Memos, Resources
Memo: BEAD Funding Allocations Announced
June 27, 2023
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)…
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Memo: Potential USF Funding Reductions Due to Unsubsidized Competitors
June 16, 2023
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…
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Memo: RDOF Performance Testing Dates Announced
June 5, 2023
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…
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Memo: STIR/SHAKEN & Robocall Mitigation Order
June 1, 2023
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,…
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Memo: Recertifying Study Area Boundary Data
May 22, 2023
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…
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Memo: STIR/SHAKEN and Robocall Mitigation
April 20, 2023
The FCC released an Order on March 17, 2023 designed to bolster the existing STIR/SHAKEN and Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD) and Robocall Mitigation Program requirements. The new requirements will affect ALL voice providers. If VPS assisted with your initial Robocall Mitigation Database/Program filing, we will reach out to you directly via email as things progress…
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Memo: Supply Chain Data Collection (SCDC) Annual Report due March 31, 2023
March 16, 2023
The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 established the requirement for providers of Advanced Communications Services to report and certify annually information regarding purchasing, renting or leasing any equipment from the FCC’s Covered List of equipment or services that are deemed to pose a threat to national security interests. All providers of Advanced…
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Memo: FCC Form 477 Sunset Update
December 21, 2022
The FCC Form 477 Sunset Order was published in the Federal Register on December 16, 2022. No further FCC Form 477 filings will be required. The Commission will continue to collect broadband and voice subscription data but filers will submit the data through the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) portal. On December 9, 2022, the Federal…
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Memo: Broadband Label Order Effective January 17, 2023
December 20, 2022
FCC seeks further comments; Upcoming OMB approval will start compliance countdown. With Friday’s publication in the Federal Register of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recent Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the Order), the cycle for further comments on additional information to be included on the broadband label begins. Importantly, Internet service…
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Memo: Sunset of FCC Form 477
December 13, 2022
FCC Order released December 9, 2023. On December 9, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order announcing the sunset of the FCC Form 477 effective immediately upon publication of the Order in the Federal Register. The FCC will continue to collect broadband and voice subscription data, but it will be collected via the…
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