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FCC to Quickly Launch New Affordable Connectivity Program

Mere days after the infrastructure bill became effective, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched a rulemaking proceeding to create rules for the new $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP...more

Congress Invests Historic $65 Billion in Nation's High-Speed Internet Networks and Affordability Program

President Biden signed into law a bill that provides for historic levels of investment in the nation's infrastructure, including $65 billion to construct and upgrade networks used to provide high-speed internet access, as...more

Closing the Homework Gap—New $7B Temporary Program an Important First Step

Congress created the E-rate program more than 20 years ago in order to provide internet connectivity to the nation's libraries and schools, but educators and industry have complained for years that it is inadequate to close...more

Summary of Consolidated Appropriations Act's Broadband Network Deployment Provisions

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 includes billions of dollars to expand the deployment of broadband internet networks, consumer subsidies for service and equipment, as well as non-monetary provisions that could...more

FCC Reaffirms Deregulation of Internet Access Services

On Thursday, October 29, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its Order on Remand (adopted at its October 27 meeting), responding to the D.C. Circuit's remand of certain aspects of the agency's earlier...more

FCC Launches New $20.4B Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to Subsidize Broadband Networks in Areas Without 25/3 Mbps

Overview - The FCC approved and released an order that will inject $20.4 billion in funding for the deployment of networks for the provision of high-speed broadband internet access and voice services in areas that are...more

D.C. Circuit Upholds FCC Deregulation of Broadband Service But Opens Door to Possible State Regulation

On October 1, 2019, a divided panel of the D.C. Circuit issued a lengthy per curiam decision that largely upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Restoring Internet Freedom order, issued by the agency in early...more

$600 Million Available for Rural Broadband Deployment Through New RUS Program

The USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) recently announced that it is launching a new $600 million program to fund the deployment of broadband Internet access services throughout rural America. ...more

FCC Takes Steps to Radically Reshape and Shrink the Lifeline Program

On November 16, 2017, a divided FCC voted 3-2 to adopt a controversial order and new rulemaking proceeding, adopting and proposing many changes that will radically reshape—and significantly shrink—the Lifeline program. The...more

Increased Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Budget Cap for 2018 Announced

In 2016, the FCC adopted its Lifeline Modernization Order, in which it introduced Lifeline subsidies for the provision of broadband services, and imposed graduated minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported broadband...more

The Draft 2018 ESL is out for Public Comment — FCC Seeks Comment on Category One Funding for Certain Equipment and Wiring

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau just released the draft eligible services list (“ESL”) for E-rate funding to be used to determine the eligibility of services and equipment for the 2018-2019 funding year, which will...more

6/23/2017  /  Broadband , E-Rates , FCC , Funding , Public Comment

FCC Adopts Framework for $4.53B Mobility Fund Phase II

After some months of delay, the FCC has launched the second phase in its plans to provide significant subsidies over the next decade to fund the expansion of mobile wireless services to unserved rural areas of the country....more

FCC Seeks Comment on Petitions Appealing Cancellation of Lifeline Broadband Provider Designations

In a somewhat surprising move, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (“Bureau”) released two Public Notices seeking comment on two appeals of the Bureau’s own cancellation of the Lifeline Broadband Provider designations...more

FCC Announces Details for Mobility Fund Phase II

The FCC adopted an order today that establishes Phase II of the Mobility Fund. As we have previously reported, the FCC established the Mobility Fund to provide universal service subsidies to help expand and preserve 4G LTE...more

Who Will Grant Licenses for Lifeline Broadband? FCC Takes a Pause in Pending Appeal to Consider New Administration’s Approach

Last Friday, the FCC filed a motion with the DC Circuit to put a hold on the pending appeal of a portion of its 2016 Lifeline order finding that the FCC—and not the states—had sole jurisdiction to grant Lifeline broadband...more

FCC Cancels Recently Granted Lifeline Broadband Provider Licenses as Part of Larger Sweep of Wheeler-Era Decisions

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau recently granted nine Lifeline Broadband Provider (“LBP”) designations: four on December 1, 2016 and five more on January 18, 2017, as part of its effort launched last year by...more

FCC Chairman Pai Launches “Digital Empowerment Agenda” and Creates New Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee—Nominations Due...

In one of his first acts as FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai announced he was moving forward with his Digital Empowerment Agenda accompanied by the announcement this past Tuesday that the FCC is forming a new federal advisory...more

Effective Dates of New FCC Lifeline Rules Finalized

Earlier today, the FCC announced in the Federal Register that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the remaining changes to the FCC’s Lifeline rules that were adopted in last spring’s Lifeline Modernization...more

10/4/2016  /  Broadband , FCC , Lifeline Program , OMB

FCC Considering Changes to the E-rate Program to Help Close the Homework Gap

The FCC released a Public Notice seeking comments on two petitions requesting rule changes to permit off-campus use of E-rate funded networks without a reduction in E-rate funding. Under the current E-rate program, schools...more

9/27/2016  /  Broadband , CIPA , E-Rates , FCC

New FCC Lifeline Rules: Effective Dates Clarified Multiple Times But Some Discrepancies Remain

The Lifeline Modernization Order was published in the Federal Register on May 24, making the effective date of the Order June 23, 2016. Most of the rule changes, however, cannot take effect until the Office of Management and...more

6/29/2016  /  Broadband , FCC , Lifeline Program , OMB

The Lifeline Modernization Order

Last week, the FCC finally released the full, 224-page text of its controversial and anxiously awaited Lifeline Modernization Order, which was approved by a bitterly divided, party-line 3-2 vote on March 31. As we advised in...more

FCC Adopts New Rules, Proposes Further Reforms for Lifeline Program

Last week, the FCC released its second major order in the Lifeline reform proceeding: Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Order on Reconsideration, Second Report and Order, and Memorandum Opinion and Order...more

Staff Releases Lifeline Broadband Pilot Report as FCC Gears Up for Vote on Lifeline Support for Broadband

Last Friday, staff in the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau issued a report summarizing the results of the FCC’s Lifeline broadband pilot program. The program was designed to determine how the Lifeline program might address...more

FCC Likely to Launch New Rulemaking Proceeding to Further Reform Lifeline Program

The FCC is gearing up to launch a new rulemaking proceeding to once again overhaul the Lifeline program. The last major reform of the program was in 2012, and this new rulemaking would likely continue the work of some of the...more

FCC Forbears “For Now” From Requiring Universal Service Contribution From Broadband Providers

Section 254(d) of the Act requires providers of “telecommunications services” to contribute to the federal Universal Service Fund (USF), which is used to subsidize telephone and broadband service in high-cost areas, for...more

3/18/2015  /  Bias , Broadband , FCC , Telecommunications
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