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…
The FCC late last week approved a Report and Order that provides guidance on the $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program. In addition the commission voted to approve 36 FCC Connected Care projects totaling more than $31 million in funding….
Small rural carriers that receive Universal Service Fund (USF) support through the traditional high-cost program will breathe a little easier now that the FCC has adopted an order that adjusts a key budget constraint for the high-cost program. The order…
The Rural Connectivity Advancement Program (RCAP) Act of 2021 introduced in the Senate yesterday would direct 10% of revenues raised in FCC spectrum auctions toward rural broadband. If adopted, the bill would create a Rural Broadband Assessment and Deployment Fund…
USAC has revised its search tool for Universal Service Fund (USF) high-cost program disbursements. The goal is to be more user friendly and make it easier for users to access details about total dollar amounts carriers have received through the…
Big Tech companies such as Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google should help fund the cost of providing broadband to all Americans, argues FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr in an opinion piece in Newsweek published today. “Big Tech has been enjoying…
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) has released version 4.0 of the Connect America Fund Broadband Map (CAF Map). The organization says that the goal of the map is to illustrate the impact of the CAF on reducing the digital…
A new report from consulting firm Deloitte found a strong positive broadband economic impact but questions current subsidy programs. Those programs should not aim for overly ambitious and more costly broadband speeds because doing so might prevent promising new technologies…
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