Latest Posts › Rural Areas

Share:

USF Tracker - December 2022

General - • On December 23, 2022, FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel named six members of the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) in a Public Notice (DA 22-1365....more

USF Tracker - June 2022

RECENT NEWS - Upcoming Action - Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Section 60104(c)), by the middle of August 2022 (270 days after the November 15th date of enactment), the FCC is required to issue a...more

USF Tracker - May 2022

Recent News - Lifeline / Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) - • On May 25, 2022, the WCB released a Public Notice (DC 22-569) seeking comment on petition filed by Blue Casa Telephone, LLC requesting a waiver of the...more

USF Tracker - April 2022

Recent News - General (Including Non-USF Programs) - On April 4, 2022, the transition from the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) took place. The FCC via Public Notice...more

USF Tracker - March 2022

Recent News - General (Including Non-USF Programs) - March 17 marked the deadline to file reply comments in the Report on the Future of the Universal Service Fund proceeding....more

USF Tracker - January 2022

A New Wave of Audits Is Coming - Routine auditing has always been an integral part of USAC’s oversight of the Universal Service Programs. However, our close watch of the USAC Board meetings (see our quarterly update...more

USF Tracker - December 2021

The Future of the Universal Service Fund (part 2) - Last month, we discussed trends in funding for universal service programs, noting that recently Congress has appropriated some funds directly for USF-like purposes, such...more

USF Tracker - November 2021

Commentary - Are we seeing a once in a generation shift in our approach to Universal Service? For years, the FCC has administered the USF, overseeing four programs designed to bring connectivity to rural areas, to target...more

USF Tracker - August 2021

Recent News - General (Including Non-USF Programs) - On August 20, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) issued a Public Notice (DA 21-1027) seeking nominations for six board member positions on Universal Service...more

USF Tracker - June 2021

ECF Summary - On May 10, 2021, the FCC unanimously adopted final rules in a Report and Order to implement the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program (ECF Program or Fund). The ECF Program is a fund that enables...more

USF Tracker - March 2021

Commentary - In March, the FCC and USAC worked hard to stand up the first of three pandemic-related special programs, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP). Rules for the $3.2 billion EBBP were adopted in February...more

USF Tracker - February 2021

Commentary - 2021 is well underway and the new leadership at the FCC is taking shape. While we don’t yet know who will fill the Chair on a permanent basis, the FCC under Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel is proceeding without...more

USF Tracker - November 2020

Looking Ahead to the New Administration - With the election behind us, this month we will preview some of the possible changes Universal Service could see in the Biden administration. First, and most significantly, we...more

USF Tracker - October 2020

Recent News - Contributions - On October 9, 2020, the FCC released an Order (FCC-20-142) further addressing the treatment of private line revenues under the USF program. The FCC affirmed the 2017 Private Line Order, in...more

USF Tracker - September 2020

Recent News - General - On September 14, 2020, the FCC’s Office of Managing Director (OMD) issued a Public Notice (DA 20-1075) announcing that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the fourth quarter...more

USF Tracker - March 2020

COMMENTARY - On March 10, Kelley Drye held its Annual webinar on the state of the Universal Service Fund. We gave an overview of trends in the Fund, discussed the importance of creating an ethics and compliance plan ahead...more

USF Tracker - February 2020

COMMENTARY - We were tempted to title this edition “RDOF Takes Off,” as this is the biggest USF news of the month. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is the latest in the FCC’s attempts to revamp the High Cost program to...more

USF Tracker - January 2020

COMMENTARY - Our first USF Tracker of 2020 follows an uptick in FCC activity affecting the Universal Service Fund. In the last quarter of 2019, the FCC released major orders affecting three of the four programs (E-rate,...more

USF Tracker - October 2019

COMMENTARY - For this month, we want to spotlight the significant new oversight tasks assigned to USAC by the FCC. True, there is plenty under the ordinary administrative function of reviewing and approving applications...more

USF Tracker - October 2, 2019

COMMENTARY - Now comes the hard part. We’ve noted that the FCC has been setting the table for changes to all of its beneficiary programs, while contributions reform looms. But now, the FCC needs to start deciding the...more

USF Tracker - August 2019

RECENT NEWS - Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) - On July 9, 2019, the FCC released an NPRM that proposes to make the Category Two budget approach permanent, and seeks comment on potential modifications that could simplify...more

USF Tracker - June 28, 2019

KELLEY DRYE COMMENTARY - Much of the activity this month focused on the FCC’s controversial proposal to establish an overall cap to the Universal Service Fund. Stakeholders aligned to oppose the proposal, while...more

USF Tracker - May 2019

KELLEY DRYE COMMENTARY - In a month with only one minor Commission-level USF item, one of the most significant things to watch may be Commissioner O’Rielly’s questioning of USAC over possible use of USF money to overbuild...more

USF Tracker - April 2019

Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) Lifeline High Cost/Connect America Fund (CAF) Rural Health Care This list covers appeals filed on or after January 1, 2016.  Pending appeals filed before January 2016 are not included....more

USF Tracker - March 14, 2019

Kelley Drye Commentary - Welcome to the premier issue of the Kelley Drye Communications Group’s newest publication, the USF Tracker. The Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF) is a sprawling $8 billion per year set of...more

25 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 1

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide