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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Late last week, the FCC issued guidance on its new re-certification rules. The current rule requires Lifeline ETCs to conduct their annual re-certification efforts without regard to an individual subscriber’s Lifeline start...more