Venable partner James Troup was quoted in a May 29, 2009 Online Telephony story about the report on rural broadband issued last week Michael J Copps, Acting Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC). According to the story, the Copps report offers hints on the direction the new FCC may take on broadband and other matters.

The report issued last week is basically a status report that fulfills a mandate included in the 2008 Farm Bill. In addition to the attention paid to standard issues, Copps offers substantial details on topics such as “middle mile” connectivity and broadband demand. He does not, however, make specific recommendations in the report.

Several pages are devoted to issues involved with the “middle mile” that connects the last mile Internet service provider with an Internet backbone service provider. Copps addresses the issues, including tremendous costs, the “middle mile” can cause for rural internet providers.

The story indicates that specific “middle mile” recommendations may be forthcoming in a complete rural broadband plan due from the FCC by February 17 of 2010.

The appearance of only the acting chairman’s name on the report is somewhat unusual, but one commentator speculated that Copps may have taken that approach in order to meet the deadline and to make clear that he was not speaking for all commissioners.

Venable partner James Troup, added that it would be difficult to predict the commission’s direction until all five seats are filled, but industry forces will have a strong impact on the FCC’s direction.

While wireless carriers and smaller telcos are in support of universal service funding for broadband, the major wireline carriers oppose it. “The lobbying strength of someone like AT&T will get the attention of at least one or two commissioners,” he said.