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Telecommunications Coronavirus/COVID-19 The United States Federal Communications Commission

Wiley Rein LLP

FCC Examines Increase in Minimum Broadband Speed Benchmark, Sets Future Gigabit-Speed Goal

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On November 1, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released the Seventeenth Notice of Inquiry (NOI) into the state of broadband availability to all Americans, as required by Section 706 of the...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Licensees and Telecom/Video Service Providers Must File and Pay FCC Regulatory Fees by Sept. 20

The FCC has released its annual Report and Order showing the regulatory fees due for the 2023 fiscal year. Fees must be paid by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Sept. 20. The FCC’s CORES payment module is accepting fee payments...more

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Texas Court Finds COVID Message Meets Emergency Purposes Exception

Creating a split in authority, a Texas federal court determined that a text message providing information about a free COVID-19 vaccine was covered by the “emergency purposes” exception to the Telephone Consumer Protection...more

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Request to Stop Text Messages Trumps Emergency Exception

A plaintiff’s request to stop sending text messages trumps the “emergency purposes” exception to mandated consent under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), a Florida federal court recently ruled. Linda Farhat sued...more

ArentFox Schiff

FCC Seeks Reforms to Rural Health Care Program 

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The FCC is requesting public comment on proposed reforms to the Rural Health Care Program to “promote program efficiency and ensure that rural healthcare providers receive appropriate levels of funding.” Initial Comments...more

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

US Broadband in 2021; Policies Promoting Infrastructure, Competition, National Security and Universal Access

During his presidential campaign, President Biden committed “to build back better in rural America” by “expand[ing] broadband, or wireless broadband via 5G, to every American.” Last month, President Biden renewed his focus on...more

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Emerging Best Practices for States to Address the Digital Divide

Adoption of virtual care1 has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the “digital divide”—the gap between individuals who use or have access to telecommunications and information technologies and those who do...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

FCC Launches Consumer Broadband Device and Service Program

On May 12, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) began enrolling eligible households in its Emergency Broadband Benefit (“EBB”) program. The EBB program provides eligible households with up to a $50 monthly...more

Holland & Knight LLP

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

Holland & Knight LLP on

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

Cooley LLP

Alert: FCC Adopts Rules for Round 2 of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Funding

Cooley LLP on

The FCC has adopted rules to implement Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, making available almost $250 million in new funding for pandemic-related telehealth initiatives by nonprofit healthcare providers....more

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Update on Tribal Broadband Funding Opportunities

The past several months have seen a number of new funding opportunities for the deployment, adoption and affordability of broadband services on tribal lands. This alert provides a quick update on these various opportunities....more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Biden Signs Stimulus Package: FCC Set to Establish a $7 Billon Emergency Connectivity Fund to Assist with Virtual Learning

On March 10, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act, the COVID-19 stimulus bill recently enacted by Congress. The Act allocates $1.9 trillion to provide relief to businesses and individuals that are...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

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

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

Womble Bond Dickinson

Broadband Reliance During Pandemic Heightens Concerns About Access, Security, and Highlights Opportunities, Risks

Womble Bond Dickinson on

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted significant gaps in the availability of broadband access faced by millions of rural and low-income Americans, and the vulnerability of our broadband networks to single points of failure and...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

FCC Tees Up Broadband and Telehealth Updates for First Meeting under Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel

The FCC released the agenda for its next Open Meeting, scheduled for February 17, 2021, which will be the first with Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel at the helm. The FCC plans to kick off the meeting with three...more

Perkins Coie

What to Expect From Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s FCC

Perkins Coie on

Shortly after his inauguration, President Biden appointed Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel as acting chairwoman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel is expected to pursue the...more

Wiley Rein LLP

FCC Public Notices Seek Comment on Implementation of COVID-19 Broadband Stimulus Programs

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During the first week of 2021, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s or Commission’s) Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) released two Public Notices seeking comment on the Commission’s implementation of the...more

Wiley Rein LLP

Congress Provides Nearly $7 Billion in New Broadband Funding in the Latest COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation

Wiley Rein LLP on

The historic $900 billion coronavirus (COVID-19) relief package deal that the President signed into law this past weekend – the second largest economic stimulus legislation ever produced by Congress – includes $7 billion in...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

FCC Announces Opening of Connected Care Pilot Program Application Filing Window

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP on

On November 5, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission” or “FCC”) released a Public Notice announcing the opening of the Connected Care Pilot Program (“Connected Care Program”) 30-day application filing...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

COVID-19: What Communications Service Providers Need to Know – October 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact how Americans connect at work and home, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has been active to keep communications services available through various waivers, extensions,...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

FCC Provides Guidance on $100 Million Connected Care Pilot Program; Application Deadline Remains TBD

The Federal Communications Commission (“Commission” or “FCC”) has long been interested in the use of broadband-enabled telehealth services to make healthcare more accessible, particularly for veterans and low-income patients....more

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Deadline Approaching for Next Phase of E911 Rules for Hotels and Offices

Jan. 6, 2021, is the deadline to begin automatically sending location information along with 911 calls made from fixed phone lines in hotels, apartment complexes, offices or other businesses locations. ...more

Cooley LLP

Alert: FCC Offers Guidance to Healthcare Providers Seeking Funding for Telehealth Services

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The Federal Communications Commission released a public notice to help eligible healthcare providers apply for funding through the FCC’s Connected Care Pilot Program. The $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program is designed...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

COVID-19: What Communications Service Providers Need to Know – September 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact how Americans connect at work and home, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has been active to keep communications services available through various waivers, extensions,...more

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

FCC Affirms Application of Emergency Purposes Exception to COVID-19 Plasma Donation Calls and Texts

On July 28, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a public notice clarifying its prior guidance regarding the types of COVID-19-related communications that fall within the “emergency purposes” exception to...more

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