The Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC” or “Commission”) Wireline Bureau on September 3, 2020, released a Public Notice providing additional information regarding the upcoming $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program. You will recall that the Commission launched the pilot in April – joining it together in the same order approving the COVID-19 Telehealth Program (FCC 20-44). … Continue Reading
Last month the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) ordered the carry-forward of $198 million in Rural Health Care (RHC) funding for use in 2020. Seems like good news, but it depends on how you look at it. But note this action simply makes the funding available — it does not waive or increase the RHC caps for 2020. … Continue Reading
Capitol Hill We continue to expect that House Democrats will pass their “Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s America Act” (LIFT America Act) infrastructure proposal, however, any deal with President Trump on infrastructure remains on hold. The House bill includes $45 billion in broadband funding – $30 billion in reverse auction funds to be administered by the … Continue Reading
Just last week we reported on the FCC’s overhaul of the Lifeline program. The Commission’s sweeping decision has now been published in the Federal Register. As frequent visitors here know, that publication does a couple of things. First, it sets the effective date for some, but by no means all, of the new rules. That … Continue Reading
Faster, simpler, cheaper process, but no greater support The federal Lifeline program – a program overseen by the FCC and originally designed to provide subsidized phone service to low-income households – has never been a model of efficiency or consistency. Four years ago the Commission tried to tighten things up on the Lifeline front. And … Continue Reading
To the FCC's likely chagrin, the Fifth Circuit has held that USF funds are not "federal funds" within the meaning of the False Claims Act..… Continue Reading
The Bureau is making $25 million available to ETCs to carry out "field experiments" on customers. It wants to see how much free or discounted Internet Joe Consumer needs to get hooked on broadband.… Continue Reading
With some further fine-tuning, it looks like the rules governing the FCC's revised Lifeline program are in effect or scheduled to take effect shortly (with maybe an exception or two).… Continue Reading
Petitions for reconsideration of the Commission's order reforming the Lifeline program have been filed -- and the deadline for responding to them have now been set.… Continue Reading
The Commission's magnum opus setting out new rules for the Lifeline program - and proposing more new rules for that program - has been published in the Federal Register.… Continue Reading
Looking to rein in fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal Lifeline program, the FCC has pulled out almost every bureaucratic tool in the box.… Continue Reading
Back in December the FCC adopted an Order permitting it to re-purpose monies relinquished by carriers who are no longer ETCs in particular states. From the text of the Order, we thought the Commission wanted to make the Order "effective" as of December 30. Now we're not so sure.… Continue Reading
It's official! The FCC had grabbed hold of USF funds left on the table when Verizon Wireless and Sprint-Nextel gave up their ETC status in certain markets (in fulfillment of conditions placed on approvals of their mergers).… Continue Reading
Deadlines for comments and replies on the FCC's proposal to "reclaim" some USF funds and redirect them toward broadband have been established.… Continue Reading
The Commission's new USF game plan involves the likely dedication of hundreds of millions of dollars to subsidize broadband. Precisely how the Commission justifies its proposed approach may raise some eyebrows.… Continue Reading
One more element has been added to the full-court governmental press aimed at extending broadband to as many people as possible: a bill proposing to reform the multi-billion dollar Universal Service Fund.… Continue Reading
