US Senate ACCESS BROADBAND Act

Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the ACCESS BROADBAND Act with Senators Doug Jones (D-AL), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).  The companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Susan Brooks (R-Ind).  This bicameral legislation is intended to foster the development and growth of broadband resources for businesses as well as underserved urban and rural communities throughout the country. The Act requires the Department of Commerce to establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The bill aims to streamline processes for local businesses to access federal broadband resources through a simplified application process and better oversight of federal broadband support programs.  It also requires the new office to: (1) track the construction and use of and access to any broadband infrastructure built using any Federal support in a central database; and (2) create a central website through which a potential applicant can learn about and apply for support through any Federal broadband support program.

“Far too many communities across Nevada still lack access to high speed broadband,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The ACCESS BROADBAND Act enhances the federal government’s ability to support the expansion of wireless services and broadband infrastructure essential to helping underserved communities in Nevada, and across America get connected. I look forward to acting on this legislation to lay the groundwork for 5G networks that serve the needs of first responders, businesses and local school districts that need fast, reliable internet. Nevada is the Innovation State, and in order for us to continue being leaders, our communities must have access to high quality broadband that provides our states’ with the 21st century infrastructure they need to thrive.”

“Reliable access to the internet is vital to our economy and way of life, whether for students doing homework, job seekers training for a new career, doctors reading a medical scan or entrepreneurs starting a small business,” said Representative Tonko. “Despite its importance, federal resources supporting broadband expansion are poorly tracked with little coordination across agencies or departments that are doing this work, making it harder for our local businesses and community leaders to access them. This bill is a step towards better broadband access for our communities and better government for all of us.”

The full text of the bill is available here

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The Regulatory Mix Today:  US Senate ACCESS BROADBAND Act, Fcc Sets Filing Dates for July 1, 2019 Access Filings, US Senate Broadband Act

FCC Sets Filing Dates for July 1, 2019 Access Filings

The FCC established the procedures for the 2019 filing of annual access charge tariffs and Tariff Review Plans (TRPs) for ILECs subject to price cap regulation, as well as rate-of-return ILECs subject to sections 61.38, 61.39, and 61.50 of the Commission’s rules.  First, the FCC modified the effective date for this year’s annual access charge tariff filings from July 1, 2019, to July 2, 2019.  This modification was made so that ILECs making 15 day tariff filings could make those filings on a Monday rather than a Sunday.  For consistency sake, the FCC adopted the same effective date for filings made on seven days.  Accordingly, the following filing schedule was set:

15-DAY TARIFF FILINGS: June 17, 2019

EFFECTIVE: July 2, 2019

PETITIONS TO REJECT OR SUSPEND: June 24, 2019

REPLIES: June 28, 2019 (due no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time)

7-DAY TARIFF FILINGS: June 25, 2019

EFFECTIVE: July 2, 2019

PETITIONS TO REJECT OR SUSPEND: June 27, 2019 (due no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time)

REPLIES: June 28, 2019 (due no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time)

The FCC also: (1) waived §61.49(k) of its rules, which obligates price cap ILECs to submit a short form TRP as part of the annual access charge tariff filing process, due to the likely unavailability of information needed to fulfill this requirement and the limited utility of such filings; and (2) waived §54.712 of its rules to the extent necessary to allow carriers filing an annual access charge tariff that will be effective July 2, 2019 to use the second quarter universal service fund (USF) contribution factor for the first day of the third quarter for purposes of recovering the costs of contributing to the USF through a line item on their customers’ bills.

US Senate Hearing on Broadband Mapping: Challenges and Solutions

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced the Committee will convene a hearing titled, “Broadband Mapping: Challenges and Solutions,” at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. The hearing will examine the current state of the nation’s broadband maps, and evaluate the ongoing efforts within the federal government and private sector to collect more accurate broadband coverage data. The hearing also will examine ways to increase coordination among federal agencies that administer broadband deployment programs to ensure resources are targeted to unserved areas.  The initial witness list is as follows:

• Mr. Tim Donovan, Senior Vice President, Competitive Carriers Association
• Mr. Mike McCormick, President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
• Mr. Mike Obilzalo, Vice President and General Manager, Hood Canal Communications
• Mr. Jonathan Spalter, President and Chief Executive Officer, United States Telecom Association
• Mr. Chip Strange, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Ookla

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.