At The FCC

NATOA thanks Andrew Afflerbach for preparing the comments. 

Click HERE to read the comments.

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE ELIGIBILITY OF BUNDLED COMPONENTS UNDER THE SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES PROGRAM

CC Docket No. 02-6; GN Docket No. 09-51

The FCC is seeking comment on a plan to revise the E-rate program to clarify the program’s “requirements for bundling devices, equipment and services that are ineligible for E-rate support (“ineligible components”) with E-rate eligible services and products.”  The Wireline Competition Bureau proposes and seeks comment on “additional clarifications to remove any potential uncertainty regarding the Commission’s requirement for applicants to cost allocate ineligible components when those ineligible components are bundled with eligible services.”

A copy of the Public Notice can be found HERE. 

Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register; Reply Comments will be due 45 days after publication. 

On March 8, the FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on certain proposals to implement provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 governing deployment of a nationwide public safety broadband network in the 700 MHz band. (Dkt No.  06-229 06-150 12-94 ). The NPRM seeks comment in three areas: First, “we address technical service rules for the new public safety broadband network to be established pursuant to the Public Safety Spectrum Act. We next seek comment on the exercise of the Commission’s statutory responsibilities as they relate to oversight of FirstNet’s operations. Finally, we ask how to address different classes of incumbents now occupying portions of the spectrum licensed to FirstNet.”

A copy of the NPRM is can be found HERE.

Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register; reply comments are due 45 days after publication. 

NATOA, joined by its national partners NACo, NLC, and the USCM, filed comments in response to two industry petitions concerning the ongoing IP transition and the potential retirement of legacy copper networks.

“While we support the transition to new, more advanced transmission technologies, we are concerned that without careful planning, some consumers may be left without any telephone service at all, while others may only have the single option of wireless voice service… . The right to depend on reliable telephone service in times of emergencies must not be abandoned along with these copper networks. The transition from copper networks requires that regulations be modified, not abandoned, so as not to leave any Americans without this vital service.”   

Click HERE to read the Comments.

NATOA filed Reply Comments in the FCC’s proceeding concerning digital technical standards, rebutting industry assertions that such standards are not necessary. “Maintaining requirements to regularly test and report results benefits consumers. Such requirements help to ensure that systems are working to their certification standards and that signal quality and interference problems are addressed proactively, particularly as cable operators have consolidated and upgraded once separate systems and are expanding the services provided over those systems.”   

NATOA thanks Gail A. Karish of Best Best & Krieger for drafting the comments and Mitsi Herrera for her leadership throughout this proceeding.

Click HERE to read the Reply Comments.