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Vol. 19, No. 29

July 17, 2023

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UPCOMING EVENTS

October 8-10

The 2023 INCOMPAS Show

Tampa, Florida


For information about exhibiting, sponsoring or securing meeting space, please email Sky Wang.

MEMBER NEWS


Bluebird Network Wins 2023 Visionary Spotlight Award Third Year in a Row


BT Taps TXO to Resell and Recycle Old Copper-based Telecom Gear


DISH Hires Eben Albertyn as EVP and CTO for Wireless Network


FirstLight Wins Four Visionary Spotlight Awards


Granite Wins Two 2023 Visionary Spotlight Awards from ChannelVision


IdeaTek is Bringing Gigabit Fiber Internet to McPherson


Unite Private Networks Announces Market Expansion into Yuma, Arizona

COMMENT

DEADLINES


July 31

Comments Dues on TCPA Consent NPRM


August 4

Comments Due on Exemptions from the Uniform Guidance to the BEAD Program


August 9

Comments Due on FNPRM and NOI Seeking Comment on Options to Further Enhance Consumer Protections Against Robocalls


August 14

Reply Comments Dues on TCPA Consent NPRM


September 8

Reply Comments Due on FNPRM and NOI Seeking Comment on Options to Further Enhance Consumer Protections Against Robocalls

One Month Left to Cash In on Savings for The 2023 INCOMPAS Show

The clock is ticking on your chance to save big on The 2023 INCOMPAS Show.


August 15 is the last day to take advantage of early-bird registration, featuring $150 discounts to attend the industry's top networking event of the year.


Once registered, you'll receive:

  • The link to book your room at our host hotel - the Tampa Marriott Water Street - so you can be in the center of the action.
  • Access to ConnectIN, our exclusive and easy-to-use LinkedIn group for all of your networking, meeting and educational needs - before, during and after the show - including the list of registered attendees.


Want to save even more?

Register as a group of five or more and save up to $200 off per person. Contact registration@incompas.org for details.

REGISTER TODAY

INCOMPAS Announces Support of NARUC's ACP Resolution

INCOMPAS today submitted a letter of support for the NARUC resolution calling for continued Congressional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).


"With the billions of dollars flowing from private and public entities, specifically the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, to invigorate the broadband marketplace and create resources to build out critical networks, we also need to ensure that once they are built, people can afford to be on them," said INCOMPAS President Angie Kronenberg. "A vital component to achieving that is the ACP. BEAD and ACP work hand in glove to achieve the goal of connecting America. However, ACP funding is expected to run out by early to mid-2024. If the ACP faces extinction, it jeopardizes the massive public and private sector investment into the buildout."


"We wholeheartedly support NARUC’s resolution calling on Congress to provide mandatory funding for the ACP," Kronenberg continued. "Annual, mandatory funding will provide the certainty necessary to continue to enroll all eligible households. Connectivity isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity to participate in our modern-day economy. All Americans should have access to a reliable, affordable connection, and we will continue to advocate on the local, state and federal levels to achieve that goal." 

FCC Announces Tentative Agenda

for August 3 Open Meeting

The FCC announced its tentative agenda for the August 3 open meeting, where it will consider: 


  • Advancing Understanding of Non-Federal Spectrum Usage – An NOI that would initiate a technical inquiry into how to obtain more sophisticated knowledge of real-time non-Federal spectrum usage—and how the FCC could take advantage of modern capabilities for doing so in a cost-effective, accurate, scalable and actionable manner. The NOI would explore the potential to advance the FCC's understanding of commercial spectrum usage by leveraging new data sources, methods, and technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in an increasingly congested radiofrequency environment.


  • Updating Digital FM Radio Service – An Order and NPRM seeking comment on proposed changes to the methodology used to determine maximum power levels for digital FM broadcast stations and to the process for authorizing digital transmissions at different power levels on the upper and lower digital sidebands.


  • Affordable Connectivity Program High-Cost Benefit – A Sixth Report and Order which would implement the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) high-cost area benefit, providing a discount of up to $75 per month for broadband services provided in qualifying high-cost areas, by participating ACP providers.

Member Profile: Access Marketing Company

Access Marketing Company (AMC), founded in 2006, is a vertically integrated marketing consultancy and agency focused on building enterprise brands, creating compelling marketing messages and tying business objectives to marketing programs. It was born from the need that Founding Partner Joy Milkowski saw in her consulting business for resources clients didn’t have to execute the programs she was designing. With growth and change over the past 17 years, AMC has continued to have a client focus that is mostly tech. Target customers are mainly mid-size to enterprise telecom, cloud, infrastructure and data center companies. AMC has represented over 100 national and regional network providers, as well as interesting non-tech clients, like a private airline, a packaging company, an LGBTQ travel company and a gluten-free bakery. 


Visit the INCOMPAS website to learn more about Access Marketing Company.


For more information on submitting a member profile, or updating an existing one, email Gail Norris.

NTIA to Hold July 19 Webinar on the BEAD Challenge Process

Join NTIA for a webinar on Wednesday, July 19, at 3 p.m. EDT that provides an overview and outlines the role that a unit of local government, nonprofit organization or broadband service provider may participate in the challenge process.


This webinar will provide an introduction this BEAD state challenge process, including:

  • The BEAD Initial Proposal’s description, volume approach, and timeline
  • The BEAD Initial Proposal Volume I NOFO requirements
  • Challenge submission steps and the roles of NTIA, Eligible Entities, and Challengers
  • Next steps and additional resources


Register here for the July 19 webinar.


More information on NTIA’s BEAD Challenge Process Policy Notice, Model Challenge Process, and other BEAD Initial Proposal resources can be found here.

FCC, NSF AI Workshop Available to View on Demand

The FCC and the National Science Foundation co-hosted a half-day workshop on July 13 entitled “The Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence for Communications Networks and Consumers.” The workshop convened stakeholders to discuss the opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) presents for spectrum management and network resiliency, and the challenges AI brings to vital consumer issues like robocalls/robotexts, accessibility and digital discrimination.


Watch the workshop on demand. 

FCC Wireline Bureau Extends Waiver Pausing Phaseout of

Voice-Only Lifeline, Increase in Minimum Service Standards

The FCC Wireline Competition Bureau issued an order on July 7 extending the waiver pausing the phaseout of Lifeline support for voice-only services and the increase in Lifeline minimum service standards for mobile broadband data capacity for an additional year, until December 1, 2024.


The bureau said without a pause, support for services that meet only the voice minimum service standard, currently at $5.25 per month, would be eliminated in most areas and the MSS for mobile broadband data capacity would rise from 4.5 GB to 20 GB per month on December 1, 2023. The bureau said the pause will allow it to understand the impact of the ACP on Lifeline subscribers’ use of their Lifeline benefit, consider the results of the ACP transparency data collection and consider the recommendations presented in the future of USF report.

Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan Published

The Biden Administration's recently released National Cybersecurity Strategy calls for two fundamental shifts in how the United States allocates roles, responsibilities and resources in cyberspace:

  1. Ensuring that the biggest, most capable, and best-positioned entities – in the public and private sectors – assume a greater share of the burden for mitigating cyber risk
  2. Increasing incentives to favor long-term investments into cybersecurity


The Administration announced last week a roadmap to realize this bold, affirmative vision. It is taking the novel step of publishing the National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (NCSIP) to ensure transparency and a continued path for coordination. This plan details more than 65 high-impact federal initiatives, from protecting American jobs by combatting cybercrimes to building a skilled cyber workforce equipped to excel in our increasingly digital economy.


The Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security are among the 18 federal agencies that will spearhead these initiatives under the Administration’s first cybersecurity implementation plan. The plan—which also covers CISA, the CIA, and the NSA—is the most detailed vision yet for improving the nation’s digital security.


The NCSIP, along with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and other major Administration initiatives, will protect our investments in rebuilding America’s infrastructure, developing our clean energy sector, and re-shoring America’s technology and manufacturing base.

Senate Commerce Approves FCC Nominees

Last Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved nominations for three FCC Commissioners, the FCC Inspector General, a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard promotions.


Senate Commerce Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said she will ask Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for these nominations to be voted on by the full Senate before the August break, but this could be difficult because the nominees will need to be debated on the Senate floor and there is limited floor time available.

Senators Fight for Broadband Strategy

Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), John Thune (R-SD) and Peter Welch (D-VT) reintroduced the Proper Leadership to Align Networks (PLAN) for Broadband Act. The legislation requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop a national strategy to close the digital divide and a plan to implement it. This legislation is based on a Government Accountability Office report that found that federal broadband efforts are fragmented and overlapping and recommended that the executive branch develop a national broadband strategy.


Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Annie Kuster (D-NH) introduced companion legislation in the House.

INCOMPAS | www.incompas.org
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