On April 8, 2015 the FCC released a Public Notice where several stakeholders are seeking clarification or reconsideration of several parts of the E-rate Modernization Orders which were released in 2014.
The reconsideration requests were filed by:
Charles Hobbs, on behalf of AdTec, Inc. on February 18, 2015: They would like the FCC to reconsider the elimination of data plans and air cards for mobile devices as well as the phase down of all local, long distance and cellular voice services;
Kathleen O’Brien Ham on behalf of T-Mobile USA on March 6, 2015: T-Mobile is requesting that the FCC reconsider its guidance on demonstrating that mobile broadband services are cost effective and showing that mobile broadband services are not duplicative. They also want the FCC to reconsider guidance whether an applicant may consider the likelihood of receiving Category Two support in the cost-effectiveness calculation, and to clarify that the requirement to demonstrate cost-effectiveness for mobile broadband versus WiFi applies no earlier than the 2015 Funding Year;
Jennifer Hightower et al., on behalf of Cox Communications, Inc. on March 6, 2015: Cox urges the FCC to adopt additional safeguards on expanding the funding for new fiber projects, whether leased or owned by applicants, including self-construction;
Derrick B. Owens et al., on behalf of WTA – Advocates for Rural Broadband et al. on March 6, 2015: The petitioner would like the FCC to reconsider imposing high-cost support recipients with an obligation to bid on fixed broadband with yet-to-be-determined, national, reasonable comparability benchmark(s), and the requirement to certify that they have done so as a condition for receiving high-cost support
Oppositions to these petitions must be filed within 15 days of public notice in the Federal Register, and reply comments must be filed within 10 days after the time for filing original comments has expired.
