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Vol. 19, No. 47

November 27, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS


December 6, 2023

Connectbase Webinar:

The Bottom-Line Impact of Reducing Telecom Order Fallout Rates


March 5, 2024

The 2024 INCOMPAS

Policy Summit

Washington, D.C.

MEMBER NEWS


C Spire Business Wins Multiple Partner Awards from Cisco


Dobson Fiber Commits to Fiber Internet Expansion for Residents in Ardmore


Extenet Powers Connectivity for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix


Bell and FirstLight to Offer New High-Speed Routes with Triple Redundancy Between Secaucus, N.J.; Toronto, and Montréal


MetTel Named a Leader in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Managed Network Services for the Fourth Consecutive Year


Zayo Group To Acquire Leading Stuttgart B2B Connectivity Provider, Globalways

COMMENT

DEADLINES


November 29

Comments Due on Access to Numbering Resources 


December 1

Comments Due on FCC 706 NOI


December 14

Comments Due on NPRM to Reclassify Broadband Under Title II


Comments Due on Reconsideration of RIF Remand Order


December 18

Reply Comments Due on FCC 706 NOI


Comments Due on AI Robocall NOI


December 29

Reply Comments Due on Access to Numbering Resources 


January 16

Reply Comments Due on AI Robocall NOI


January 17

Reply Comments Due on NPRM to Reclassify Broadband Under Title II


Reply Comments Due on Reconsideration of RIF Remand Order

December 6 Webinar to Explore Bottom-Line Impact of Reducing Telecom Order Fallout Rates

Is telecom order fallout destroying the quality of your customer experience? Are you losing opportunities or seeing unexpectedly low win rates? Is your network build-out hampered by construction cost surprises that reduce your profitability? 


Join Connectbase CEO and Founder Ben Edmond Wednesday, December 6 at 2 p.m. ET for an exploration of fallout and what you can do to transform your business by using automation to solve these challenges.


In this webinar, The Bottom-Line Impact of Reducing Telecom Order Fallout Rates, you’ll learn:

  • Two primary types of fallout
  • Impact of fallout from both a buyer’s perspective and a seller’s perspective
  • Insights on how digitization and automation can transform your results
  • Specific ways that Connectbase helps solve for fallout
  • Four proactive strategies to reduce order fallout in connectivity solutions


Even if you are unable to attend the live event, please register so you receive the link to watch it on-demand at a later date. 

REGISTER

FCC Releases Agenda for December Open Meeting

The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its December 13 open meeting:

  • Protecting Consumers from Early Termination and Billing Cycle Fees – The FCC will consider an NPRM that would adopt rules to protect consumers from video service junk fees, including early termination fees and billing cycle fees.
  • Targeting and Eliminating Unlawful Text Messages – The FCC will consider a Second Report and Order, Second FNPRM and Waiver Order to combat illegal robotexts by facilitating blocking of illegal robotexts, codifying do-not-call rules for texting and closing a loophole that allows certain callers to inundate consumers with unwanted robocalls and robotexts. The item also seeks comment on further efforts to combat illegal robocalls and robotexts.
  • Achieving 100% Wireless Handset Model Hearing Aid Compatibility – The FCC will consider an NPRM that tentatively concludes that hearing aid compatibility for 100% of wireless handset models is an achievable objective and seeks comment on proposals to implement this requirement.
  • Faster Pole Attachment Processes for Broadband Deployment – The FCC will consider a Fourth Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling and Third FNPRM to promote the deployment of broadband infrastructure by making the pole attachment process faster, more transparent, and more cost-effective by adopting rules allowing for faster resolution of pole attachment disputes and providing pole attachers with more detailed information about the poles they plan to use as part of their broadband buildouts. The FCC will also seek comment on ways to further facilitate the approval process for pole attachment applications and make ready to enable quicker broadband deployment.
  • Improving the Rural Health Care Program – The Commission will consider a Third Report and Order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Rural Health Care Program. The improvements under consideration would reduce burdens on, and enhance flexibility for, program participants, simplify existing program rules and free up for other uses unclaimed program support.
  • Data Breach Notification Rules – The FCC will consider a Report and Order to update the its data breach notification rules in order to ensure that providers are held accountable in their obligations to safeguard sensitive customer information, and provide customers with the tools needed to protect themselves in the event that their data is compromised.
  • Implementing the Low Power Protection Act – The FCC will consider a Report and Order to implement the Low Power Protection Act by providing eligible low-power television stations with an opportunity to apply for primary status and protect their ability to deliver local programming.

INCOMPAS Files Reply Comments in FCC's Enhanced A-CAM NOI

INCOMPAS last week filed reply comments in the FCC's Notice of Inquiry that sought

comment on whether and how the Commission should modify its current USF high-cost support program considering the anticipated deployment in high-cost areas of next-generation broadband networks as a result of recent federal and state subsidy programs.


INCOMPAS noted that "the Commission needs to develop a better understanding of the economics of broadband networks serving rural America, including those that have received support through federal and state funding programs and have deployed fiber to their customers, given that the costs to maintain fiber networks are lower."


As INCOMPAS explained in filings in the Future of USF proceeding, the reply comments continued, "the FCC should evaluate the continued need of each USF program in order to evaluate the future of the USF most effectively and how it relates to the billions of dollars coming from federal and state funding. Additionally, the FCC should be gathering information about all funding projects at the federal and state level being used to bridge the digital divide and assess their impact, if any, on the USF."


Read INCOMPAS's reply comments here.

FCC Releases National Broadband Map Version 3.0

The FCC recently released the third iteration of its National Broadband Map, reflecting coverage data submitted by ISPs as of June 30, 2023. This continues the FCC’s efforts to make improvements from the first draft of the National Broadband Map that came out last November, and the Commission releasing an updated version now every six months by adding new information, refining the data, and incorporating lessons learned, all of which helps to improve the Map’s accuracy. The last version of the map – which was published in May – was used to determine state allocations for NTIA’s BEAD program.


With this latest release, the Chairwoman noted in a recent blog post the number of unserved homes and businesses has gone down, from 8.3 million locations to just over 7.2 million and total broadband serviceable locations now stand at 115 million, increasing by 800,000 since May.

INCOMPAS CEO Pickering Thanks Rep. Eshoo for Years of Service

Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) announced last week that she will not seek reelection in 2024, after 42 years in public service, including 32 years in Congress. 


"I had the honor of serving in Congress with Anna and to say she will be missed is an understatement," said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. "Her time in Congress was marked by three decades of tirelessly advocating for her constituents in California, and pushing forward bipartisan policies that have shaped our telecommunications history and paved the way forward for its future. Even after my time with her in the halls of Congress, we remained friends and worked together to continue to advance America's position as the global leader in technology and work to ensure Internet for All. I deeply appreciate her three decades of service to our great nation and I have tremendous respect for my dear friend. I wish her and her family the best in this new chapter."

INCOMPAS | www.incompas.org
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