by Pivot
Tag: USF
Universal Broadband Act Would Expand USF Contribution Base
The Universal Broadband Act introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday aims to expand the contribution base from which funding for the FCC’s Universal Service Fund (USF) program is drawn. The USF, which has four…
FCC Asks Industry to Choose Between Doors Number One or Two with New $9 Billion Rural 5G Fund
The FCC will vote next month on a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) about the 5G Fund that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai initially proposed in December. As previewed at that time, the fund would provide…
FCC Relaxes High-Cost USF Rules to Fight COVID-19
The FCC’s moves aimed at supporting telecommunications services during the COVID-19 pandemic continue with a temporary change in rules for the high-cost Universal Service Fund (USF). The change targets competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (CETCs), who…
CARES Act Telecom Funding Includes $300M for FCC Telehealth, USDA ReConnect Program
The $2 trillion CARES Act signed into law by President Trump on Friday aims to address the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on a range of fronts and includes at least $300 million in funding for telecom…
Broadband Maps Should Improve as Trump Signs Broadband DATA Act, But FCC’s Pai Adds a Dose of Reality
President Trump has signed the Broadband DATA Act, and with the signing, the act now becomes law. The act aims to improve FCC broadband availability data, which has been widely criticized for inaccuracy, and it’s…
FCC Releases Preliminary List of Areas Eligible for RDOF Auction
The FCC has released a preliminary list of areas eligible for the RDOF auction, or Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction, Phase 1. The auction will award funding to cover some of the costs of bringing…
Secure and Trusted Communications Network Act Becomes Law: $1 Billion to Replace Huawei, ZTE
President Trump signed the Secure and Trusted Communications Network Act yesterday– a move that will make up to $1 billion available to network operators to replace equipment that, according to the government, poses a threat…
CAF II Funding Ready to Authorize in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Other States
The FCC is ready to authorize Connect America Fund CAF II funding for five more companies for rural broadband deployments in six states, including Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska and Arizona. The commission says it…
FCC Proposes Bidding Procedures for October RDOF Auction
The FCC is seeking comment on bidding procedures for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction, which will award funding for rural broadband. The first of two auction phases would have a budget of $16…
Per New USF Requirements, FCC Starts Collecting Data From Carriers Using Huawei, ZTE
The FCC has started to collect data from carriers on their use of Huawei and ZTE equipment and services. The collection is in connection with the adoption of a rule requiring recipients of Universal Service…
FCC to Hold Forum On 5G Virtualized Radio Access Networks
The federal government is taking steps to try to ensure that the U.S. doesn’t lose the 5G development battle to Chinese companies like Huawei. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai today announced that the…
Is Universal Service Fund in Peril? A Close Look at the Budget – and Where the Money Comes From
The percentage of end user phone bills that goes toward the Universal Service Fund has been climbing and there are serious questions about the sustainability of that funding mechanism, despite a relatively stable USF budget.…