Shelbi Lien Following the news of Darren Dierbeck’s retirement, we are pleased to introduce Steve Davis as the Director of Customer Relations for broadband service providers in the Southwest. Steve has worked in the broadband industry for over 25 years, and brings a wealth of experience understanding the needs of service providers. Most importantly, he understands the … Read more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced April 2024 is the last month eligible subscribers in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will receive their full benefit. Service providers have until March 19, 2024, to send this notification to subscribers in a manner consistent with any consumer-expressed preferences. Service providers are also required to send another notice … Read more
New notification rules awaiting OMB approval. The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Report and Order in WC Docket No. 22-21 has been published in the Federal Register. With this, new data breach requirements take effect March 13, 2024. The new notification requirement, however, has a delayed effective date until approval by the Office of Management and … Read more
Application window opens March 22, 2024; closes May 21, 2024. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the highly anticipated details for the fifth (5th) round of funding for the ReConnect Program. The ReConnect Program will provide up to $700M in loan and grant funding to assist with building broadband infrastructure in areas … Read more
Application window opens March 22, 2024; closes April 22, 2024. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the highly anticipated details for the fifth (5th) round of funding for the ReConnect Program. The ReConnect Program will provide up to $700M in loan and grant funding to assist with building broadband infrastructure in areas … Read more
All providers must comply by February 26, 2024. As you may recall, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order on March 17, 2023 designed to bolster the existing STIR/SHAKEN and Robocall Mitigation Database/Program requirements. Many of the requirements were delayed, pending OMB approval. The FCC released a Public Notice on January 25, 2024 outlining … Read more
Broadband Serviceable Locations: Validate and Update! Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) are reported bi-annually in the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) filing. The Federal Communications Communication (FCC) recently released several Public Notices providing additional guidance on the implications of utilizing the BSLs to determine how federal High-Cost funds are disbursed in addition to new funding opportunities. Vantage … Read more
FCC announced final full month is April 2024. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provided Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) wind-down guidance in DA 24-23. This order projects the last fully funded month for the ACP will be April 2024. The ACP claims snapshot on May 1, 2024, will identify the households eligible to receive the last … Read more
The FCC will provide wind-down procedures. FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel released The Future of the Affordable Connectivity Program fact sheet this week. It is anticipated the funding for the program will run out in April 2024 unless Congress acts on the requested $6B requested by the Biden Administration for the ACP, or the $7B bipartisan bill, … Read more
Second Report and Order released on December 27, 2023 On December 27, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Second Report and Order deferring the commencement of the next five-year deployment obligation term for legacy rate-of-return carriers receiving Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS) in 2024 until January 1, 2025. Legacy carriers … Read more
One-Time Information Collection Regarding Foreign Ownership On December 13, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice reminding all international section 214 authorization holders (Authorization Holders) to respond to a One-Time Information Collection regarding foreign ownership in the One-Time Information Collection Filing System no later than 11:59 ET on January 22, 2024. The … Read more
CMRS Providers: Are your CPNI Manuals and Training out of date? The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order on November 16, 2023, designed to bolster Local Number Portability (LNP) rules and Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) rules for Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers (including resellers of wireless service) due to increased subscriber identity … Read more
Cybersecurity and Supply Chain Risk Management plans must be submitted to USAC. Enhanced ACAM electors are required to implement operational Cybersecurity and Supply Chain Risk Management plans as outlined in the Enhanced ACAM order, FCC 23-60. According to the order, plans are to be submitted to USAC by January 1, 2024, and certified by January … Read more
USAC Announces New Samples Required, FCC Provides Additional Guidance for Carriers Transitioning to Enhanced ACAM. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) recently announced new sample locations MUST be obtained and used beginning first quarter 2024 through calendar year 2025 for carriers currently participating in any of the following funding programs: As referenced in the Performance … Read more
The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to “adopt final rules to facilitate equal access to broadband Internet access service, taking into account the issues of technical and economic feasibility presented by that objective, including – (1) preventing digital discrimination of access based on income level, race, ethnicity, … Read more
Compliance dates for rules implementing Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act announced The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) announced compliance dates for the Broadband Label Order. The rules require Broadband Internet Access Service (BIAS) providers to display, at the point of sale, labels that disclose certain information about broadband prices, introductory rates, data allowances, broadband … Read more
Must comply by December 31, 2023 As a reminder, if you have not completed the following this year, please make sure you are compliant with all by December 31, 2023: Download the full document for additional detail. End of Year Reminders For more information on these issues or if you would like VPS guidance, please … Read more
50% threshold met. Program going forward. On October 4, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice announcing the carriers that accepted Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) support. Contained in the Public Notice was a link to a list of those carriers. The FCC also noted that based on the election … Read more
Mitchell Tech recognizes Platinum Employers MITCHELL (September 6, 2023) – Every fall, Mitchell Technical College announces its Platinum Employer list, recognizing those employers who have hired the greatest numbers of new graduates into their first-destination careers from the college’s three most recent graduating classes. This year’s Platinum Employer list, on display in Mitchell Tech’s Campus … Read more
Test Portal Opened August 18, 2023. The Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) announced the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Transparency Data collection staging (test) portal opened on August 18, 2023. Service Providers can test load data in the portal until the filing window opens on September 8, 2023. USAC also released the ACP Transparency Data Collection … Read more
