The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently ruled in a closely divided 9-7 en banc decision that the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) method of funding the Universal Service Fund (USF) is an...more
RECENT NEWS - General - On March 2, 2024, in the School and Libraries docket, CC Docket No. 02-6, in the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program docket, WC Docket No. 21-93, in the Contribution Methodology docket, WC...more
The Fifth and D.C. Circuit federal appellate courts are now poised to issue pivotal decisions in the ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of the FCC’s universal service support mechanisms. Their opinions will...more
General - • On August 24, 2023, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) issued a Public Notice (DA 23-753) seeking nominations for six positions on the Board of Directors for the Universal Service Administrative Company...more
The legal battles over the constitutionality of Universal Service Fund (USF) contributions continue as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has granted a request for the full court to re-hear a challenge to the...more
Lifeline / Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) - • On April 28, 2023, Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) announced the annual recertification for Lifeline subscribers. Starting May 1, 2023, and continuing...more
General - On March 24, 2023, in Consumers’ Research v. FCC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a Decision (No. 22-60008) upholding the constitutionality of Congress’s delegation of administration of...more
In Consumers' Research v. FCC, the Universal Service Fund (USF) is under legal and constitutional attack in the Fifth Circuit. A decision striking the USF would have wide-ranging impacts on the telecommunications industry and...more
General - • On January 31, 2023, in the School and Libraries docket, CC Docket No. 02-6, in the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program docket, WC Docket No. 21-93, in the Rural Health Care (RHC) program docket, WC...more
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
General - • On November 30, 2022, in the School and Libraries docket, CC Docket No. 02-6, in the Emergency Connectivity Fund, WC Docket No. 21-93, in the Contribution Methodology docket, WC Docket No. 06-122, and in the...more
General - • On October 31, 2022, in the School and Libraries docket, CC Docket No. 02-6, WC Docket No. 06-122, in the RHC Program docket, WC Docket No. 02-60, in the Connected Care Pilot Program docket, WC Docket No....more
General - • On September 30, 2022, the Office of Chairwoman Rosenworcel issued a statement on Hurricane Ian, describing http://www.fcc.gov/ian as the centralize location for FCC information relating to the hurricane....more
General - • Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Section 60104(c)), the Commission was required to issue a report to the Congress on the Future of the Universal Service Fund in August, 2022. On August 15,...more
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
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
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
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
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
The FCC released a streamlined agenda for its next Commission Open Meeting, scheduled for December 14, 2021. The agency will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) and Notice of Inquiry regarding how to improve the...more
Recent News - General (Including Non-USF Programs) - On September 27, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) announced via Public Notice (DA 21-1207) that the application filing window for the Secure and Trusted...more
At its June 17 Open Meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) adopted a Second Report and Order for its Connected Care Pilot Program, which provides administrative guidance that will enable award recipients to...more
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
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
The recently enacted $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief legislation includes $7.1 billion in emergency funds to support broadband connectivity for schools and libraries, as well as additional funding support for broadband...more