Memos, Resources
Memo: USDA Begins to Release ReConnect Round 4 Application Public Notice Filings
November 11, 2022
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started to release Public Notice Filings (PNFs) on the recently submitted ReConnect Round 4 applications. As in previous ReConnect Funding Rounds, once a PNF is released, there is a 45-day response window allowing broadband providers the opportunity to challenge Proposed Funded Service Areas (PFSA) of an individual…
Continue Reading Memos, Resources
Memo: New Broadband Map will be released November 18, 2022
November 10, 2022
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the pre-production draft of the new broadband map will be available on November 18, 2022. Additional information is available in the News Release. The pre-production map is the first release of the map required by the Broadband DATA Act. The broadband availability will be based on data submitted by…
Continue ReadingPreparing for Grant & Loan Programs
September 21, 2022
Building a broadband network requires a considerable amount of planning and analysis. To be successful, a broadband network must be able to meet customers’ demands both today and into the future. Long-term capital investments such as this can therefore be risky ventures for the broadband provider and their funding partners. That is why grant and…
Continue Reading Memos, Resources
Memo: Broadband Data Collection Fabric Bulk Challenge Process
September 8, 2022
All Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were required to complete the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) by September 1, 2022. The filing required ISPs to identify Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) from the Fabric, a common dataset of all locations developed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vendor CostQuest. The Fabric was developed utilizing multiple data sources but…
Continue ReadingCybersecurity in the Age of Zeppelin
August 29, 2022
Zeppelin is the latest cybersecurity threat to make headlines. What do network operators need to know - and do - now? James Taylor, Sr. IT Security Consultant, explains. Continue Reading Memos, Resources
Memo: PSHSB Counsels EAS Participants to Take Immediate Actions to Safeguard Devices
August 10, 2022
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued an advisory on August 1, 2022, concerning a potential vulnerability in certain Emergency Alert System (EAS) encoder/decoder devices that have not been updated to most recent software versions. It is FEMA’s observation that unauthorized actors could issue false alerts over Internet-accessible EAS infrastructure, if the devices are not…
Continue Reading Memos, Resources
Memo: USDA Officially Releases Details on the 4th Round of ReConnect
August 4, 2022
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the highly anticipated details for the fourth (4th) round of funding for the ReConnect Program. The ReConnect Program will provide up to $1.15B in loan and grant funding to assist with building broadband infrastructure in areas of America lacking sufficient access to broadband. This program was…
Continue Reading Memos, Resources
Memo: FCC Pauses Voice Lifeline Phase-out and Mobile Broadband Data Capacity Increase Again
July 13, 2022
The FCC released an Order on July 1, 2022, hitting the pause button on (1) the support phase-out of Lifeline voice services, and (2) the data capacity increase for mobile broadband for an additional year. Therefore, the basic lifeline benefit will remain at $5.25 for eligible voice-only service and the minimum service standard for mobile…
Continue Reading Memos, Resources
Memo: BDC Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waiver Released
July 12, 2022
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waiver regarding the requirement for a Certified Professional Engineer to certify Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Maps in DA 22-733. In January 2021, the FCC released the Third Report and Order providing that in addition to the corporate officer certification, each mobile and fixed service…
Continue ReadingMemo: BDC Production Fabric Available
June 27, 2022
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the BDC Production Fabric (Fabric) is available in DA 22-668. Service providers are encouraged to access their fabric and start the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) filing early. Accessing the Fabric will be different depending on your activity with the preliminary Fabric data. Download the full memo for additional information….
Continue Reading