THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

Posted by Amy Gross on 12/3/20 3:46 PM

Today's Regulatory Mix:    FCC Settles Outage Reporting Violation With $64K Penalty, FCC Approves NECA’s 2021 Annual Average Schedule HCLS Formula, Kansas Establishes Broadband Grant Program

 

FCC front view-1-1FCC Settles Outage Reporting Violation With $64K Penalty

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau released the terms of a settlement agreement with Logix Communications, LP. in order to resolve the Bureau’s investigation into whether it timely filed required network outage reporting violations.  As part of the settlement, the carrier admitted that it failed to timely file the required network outage reports, will implement a compliance plan to ensure future compliance, and will pay a $64,000 civil penalty.

In April 2020, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) notified Logix that it had failed to file its required Notification, Initial Report, and Final Report in connection with a reportable network outage that occurred on January 5, 2020.  After learning from PSHSB of the overdue filings, Logix submitted the reports required by PSHSB. PSHSB subsequently referred this matter to the Bureau for investigation and a Letter of Inquiry was issued.  In addition to appointing a compliance officer and establishing a compliance plan, Logix also agreed to develop a compliance manual and implement a compliance training program for its employees, report any future noncompliance, and file compliance reports for the next 3 years.

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2020 FCC SealFCC Approves NECA’s 2021 Annual Average Schedule HCLS Formula

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau approved the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.’s (NECA) annual average schedule company high-cost loop support (HCLS) formula modifications for 2021.  HCLS, also known as the loop expense adjustment, provides universal service support to carriers with high loop costs based on the extent that an individual company’s cost per loop (CPL) exceeds the national average cost per loop.  NECA’s formula for 2021 projects approximately $4.022 million in payments to carriers serving 74 average schedule study areas, an increase of 28.1% over the 2019 approved estimated payments.  The new formula will take effect January 1, 2021.

 

Country BroadbandKansas Establishes Broadband Grant Program

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced the introduction of the new Broadband Acceleration Grant Program to expand broadband access to rural and underserved communities across the state.  Over the next ten years, the program seeks to invest $85 million toward bridging the digital divide in Kansas thanks to broadband modernization funding provided through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). As the result of swift legislative action, $5 million will be available annually over the next three years, with $10 million annually made available over the following seven years.  A maximum of $1 million per grant will go toward funding projects that provide access to high quality, reliable broadband throughout Kansas, with priority given to applications that address unserved areas, economically distressed communities, and areas of compelling need.

The application window will open at 4 p.m. December 7, 2020, with intent to apply due on December 11, 2020, and applications due by noon on January 7, 2021. Broadband Acceleration grant program guidelines and information are available at this link. A grant application workshop webinar will be offered by the Office of Broadband Development on December 9 at 10:30 a.m. for entities interested in applying for the grant.

“These grants are a critical part of my administration’s work to provide underserved Kansans with the high-speed internet they need to compete economically and to improve access to health, education, and commercial tools,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We are working quickly to ensure our communities, no matter their zip code, are adequately equipped for prosperity and growth, as Kansas continues to rebuild its foundation.”

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Recent Briefings from Inteserra!

____________________________

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.

 

Receive Sample Trac-It Report!

 

 

Contact Us   for  Broadband Reporting Assistance!

 

Topics: Kansas Broadband Grants, Outage Reporting Violation, NECA’s 2021 HCLS Formula

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Posted by Amy Gross on 12/3/20 3:46 PM

Today's Regulatory Mix:    FCC Settles Outage Reporting Violation With $64K Penalty, FCC Approves NECA’s 2021 Annual Average Schedule HCLS Formula, Kansas Establishes Broadband Grant Program

 

FCC front view-1-1FCC Settles Outage Reporting Violation With $64K Penalty

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau released the terms of a settlement agreement with Logix Communications, LP. in order to resolve the Bureau’s investigation into whether it timely filed required network outage reporting violations.  As part of the settlement, the carrier admitted that it failed to timely file the required network outage reports, will implement a compliance plan to ensure future compliance, and will pay a $64,000 civil penalty.

In April 2020, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) notified Logix that it had failed to file its required Notification, Initial Report, and Final Report in connection with a reportable network outage that occurred on January 5, 2020.  After learning from PSHSB of the overdue filings, Logix submitted the reports required by PSHSB. PSHSB subsequently referred this matter to the Bureau for investigation and a Letter of Inquiry was issued.  In addition to appointing a compliance officer and establishing a compliance plan, Logix also agreed to develop a compliance manual and implement a compliance training program for its employees, report any future noncompliance, and file compliance reports for the next 3 years.

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE FCC BRIEFING

 

 

2020 FCC SealFCC Approves NECA’s 2021 Annual Average Schedule HCLS Formula

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau approved the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.’s (NECA) annual average schedule company high-cost loop support (HCLS) formula modifications for 2021.  HCLS, also known as the loop expense adjustment, provides universal service support to carriers with high loop costs based on the extent that an individual company’s cost per loop (CPL) exceeds the national average cost per loop.  NECA’s formula for 2021 projects approximately $4.022 million in payments to carriers serving 74 average schedule study areas, an increase of 28.1% over the 2019 approved estimated payments.  The new formula will take effect January 1, 2021.

 

Country BroadbandKansas Establishes Broadband Grant Program

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced the introduction of the new Broadband Acceleration Grant Program to expand broadband access to rural and underserved communities across the state.  Over the next ten years, the program seeks to invest $85 million toward bridging the digital divide in Kansas thanks to broadband modernization funding provided through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). As the result of swift legislative action, $5 million will be available annually over the next three years, with $10 million annually made available over the following seven years.  A maximum of $1 million per grant will go toward funding projects that provide access to high quality, reliable broadband throughout Kansas, with priority given to applications that address unserved areas, economically distressed communities, and areas of compelling need.

The application window will open at 4 p.m. December 7, 2020, with intent to apply due on December 11, 2020, and applications due by noon on January 7, 2021. Broadband Acceleration grant program guidelines and information are available at this link. A grant application workshop webinar will be offered by the Office of Broadband Development on December 9 at 10:30 a.m. for entities interested in applying for the grant.

“These grants are a critical part of my administration’s work to provide underserved Kansans with the high-speed internet they need to compete economically and to improve access to health, education, and commercial tools,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We are working quickly to ensure our communities, no matter their zip code, are adequately equipped for prosperity and growth, as Kansas continues to rebuild its foundation.”

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE STATE BRIEFING

 

Recent Briefings from Inteserra!

____________________________

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.

 

Receive Sample Trac-It Report!

 

 

Contact Us   for  Broadband Reporting Assistance!

 

Topics: Kansas Broadband Grants, Outage Reporting Violation, NECA’s 2021 HCLS Formula

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