Federal Communications Commission	DA 21-1044


Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of

Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection

Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program
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WC Docket No. 19-195


WC Docket No. 11-10

ORDER GRANTING EXTENSION OF TIME


Comment Date:
September 10, 2021
Reply Comment Date:
September 27, 2021


Adopted:  August 25, 2021	Released:  August 25, 2021

By the Chair, Broadband Data Task Force:

1. In this Order, the FCC’s Broadband Data Task Force and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau grant in part a motion filed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) seeking an extension of time to file comments and reply comments in the above-captioned proceedings. See Motion of the CPUC for Extension of Time to File Comments, WC Docket No. 19-195 (filed Aug. 11, 2021), https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/108112580009583/WC%20Docket%20No.%2019-195%20Motion%20for%20Extension%20of%20Time%20to%20File%20Comments.pdf (Motion). 
  For the reasons stated below, we find that a 14-day extension of time is warranted and extend the comment and reply comment dates accordingly.

2. On July 16, 2021, the Commission released a Public Notice that sought comment on the technical requirements for the mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsourcing processes required under the Broadband DATA Act. See Comment Sought on Technical Requirements for the Mobile Challenge, Verification, and Crowdsource Processes Required Under the Broadband DATA Act, Public Notice, WC Docket No. 19-195, DA 21-853 (WTB, OEA, OET July 16, 2021) (Public Notice).  The comment and reply comment deadlines were set at 30 and 45 days after publication in the Federal Register, which occurred on July 28, 2021.  See Federal Communications Commission, Comment Sought on Technical Requirements for the Mobile Challenge, Verification, and Crowdsource Processes Required Under the Broadband Data Act, 86 Fed. Reg. 40398 (Jul. 28, 2021).
  The Public Notice set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments of August 27, 2021, and September 13, 2021, respectively. 
3. On August 11, 2021, the CPUC filed a motion for a 30-day extension of the comment filing deadline and 29-day extension of the reply comment filing deadline, such that comments would be due September 27, 2021, and reply comments would be due October 12, 2021. See Motion at 1, 3. 
  The CPUC states that the Public Notice solicits comment on highly technical and complicated issues that require complex analyses, an involved process which has been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Id. at 1-2.
  Additionally, the CPUC says it needs more time to incorporate recently published data into their analyses. Id. at 2.
  Finally, the Motion notes that the CPUC is simultaneously working on other Commission filings in an attempt to meet multiple deadlines in near proximity. Id.
  No opposition to the Motion has been filed.
4. We grant a limited 14-day extension of time to file comments and reply comments in these proceedings.  As set forth in Section 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.46.
 the Commission does not routinely grant extensions of time for filing comments.  In this case, however, COVID-19 has negatively affected the ability of the CPUC’s consultant to provide statistical analysis critical to its evaluation of the proposals included in the Public Notice.  Moreover, as part of its review of the Public Notice, the CPUC (and its consultant) intend to evaluate additional mobile coverage data the Commission recently made available to the public.  We expect that the Commission’s record in this proceeding could benefit from the information and input the CPUC intends to submit through its comments.  For these reasons, we find that there is good cause for granting an extension of the comment and reply comment period.  Given the importance of addressing the questions raised in the Public Notice expeditiously in order to move forward with implementing the Broadband Data Collection, however, we find that a 14-day extension, rather than the one-month extension that the CPUC requested, appropriately addresses the CPUC’s need for additional time without adverse impact on the Commission’s development of the systems and processes necessary to support the mobile challenge process as set forth in the Broadband DATA Act. Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act, Pub. L. No. 116-130, 134 Stat. 228 (2020) (codified at 47 U.S.C. §§ 641-646) (Broadband DATA Act).
  We therefore grant the motion in part and extend the comment and reply comment dates to September 10, 2021, and September 27, 2021, respectively.
5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 4(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i), and Sections 0.131, 0.331, and 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.131, 0.331, and 1.46, the Motion for Extension of Time to File Comments filed by the CPUC is GRANTED IN PART.
6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the dates to file comments and reply comments in this proceeding ARE EXTENDED to September 10, 2021, and September 27, 2021, respectively.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




Jean L. Kiddoo
Chair, Broadband Data Task Force
Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau


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