News
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has summited comments that claim proposed digital discrimination rules from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would “impose a substantial burden on small and rural providers.”
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Requirements for annual reporting and the establishment of internal compliance programs would have an outsized impact on smaller and rural service providers, according to recent comments submitted by the NRECA in response to the FCC’s proposed digital discrimination rules.
The comments were issued in response to the FCC’s Nov. 20 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, issued days after the FCC voted 3-2 in support of the digital discrimination rules that FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel described as “a process that is aimed at finding solutions that work for all parties.”
In the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC sought comments on a variety of issues, including regarding whether small providers would be too burdened by new regulations.
“NRECA appreciates the commission’s recognition that small providers may be unduly burdened by the proposed regulations, which would require smaller and rural broadband service providers to undertake a major compliance initiative on an annual basis,” the organization’s April 1 comments to the FCC stated. “Such compliance requirements would impose a significant and costly burden on such smaller and rural providers that promise to play a key role in addressing the digital divide, and whose scarce resources are better put elsewhere.”
The NRECA also summitted comments to the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, relating to the use of Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, known more commonly as “Fabric,” to verify compliance with deployment obligations.
The term “Fabric” refers to a dataset of locations in the U.S. where broadband is currently deployed or could be installed, according to the FCC’s website.
“NRECA supports this objective in concept but has several fundamental concerns about the Fabric’s accuracy and the ability of providers to correct Fabric inaccuracies,” the NRECA comments read.
The NRECA comments voiced concerns that there is a disconnect between the FCC’s reported data the reality of where broadband is deployed.
According to the NRECA, one member cooperative in the NRECA has reported that between 10 and 15 percent of locations where broadband is currently being deployed do not match with information in the FCC’s Fabric dataset.
The NRECA comments said underreporting is a serious problem.
“From the high-cost program participant’s perspective, they are unable to get credit for serving locations that demonstrably exist,” the comments stated. “From the commission’s perspective, the Fabric does not provide an accurate picture of locations that should be served. From the consumer’s perspective, their home or business might simply not exist at all, in the eyes of national broadband deployment objectives.”
Meanwhile, an effort led by two Georgia Republicans is seeking to reject the FCC’s adopted digital discrimination rules.
The joint resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) and Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Click here to read the full comments submitted by the NRECA to both the FCC and click here to read the comments submitted to the Wireline Competition Bureau.
