Recent News

General (Including Non-USF Programs)

• On September 27, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau
  (WCB) announced via Public Notice (DA 21-1207) that the application
  filing window for the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks
  Reimbursement Program will open on Friday, October 29, 2021
  at 12:00 AM ET and close on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 11:59 PM
  ET.

• On September 23, the FCC announced via Public Notice (DA 21-1195) that the next
  meeting of the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and
  Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States will
  be held Thursday, October 14, 2021, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
  EDT. At this meeting, the Task Force will hear updates
  from the Working Group leadership and discuss recommendations.

• On September 15, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr released a statement in support of “Subsidizing
  Universal Broadband Through a Digital Advertising Services Fee: An
  Alignment of Incentives,” a study authored by Hal J.
  Singer and Ted Tatos which examines whether large technology
  companies should start contributing to the USF. On September 14,
  NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, SHLB Coalition, and INCOMPAS
  released the USForward study, which details how “the
  FCC can take a smart, sustainable approach to contributions
  reform.”

• On September 10, the WCB announced via Public Notice (DA 21-1131) the establishment of
  a Fund Administrator Help Desk for the Secure and Trusted
  Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. The Fund
  Administrator Help Desk will assist the public and interested
  providers with questions about the Reimbursement Program and the
  application filing process. Interested parties may contact the Help
  Desk by email at SCRPFundAdmin@fcc.gov or by calling (202) 418-7540
  from 9:00 AM ET to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.

• On September 8, the WCB issued a Public Notice (DA 21-1122) seeking nominations
  for a representative for commercial mobile radio service providers
  to fill a vacant position on the Universal Service Administrative
  Company (USAC) Board of Directors. Nominations are due
  November 8, 2021.

• On September 8, the WCB announced via Public Notice (DA 21-1119) that it will expand
  eligibility for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program to include
  households that can demonstrate participation in the free and
  reduced price school lunch program or school breakfast program for
  the 2021-2022 school year.

• On September 3, the WCB released an Order (DA 21-1107) waiving certain E-Rate,
  Rural Health Care (RHC), Lifeline, High Cost, Emergency
  Connectivity Fund, and EBB rules and deadlines to assist
  participants and providers located in the areas affected by
  Hurricane Ida.

Lifeline

• On September 22, the WCB released an Order (DA 21-1191) extending the prior waivers of the Lifeline program rules
  governing documentation requirements for subscribers residing in
  rural areas on Tribal lands, reverification, recertification,
  general de-enrollment, and income documentation through
  December 31, 2021.

High Cost/Connect America Fund (CAF)

• On September 15, the WCB, Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force
  (RBATF) and the Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) authorized
  via Public Notice (DA 21-1158) Rural Digital
  Opportunity Fund (Auction 904) support for 466 winning bids.

• On September 2, the WCB released an Order (DA 21-1097) granting a petition by
  Redwire Inc. The petition requested an extension of the waiver of
  the letter of credit requirement for the CAF Phase II auction.

Schools and Libraries (E-Rate)

• On September 21, WCB issued a Public Notice (DA 21-1182) directing the USAC
  to review and process Emergency Connectivity Fund Program
  late-filed applications after the close of the initial application
  filing window with those filed in the second application filing
  window in accordance with rules and requirements.

Rural Health Care

• On September 29, the WCB released a Public Notice (DA 21-1222) announcing approval
  of a second set of 72 applications, totaling $41 million, in Round
  2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The initial group of
  applications was announced in August.

Recent Studies

USForward Report

by NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, SHLB Coalition,
INCOMPAS, and Mattey Consulting

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service
Fund (USF or Fund) is currently financed by collecting a fee from
providers of “telecommunications” and
“telecommunications services” based on their end user
interstate and international revenues. There are increasing
concerns about the growth and the disparate impacts of this fee on
consumers, business customers, and the communications industry that
serves them. This report compiles and analyzes the relevant data
using a consistent set of terms and documented sources. The report
is intended to facilitate a comparison of different assessment
systems that could be implemented by the FCC now to avert the
immediate crisis on the horizon.

Subsidizing Universal Broadband Through a Digital
Advertising Services Fee: An Alignment of Incentives

by Hal J. Singer and Ted Tatos

This study examines the current funding mechanism for the
universal service fund (USF), and estimates the amount of annual
funding necessary to provide broadband service to those who
currently cannot access it, as well as to those who can access it
but cannot afford it.  

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.