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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

Has the Pandemic Made California Less Concerned About Regulating Autonomous Vehicles?

Autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies continue to drive significant investment and interest from both the automotive and tech sectors alike. According to CB Insights, at least 40 companies are developing road-going,...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 Proposes $9B 5G Fund to Revamp USF Mobile Funding for Rural America

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to vote this coming Thursday, April 23, 2020, on a proposal to revamp funding to support the buildout of mobile networks in rural areas. The new "5G Fund for Rural America"...more

4/22/2020  /  5G Network , FCC , Funding , Popular , Rural Areas , T-Mobile

FCC Will Begin Accepting Applications for COVID-19 Telehealth Funding on Monday, April 13

The FCC has issued additional guidance following its release of the Telehealth Order on April 2, 2020. The portal for accepting applications will open on Monday, April 13 at noon Eastern (per guidance issued April 10)....more

CARES Act Funding and Support for Telehealth

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Congress appropriated significant funding for a number of telehealth programs and initiatives, including funding for programs administered by the...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

FCC Adopts Order Modernizing its Rural Healthcare Program

At its August 2019 meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an order modernizing its Rural Healthcare (RHC) universal service programs—the Telecommunications Program and the Healthcare Connect...more

FCC Proposes to Keep Category 2 Budget Approach and Further Refine Category 2 Rules in the E-rate Program

On July 9, 2019, the FCC released a new rulemaking proceeding in which it proposed several changes to its E-rate rules to further modernize and streamline funding for connectivity services within schools and libraries. ...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

DC Circuit Rejects FCC Attempt to Shrink Lifeline in Tribal Areas

On February 1, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit granted challenges to portions of FCC’s 2017 Lifeline reform order restricting the distribution of “enhanced” Lifeline subsidies of an additional $25 per month. ...more

FCC Proposes $63 Million Lifeline Fine

The FCC has proposed a $63.5 million fine against American Broadband and Telecommunications Company for alleged Lifeline violations. The Notice of Apparent Liability alleges that American Broadband falsified Lifeline customer...more

FCC Seeks to Fund IP Telephone Captioning Service by Assessing Intrastate Revenue

In June, the FCC released a Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”) proposing, among other things, a new funding source for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (“IP...more

E-rate for Both Categories 1 and 2 To Be Fully Funded in the 2018 Funding Year

On August 17, 2018, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau announced that once again, there will be sufficient funding to meet applicant demand for both Category 1 services (such as broadband services) and Category 2 equipment...more

Lifeline Port Freeze Eliminated on March 19; 2018 Poverty Guidelines Available; New Standard Forms

2018 Poverty Guidelines - The 2018 Federal Poverty Guidelines (“FPG”) were published in the Federal Register on January 18. Customers may qualify for Lifeline if their gross total household income is at or below 135...more

Changes to Lifeline in 2018

Although the future of the Lifeline program is in doubt, business must go on. ETCs should familiarize themselves with two key administrative changes taking place in 2018. The FCC issued a Public Notice last week reminding...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

FCC Seeks Comment on Sufficiency of Category 2 Budgets and E-rate Administration Generally

Late last Friday, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Public Notice seeking comment on whether the per-student and per-square footage budgets set for E-rate Category 2 funding are sufficient. The FCC established...more

FCC Reforms its Equipment Approval Processes, Easing Burden on Device Manufacturers

Last Thursday, the FCC reformed its equipment approval rules, which Commissioner Clyburn described as the first “comprehensive” review of these rules since 1998, although the rules remain complex and challenged by the fast...more

FCC Chairman Pai Directs USAC Action to “Safeguard” the Lifeline Program

On July 11, 2017, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai sent a letter to USAC requesting that it implement various audit mechanisms and safeguards to protect the Lifeline program from waste, fraud, and abuse. This letter comes on the heels...more

GAO Report on Lifeline Released

On June 29th, 2017, the GAO released its long-awaited report on the Lifeline program. The report has already generated multiple statements that waste, fraud and abuse are “prevalent,” and that “everything” is wrong with the...more

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