There’s a lot more behind the news that the Federal Communications Commission plans to increase the minimum broadband speed target in rural areas that wasn’t detailed in FCC Chairman Pai’s recent blog post about current commission initiatives. The plan to increase the minimum broadband speed is just one aspect of a 125-page order that the FCC will consider next month. Also detailed in the order: a plan to make new offers of model-based A-CAM broadband support to rural rate-of-return (ROR) carriers. In addition, the FCC wants to establish a specific budget for ROR carriers that remain on the traditional Universal Service Fund (USF) program, to increase broadband build-out speed requirements and to use a different budget control mechanism for the traditional USF program. And the commission wants to create a new auction to award broadband funding for lines in ROR territories where competitors have made extensive deployments.

Apple's exclusive market for selling iPhone apps came under fire at the Supreme Court, as justices considered whether consumers should be allowed to proceed with a lawsuit alleging the company has an illegal monopoly that produces higher prices. The plaintiffs are a group of consumers pursuing a class-action lawsuit seeking damages on behalf of people who have purchased iPhone apps. They argue that prices are higher than they would be in a competitive market because Apple requires that all software for its phones be sold and purchased through its App Store. App developers can only reach iPhone users through Apple’s store, and the company charges the developers a 30% commission. The case came to the high court on the indirect but critical question of who has the legal right to sue over Apple’s alleged monopoly. The iPhone maker argues that consumers can’t sue because the company doesn’t directly set app prices, a responsibility that lies with the app developers. Apple says it only serves as a conduit, and consumers aren’t really buying apps from the company.