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
Digital Discrimination: Interview with Jeff Smith With the recently-released Order on Digital Discrimination, there are a lot of questions: What does this mean? Who is impacted? What do we need to do? In this 22-minute interview, Jeff Smith – VP of Public Policy and Advocacy – answers those questions and sheds light on the regulatory … Read more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) extended the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Professional Engineer (PE) certification waiver, with conditions. In 2020, Congress passed the Broadband DATA Act, which required the FCC to adopt rules for a biannual data collection relating to the availability and quality of broadband Internet access service. This data collection effort and resulting … Read more
On November 29, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice providing guidance to High-Cost support recipients regarding their obligations to collaborate with states and Tribal governments to avoid duplication with Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding. High-Cost support includes Enhanced A-CAM, RDOF, CAF Phase II Auction, Bringing Puerto Rico Together … 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
On July 24, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its Enhanced A-CAM Order giving legacy high-cost support recipients and current A-CAM I & II recipients the ability to accept the 15-year Enhanced A-CAM offer to provide 100/20 Mbps broadband service to unserved and underserved locations. Carriers must elect whether to accept the Enhanced A-CAM … Read more
The FCC released a Public Notice on July 25, 2023, announcing that the BDC Filing Deadline with data as of June 30, 2023, has been extended from September 1, 2023, to September 15, 2023. The extension is a result of a CostQuest June 30, 2023 Fabric processing error where certain Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) were … Read more
Yesterday the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its Report and Order, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Notice of Inquiry (Order) extending the Alternative Connect America Model (A-CAM) program support for fifteen (15) years in exchange for the provision of broadband service to 100% of the eligible locations at speeds of 100/20 Mbps. It is a … Read more
The FCC released an Order on July 7, 2023, 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. As a result of the pause, the basic lifeline benefit will remain at $5.25 for eligible voice-only service and the … Read more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that the June 2023 version of the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Fabric is available. Service providers are encouraged to access their BDC Fabric (Fabric) data and to begin their BDC Filing early. Bulk Fabric Challenges submitted on or after June 30, 2023, must be submitted against the June 2023 … Read more
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the state funding allocations for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program yesterday. Additional information is available in the Press Release. The funding is being distributed based on BEAD requirements and the number of unserved and underserved locations as determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) … Read more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is to eliminate Universal Service Fund (USF) high-cost support to Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) in areas where an unsubsidized competitor is currently providing service. This applies to programs such as A-CAM, CAF-BLS, and The Alaska Plan-Phase 1. The current definition of unsubsidized competitor is “a facilities-based provider of residential fixed … Read more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) performance testing start date is January 1, 2025. Additional information is available in the Public Notice. The FCC adopted a uniform framework of performance measures requirements in the Performance Measures Orders, back in December 2020. This requires recipients of high-cost universal service support … Read more
The FCC released a 7th Report & Order on May 19, 2023 in an effort to continue combatting illegal and unwanted robocalls. The FCC begins this phase of the effort by extending to other voice service providers several requirements currently in place for Gateway providers. Download the full memo for additional information on 24-Hour Traceback, … Read more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released the FCC Broadband Map (Map) reflecting BDC filing data as of December 31, 2022, and processed availability challenges. Additional information is available in the Press Release. All Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are required to submit their availability for broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) bi-annually. The FCC compiles this information and … Read more
On May 16, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released DA 23-416, a Public Notice announcing that the biennial recertifications of Study Area Boundary (SAB) data are due no later than June 30, 2023. According to the FCC’s Study Area Boundary Order, incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and state commissions that have voluntarily agreed to … Read more
