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…
The State of New York has mandated that broadband service providers offer a $15 broadband service tier to low-income households. The mandate was included in the state’s budget authorization bill, and service providers have 60 days to comply. The New…
The Wireline Competition Bureau of the FCC will soon open a comments period, seeking input on how to best distribute the $7.1 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), aimed at helping close the so called homework gap. The funding is a…
The FCC is seeking comment on requests for eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) status for winning Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) bidders that don’t already have ETC status. Considering the controversy that some winning bids have generated, the commission is likely…
The Texas Telephone Association, which represents about 50 rural telecom providers, is suing the state of Texas in connection with the state’s Universal Service Fund (USF). According to a report published by media outlet The Texan, the state owes the…
Congress should provide funding for broadband, argues Verizon in a 28-page proposal titled Accelerating America: Affordability, Adoption, Access. Among other things, Verizon recommends lifting restrictions on municipal networks in unserved areas and providing $20 to $50 monthly on an electronic…
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has chosen 14 pilot programs over 11 states for the Connected Care Pilot Program, awarding applicants $26.6 million for their proposed projects. The program started taking applications for a projected $100 million in awards in…
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