Telecom Alert: Pole Attachment Rulemaking Deadline Extension; Rip-and-Replace Apps Approved; $4.3M in RDOF Fines; 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline [Vol. XIX, Issue 30]

Pole Attachment Rulemaking Reply Deadline Extended

The FCC issued an Order last week granting in part an unopposed motion seeking an extension of time to file reply comments on the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to establish standards on pole attachment sharing costs (Vol. XIX, Issue 18).  The motion, filed by the American Public Power Association, Edison Electric Institute, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and Utilities Technology Council, argued that the reply comment deadline should be extended by 60 days due to the complexity of the issues raised and the volume of the filings in the docket.  The Commission agreed to extend the reply comment deadline by 30 days until August 26, 2022.  For more information, please contact Tom Magee (magee@khlaw.com; 202.434.4128), Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4344), or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271).

Rip-and-Replace Applications Approved

The FCC issued a Public Notice last week announcing the approved applications for reimbursement submitted in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (“Reimbursement Program”) (Vol. XIX, Issue 7).  Since demand for the support exceeded the $1.9 billion congressional appropriation, the Commission prioritized applicants with 2 million or fewer customers.  These applicants submitted over $4.6 billion in cost estimates, so the Commission will allocate funding to these applicants on an equal prorated basis.  For more information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178).

$4.3 Million in RDOF Fines Proposed

Last week, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture proposing fines against 73 applicants in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction (“Auction 904”) (Vol. XIX, Issue 19) for defaulting on their bids between July 26, 2021 and March 10, 2022.  These applicants defaulted on their respective bids by withdrawing applications in certain areas or failing to meet deadlines and requirements required by the auction rules.  The bid defaults affected 1,702 census block groups with 129,909 estimated locations in 36 states.  For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186).

988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline Transition

On July 16, the U.S. transitioned from the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number to the 988 three-digit dialing code (Vol. XIX, Issue 18).  The lifeline also links to the Veterans Crisis Line, and all telephone service and text providers in the U.S. and five major territories must provide access via the new code.  For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).