The FCC adopted a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) today seeking input on whether to increase the speeds that providers receiving rural broadband support through the A-CAM program would be required to deploy. The proposal recommends increasing the funding available…
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed using E-Rate program funding to deploy Wi-Fi on school buses. Rosenworcel introduced the Declaratory Ruling, which must be adopted by the commission in order to go into effect, during a meeting of the National…
The FCC said today that it will not impose the high-cost Universal Service Fund (USF) budget control mechanism for the upcoming funding year. Budget control was scheduled to go into effect in July for small rural rate-of-return providers that have…
The FCC will vote later this month on a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) seeking input on a proposal to establish higher speed goals for small rural providers that receive broadband funding through the Alternative Connect America Model (A-CAM) program….
The FCC and Windstream Communications have agreed to a $1.2 million settlement for the carrier’s alleged violation of Rural Health Care Program (RHC) rules. The settlement includes a $200,000 civil penalty. The program provides financial support to eligible rural health…
In addition to making unprecedented funding available for broadband, the infrastructure act signed into law late last year also directed the FCC to study the impact of the new government broadband funding on the Universal Service Fund program. As part…
Several broadband provider associations, along with other entities numbering 332 in total, are taking another crack at persuading the FCC to expand the contribution base for the Universal Service Fund (USF) program to include broadband revenues. In a letter to…
A bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate would expand the Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution base. The USF includes four programs, which fund rural broadband and telecom deployments; low-income broadband; telecom, school and library connectivity; and a rural telehealth program….
Complying with the USAC’s requirements can be stressful. However, being non-compliant during the pre-testing phase isn’t the end of the world. In fact – it’s part of the process in most providers’ deployment journeys. As we jump into the fourth…
A new report recommends that the Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution base should be expanded to include broadband internet access service revenues. The current methodology is unsustainable, the report argues. The “USForward” report, from Carol Mattey, founder of Mattey Consulting…
Windstream CEO Tony Thomas addressed the fiber broadband industry today at Fiber Connect, taking place in Nashville. With a theme of Windstream’s growing broadband ambitions, Thomas also revealed he’s no fan of the RDOF program implementation and he is among…
A group of three U.S. Senators has introduced the Funding Affordable Internet with Reliable (FAIR) Contributions Act. The FAIR Act would direct the FCC to study expanding the base of contributors to the USF fund. It’s not a new idea…
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