FCC Tees Up Security Items On Internet Routing, E-Rate; BGP Plan Filing Eyed

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced that she plans to ask her fellow Commissioners to vote at their June 6 meeting on a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to require broadband Internet access service (BIAS) providers to make confidential reports on their efforts to secure Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) security, a vulnerable step in Internet routing; on rules for a Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program; and on a request for comments on changing requirements for letters of credit to secure high-cost support. The fact sheet for the draft Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program NPRM in WC docket 23234 says that the item would "[a]llow a diverse array of eligible schools and libraries to apply to be selected as participants in the Pilot Program," with participants "selected on the basis of applicant type, discount rate, and the strength of the proposed projects contained in the applications"; "[l]everage many of the existing forms, rules, and processes from the E-Rate, Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), and Connected Care Pilot programs," on issues including "seeking competitive bids, requesting eligible services and equipment, and submitting requests for reimbursement"; "[a]dopt robust program integrity protections, including competitive bidding, document retention, audits, restrictions on gifts, and suspension and debarment of bad actors"; "[designate the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) as the Administrator of the Pilot Program"; and "[e]stablish performance goals and data reporting requirements to track and measure the effectiveness of the Pilot Program." The fact sheet for the draft letter-of-credit NPRM in WC dockets 10-90, 18-143, 19-126, and 24-144, AU dockets 17-182 and 20-34, and GN docket 20-32 says that the item would seek comment "on changing the existing Commission rules requiring a United States bank issuing a letter of credit to have a Weiss bank safety rating of В - or better, either by using a different letter grade or by using a different rating system"; "on whether alternative rating systems may better evaluate a bank's fitness to issue a letter of credit to a provider receiving high cost support through a competitive bidding process"; "on any potential legal issues with using a different rating system to evaluate a bank's fitness to issue a letter of credit"; and "on allowing Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support recipients that have deployed service to at least 10% of their locations by