round of program support are due by Jan. 23 (see 2307270046).
The FCC committed more than $68 million in additional Emergency Connectivity Fund support Wednesday. The new funding will support 184 schools and school districts, 13 libraries and library systems, and two consortiums, per a news release. About $6.93 billion in funding commitments have been approved to date.
The FCC Office of International Affairs rejected a request by Incompas and Morgan Lewis, on behalf of its clients, asking the FCC for a 30-day extension of the deadlines to file comments and replies on an NPRM on Section 214 international authorizations (see 308070045) approved by commissioners 4-0 in April (see 2304200039). Initial comments are due Aug. 31, replies Oct. 2. “We find nothing sufficiently unique or unusual in this instance that would warrant granting the extensions of the comment and reply comment deadlines,” said an order in docket 23-119 in Wednesdays' Daily Digest. OIA agreed to exempt from a one-time information requirement some companies that recently provided information that hasn't changed, providing a break for those that filed applications within three years before the deadline of the one-time information collection. The exemption applies only to those with “no Reportable Foreign Interest Holders of the Authorization Holder other than those disclosed in the application (including any amendment)” and when “there are no changes to the Reportable Foreign Interest Holders disclosed in the application.”
Viya companies submitted to the FCC a heavily redacted revised disaster preparedness and restoration plan in connection with its election to receive Connect U.S. Virgin Islands Stage 2 mobile support. Viya asked that much of the report receive confidential treatment, in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 18-143. “VIYA Companies operate in a challenging environment where in addition to ordinary climate issues (e.g., high moisture and salt air) there exists regular threat of hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, and other natural and manmade disasters,” Viya said: “VIYA Companies’ wireless and wireline networks are critical infrastructure for the U.S. Virgin Islands and VIYA Companies have a special responsibility to ensure network resilience and availability.”
The FCC Public Safety Bureau said Tuesday its 911 reliability certification system is now open for filing annual reliability certifications. The certificates are due Oct. 16. “The Commission’s rules require covered 911 service providers to take reasonable measures to provide reliable 911 service with respect to: (i) 911 circuit diversity; (ii) central office backup power; and (iii) diverse network monitoring,” the bureau said: “Covered 911 service providers must certify as to their compliance with each of these three requirements or to their implementation of reasonable alternative measures.”
USDA awarded nearly $700 million in its latest round of ReConnect program support to 22 states, the agency said Monday (see 2306130042). NTCA said its members received nearly $350 million of the announced awards and will support "the delivery of 100 Mbps symmetrical speeds or better."
Representatives of Alaska providers, led by the Alaska Telecom Association, urged the FCC to release an NPRM on a petition seeking an update and expansion of the Alaska Plan (see 2302230040). An NPRM would "provide the opportunity to review the proposals made … and develop an extended Plan,” said a filing posted Monday in docket 10-90: “An extended Plan will allow participants to proceed with planning for future deployment and upgrades, and to participate fully in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.” On a call with FCC Wireless and Wireline bureau staff were representatives of KPU Telecom, Alaska Communications, Alaska Power & Telephone, Fastwyre Broadband, Vantage Point, Alaska Communications and GCI.
Nokia is expanding a program that combines in a single package several electronic products that FCC broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program participants use for building and scaling network infrastructure, the company said in a news release Thursday. The expanded program will include fiber products made in the U.S. such as those produced in the Wisconsin manufacturing project announced by Nokia earlier this month (see 2308030076). Operators building networks “need to be able to source a wide range of components and networking equipment all while ensuring their quality and compatibility,” the release said. Nokia’s “network-in-a-box” can help to simplify and speed that process, the release said.
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended until Oct. 30 the invoice filing deadline for emergency connectivity fund applicants and providers with deadlines occurring before that date, it said in an order posted Tuesday in docket 21-93. T-Mobile sought a waiver in June, citing the "complexities in the emergency program related to the invoicing process." The bureau also modified its rules to allow invoices to be submitted within 60 days from the date that the Universal Service Administrative Co. issues a notification that a refund request has been processed.