FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks traveled to Nevada with Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., to push for continuing the affordable connectivity program (see 2402120068). "The harms that millions of Americans will face in the absence of ACP are real," Starks said in a statement following the Friday event: "For them, and for a brighter future for our country, we must act." Starks met families and local officials at the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, hearing "what ACP meant to them" and "the challenges that Nevadan families will face in maintaining connectivity if ACP sunsets."

In light of the FCC’s notice Wednesday to the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation that 10 petitions for review are pending in six appellate courts, all challenging the commission’s Nov. 20 digital divide order (see 2402070058), the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hold the two petitions under its watch in abeyance, said its two separate orders Thursday. The petitions are from the Minnesota Telecom Alliance (docket 24-1179) and the Missouri Internet & Television Association (docket 24-1183). The cases will be held in abeyance pending further order from the panel, said the orders.

The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition, an intervenor on the FCC’s behalf in opposing the petition for review brought by Maurine and Matt Molak to block the use of E-rate funds for Wi-Fi on school buses (see 2401250002), supports the FCC’s motion to dismiss the Molaks’ case for lack of jurisdiction (see 2402070002), the coalition wrote the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a letter Wednesday (docket 23-60641). The Molaks weren't part of the proceedings before the FCC to use E-rate funds for school bus Wi-Fi, and the commission argued that participation was “a condition precedent” to judicial review under the Communications Act, plus “a jurisdictional requirement” under the Hobbs Act.

NCIC Communications urged the FCC to act on its pending petition that partially waives rules requiring correctional facilities to deploy certain forms of advanced telecom relay services (see 2311220052). The company said in a meeting with aides to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel that "unique security, technical, and regulatory issues" continue to delay deployment of such services, according to an ex parte filing posted Tuesday in docket 23-62. In addition, the agency should expand its authority to include non-incarcerated people's communications services video visitation providers, NCIC argued.

A coalition of advocates for incarcerated individuals urged the FCC to adequate oversight of alternative payment structures and pilot programs that providers of incarcerated people's communications services offer. The Wright Petitioners, United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry and Worth Rises told Wireline Bureau and Office of Economic and Analytics staff that consumers should have "sufficient information in a clear format that enables them to make informed choices," according to an ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 23-62 (see 2401120067). The groups also urged that the commission "not permit alternative pricing structures that include non-IPCS services, which lack visibility and transparency in their pricing."

The FCC Wireline Bureau granted United Telephone Association's transfer of control request for Panhandle Telephone Cooperative (PTCI) to "assign substantially all of the assets held by United in the South Englewood telephone exchange" from United to PTCI. A public notice Thursday in docket 23-255 also granted the companies' joint petition for a waiver of the commission's definition of a "study area" subject to PTCI's "commitment not to seek Safety Valve Support" following the transaction.

The FCC deferred until Jan. 1 the start of its next five-year deployment obligation term for legacy rate-of-return carriers receiving Connect America Fund broadband loop support (CAF BLS) this year, said a notice for Wednesday's Federal Register (see 2305310053). The deferment takes effect Wednesday, allowing the commission to "address the future budget and deployment obligations for CAF BLS carriers and give the commission additional time to evaluate the impact of" NTIA's broadband, equity, access and deployment program along with other "broadband program commitments made by eligible providers."

TruConnect urged the FCC to also freeze benefit transfers for affordable connectivity program subscribers when the new enrollment freeze begins Feb. 8 (see 2401110072. The company made its argument during meetings with aides to Commissioners Brendan Carr, Nathan Simington and Geoffrey Starks. TruConnect also met with Wireline Bureau staff, said an ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 21-450. "An enrollment transfer freeze may provide additional time for Congress to renew ACP program appropriations by enabling the program funds to last longer than the projected late April expiration of funds," the company said.

Oppositions to an Edison Electric Institute petition for reconsideration of the FCC's December declaratory ruling on pole attachment and replacement costs are due Feb. 13 in docket 17-84, said a notice in Monday's Federal Register. However, the notice lists an incorrect reply date. An FCC spokesperson confirmed replies to opposition are due Feb. 23. EEI sought reconsideration of the circumstances where a utility pole owner must provide a copy of its easement to an attacher and clarification on when a pole replacement isn't "necessitated solely" by an attachment request in its petition.

The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates urged the FCC to move forward with its Further NPRM on direct numbering access. Commissioners adopted the item in September (see 2401020055). NASUCA backed expanding requirements for existing authorization holders, it said in a letter posted Friday in docket 13-97. There are "serious abuses of our numbering resources and a need for additional oversight of the processes and procedures involved in the use of our nation’s telephone numbers." In addition, the group encouraged that the FCC "explicitly prohibit the temporary rental of outward dialing telephone numbers."