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
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
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
In Washington: Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, has tested positive for coronavirus. This is the second case of White House staff testing positive since yesterday. Miller is married to White House...more
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
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
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
When you pay your phone bill, part of the taxes go into a fund used by the government to subsidize cell phone service to qualifying individuals, under federal and state Lifeline programs. Phones typically reach the end...more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A May 18th adjournment brought to a close the first half of the 74th biennial session of the Vermont General Assembly. Drama awaits as Gov. Phil Scott has threatened to veto H.518, the fiscal year 2018 budget, over an...more
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
The House Ways and Means Committee is considering a proposal from the Vermont Department of Taxes to reduce the amount of use tax a person can pay without providing records to prove his or her tax liability. The rate would...more
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
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 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