Around The States

Telecom Policy Report, April 7, 2008

New Mexico

The thousands of Navajo Nation residents who rely on the Internet to work, study and communicate across their 27,000-sq.-mi. reservation likely to be without Internet service starting April 7. A tribal audit last year reportedly revealed Utah-based provider OnSat Network Communications Inc. may have double- billed the tribe, raising questions about how the tribe requested bids for the Internet contract. Those discoveries then led the Universal Service Administration Co., which administers the USF under the Federal Communications Commission's E-rate program, to tell the tribe last month it would withhold $2.1 million from OnSat. And OnSat now says the delay in payment means it can't pay subcontractor SES Americom for satellite time.

The tribe now is being asked to prove OnSat provided the service for which it billed. OnSat doesn't believe the report is valid. The Navajo Nation has until May to respond to USAC's letter, and the USAC can release full or partial funding or continue to withhold funding, according to a USAC spokeswoman. As things stand now, OnSat says it will continue to provide Internet services for the tribe's Division of Public Safety and the Office of the President and Vice President, offices whose satellite service isn't dependent on FCC funding.

Kentucky

According to the state PSC, the lifespan of area code 270 has been increased again, allowing another postponement in the starting date for area code 364 in far western Kentucky. The optional use of area code 364 now will take effect April 1, 2010, 15 months later than previously announced. In delaying the transition, the PSC will set a new deadline for mandatory use of area code 364 after further assessment of the effect of a FCC decision regarding the assignment of telephone numbers in the present area code 270.

Area code 364 will cover the western portion of the current area code 270, which includes the cities of Henderson, Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Murray and Paducah.

Vermont

Days after FairPoint Communications Inc. acquired Verizon's telephone landlines and high-speed Internet service in northern New England, customers complained about telephone problems and the discontinuation of an online billing system. The phone problems were solved, but the popular online billing service has yet to be restored and could take months.

South Carolina

The South Carolina Supreme Court upheld a ruling by the state's utility commission, preventing Time Warner Cable from deploying phone service into some rural communities there, thus preventing competition with rural phone companies serving Berkeley, Lexington, Sumter, Williamsburg and York counties, including PBT Telecom Inc., Farmers Telephone Cooperative, Fort Mill Telephone Co., Home Telephone Co. and St. Stephen Telephone Co.

The state PUC ruled in 2004 to protect LECs from competition to keep rates reasonable for remote phone customers.

Florida

Verizon executives have been making the rounds in Tallahassee to explain to government officials issues it's having with customer service related to FiOS cable TV-phone-Internet offerings. Among problems consumers are reporting are shortages of the free HDTVs Verizon promised for new customers; shortages of HDTV set-top boxes; and pricing for the company's services, which customers say didn't match advertised offers. In addition, Verizon is having problems with its largest labor union in the state.

In other news, the state's PSC and its Department of Management Services are partnering to help small and minority business owners throughout Florida "match up" with government agencies and companies needing their services at the 2008 Big Bend MatchMaker workshop, set for May 13 at the Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee. Coinciding with Florida's Small Business Owners Week, May 12-16, the day-long agenda includes an informational program on "Doing Business with the State of Florida: Responding to Bids and Navigating the Purchasing Process" and a panel discussion on the "Economic Opportunities for Women and Minority Business Enterprises in the Utilities and Telecommunications Industries." Following a luncheon, attendees will have the opportunity to sign- up for one-on-one 15-minute sessions with the utility companies of their choice.

Nebraska

A surcharge paid by Nebraska telephone users for communications services for the hearing and speech impaired will drop by a penny on July 1, with the end cost being four cents instead of five. The relay system allows hearing and speech impaired consumers to place and receive calls utilizing the state's telecommunications networks. The relay service can be reached from wireline or wireless telephones by dialing a toll-free three-digit number: 7-1-1.

Ohio

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has authorized the release of funds from the Wireless 9-1-1 Government Assistance Fund for the establishment and delivery of the countywide wireless enhanced 911 (E911) service in Erie County. The funds will be disbursed monthly to the county. Erie County expects to complete implementation of Phase I wireless 911 service and Phase II wireless 911 service by the third quarter.