FCC, Lifeline Program

Eligible Households on Tribal Lands Can Enroll in FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

Holland & Knight LLP on 5/3/2021

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on April 29, 2021, that starting May 12, 2021, eligible households will be able to enroll in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program) through an approved...more

[Webinar] 12th Annual Update on federal Universal Service Fund (USF) developments - March 22nd, 12:00 pm ET

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP on 3/3/2021

Kelley Drye is proud to present our 12th Annual Update on federal Universal Service Fund (USF) developments. Please join us on March 22, 2021 for Kelley Drye’s annual webinar discussing the state of the federal Universal...more

Wireless Roundup (October 2020)

Wiley Rein LLP on 10/1/2020

Upcoming Filing and Comment Deadlines - FCC Seeks Comment on Emergency Access to Wi-Fi Access Points: Comments are due October 1 on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Public Notice seeking comment...more

Financial Daily Dose 12.03.2019 | Top Story: US Threatens Tariffs on French Goods Over New Digital Services Tax

Robins Kaplan LLP on 12/3/2019

Because who wants a nice quiet December, right? Yesterday, the U.S. opened yet another trade war front by proposing retaliatory tariffs of up to 100% on a wide range of French imports after announcing that “it found France’s...more

Financial Daily Dose 10.17.2019 | Top Story: GM and UAW Reach Tentative Deal to End Month-long Strike

Robins Kaplan LLP on 10/17/2019

Good news out of Detroit late yesterday, with officials from General Motors and the United Autoworkers Union striking a “tentative agreement on a new labor contract that could end the monthlong strike that has idled G.M....more

DC Circuit Rejects FCC Attempt to Shrink Lifeline in Tribal Areas

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 2/4/2019

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

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 10/26/2018

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

Lifeline’s National Verifier to Add Five More States and One Territory

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 10/12/2018

On October 11, 2018, the FCC announced the soft launch of the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) in Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and South Dakota. This announcement comes shortly...more

Lifeline’s National Verifier Launching in Six States in November 2018

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 10/4/2018

On October 2, 2018, the FCC announced that it will finally launch the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) in an initial slate of six states on November 2, 2018....more

Federal Appellate Court Puts a Hold on FCC’s Lifeline Order

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 8/14/2018

On August 10, 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted a stay of the FCC’s 2017 Lifeline Order (“Order”). The court found that the petitioners provided enough evidence that the FCC did not consider the...more

FCC Takes Steps to Radically Reshape and Shrink the Lifeline Program

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 12/6/2017

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

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 7/14/2017

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

FCC Reduces Reporting Requirements for High Cost ETCs

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 7/11/2017

Four days after ETCs were required to submit FCC Form 481 (54.313 / 54.422 Data Collection Form); the FCC released an order streamlining the process for high-cost USF recipients by eliminating reporting requirements it deemed...more

GAO Report on Lifeline Released

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 7/3/2017

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

Increased Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Budget Cap for 2018 Announced

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 6/28/2017

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

FCC Chairman Pai Announces Plans to Require All Lifeline Providers to Seek Licenses from States—LBP Process to be Eliminated

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 3/31/2017

On March 29, 2017, FCC Chairman Pai announced plans to initiate a proceeding at the FCC to eliminate the Lifeline Broadband Provider (“LBP”) designation process administered by its Wireline Competition Bureau. He also...more

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

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 3/3/2017

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

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

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 2/7/2017

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

The United States Federal Communications Commission › Lifeline Program