JSI Meets with FCC Regarding Broadband Buildout Reporting

On Wednesday, September 20, 2017, JSI’s John Kuykendall and Cassandra Heyne met with several staff members of the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau. The discussions primarily focused on the reporting requirements for rate-of-return carriers receiving CAF-BLS support that do not have defined buildout obligations. These carriers must report on their annual Form 481 filing “progress on the number of locations where 10/1 Mbps or better broadband service have been deployed within their study area during the prior calendar year.”

During the discussions, the JSI representatives provided recommendations as to how the Bureau can obtain this information in the least burdensome manner. The participants also discussed issues related to the implementation of HUBB reporting for rate-of-return carriers with build-out obligations.