Federal Communications Commission

FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel Circulates Ruling Making Wi-Fi On School Buses Eligible For E-Rate Funding

For more than two decades, E-Rate has provided vital support to help connect schools and libraries to high-speed, modern communications all across the country. It got its start as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Over 25 million children take the bus to school every day. In rural areas that ride can be long. It can easily be an hour to school and an hour to return home at the end of the day.

FCC Eases Budget Restrictions for Rural Rate-of-Return Carriers Receiving High-Cost Universal Service Support

The Federal Communications Commission temporarily waives, on its own motion, the application of the budget control mechanism for rate-of-return carriers that receive high-cost universal service support from legacy mechanisms. The FCC adopts instead a full waiver of the budget constraint for the July 2022 to June 2023 tariff year.

FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel's Remarks at the 2022 5G Summit

At the [Federal Communications Commission], we are determined to make progress. We are pursuing a 5G agenda that I believe can move the country forward, expand infrastructure investment, and pry open the doors of opportunity for all. And thanks to our work over the last year, we are making real strides toward building that 5G future. So here it goes—five things we are doing right now to support the future of 5G. First, we are investing in broadband and wireless coverage data. Second, we are making wireless service more affordable.

FCC Commits Nearly $39 Million In Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund Support

The Federal Communications Commission committed nearly $39 million in the 14th wave of Emergency Connectivity Fund program support, helping to close the Homework Gap. This latest round of funding is supporting 140 schools, 14 libraries, and 1 consortium across the country, including for students in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Puerto Rico, and Virginia. The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework, to ensure students across the country have the necessary support to keep up with their education.

FCC Announces $200 Million for New Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Broadband Deployments

The Federal Communications Commission is ready to authorize $199,336,695 through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to fund new broadband deployments in 26 states and the Northern Mariana Islands, bringing service to over 230,000 locations. This is the ninth round of program funding since July 2021, when the FCC announced the first approvals for applicant bids meeting the stringent requirements that Chairwoman Rosenworcel put in place to ensure the integrity of the program, which draws on funding in the high-cost universal service program.

FCC Proposes $100,000 Fine Against LTD for Prohibited Communications

The Federal Communications Commission is proposing a forfeiture of $100,000 against LTD Broadband for repeatedly engaging in prohibited communications of its bidding and bidding strategies during the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I Auction (Auction 904), and its failure to timely report such prohibited communications. The FCC has long-standing rules that bar communications between and among auction applicants during an auction that could detract from a fair and competitive auction process.

FCC Commissioner Simington Comments On Acquisition Of Twitter

Federal Communications Commissioner Nathan Simington released a statement regarding Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter. "Some have recently called on the FCC to stop Elon Musk from acquiring Twitter," he said. "But nothing in the United States Code or our regulations gives us the right to interfere with this transaction. Our competition review authority does not and has never extended to internet platforms like Twitter. But even if this deal were within our purview, it would be inappropriate and contrary to the public interest to block it. Mr.

FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for May 2022 Open Meeting

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 19, 2022. The FCC will consider:

Recommendation Regarding Consumer Broadband Labels

The FCC Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) was asked to build on the CAC’s extensive work in 2015/2016 on consumer broadband disclosures and develop recommendations on how the Federal Communications Commission should define “Point of Sale” for purposes of the label requirement and does the type or form of disclosure vary depending upon the nature of the consumer’s interaction with the service provider, e.g., in-store face-to-face with a sales representative, over the phone, on the web, at kiosks, etc.

FCC Opens 3rd Filing Window for Emergency Connectivity Fund

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the opening of a third application filing window to award at least $1 billion in Emergency Connectivity Fund support to help close the Homework Gap. From April 28, 2022 until May 13, 2022, eligible schools and libraries can submit requests for funding to purchase eligible equipment and services between July 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023.

FCC Commissioner Starks Announces Staff Changes

Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks announced several changes to his team. William Davenport, Starks’s Chief of Staff and Senior Legal Advisor, will be leaving the FCC at the end of April 2022. Austin Bonner, Starks’s legal advisor for media and consumer protection issues, will serve as Acting Chief of Staff. Commissioner Starks said, “For over three years, Bill has led my office’s efforts to improve the equity, security, and sustainability of our nation’s communications sector.

Open Markets Details How US Government Can Block Musk Takeover of Twitter

Twitter's board agreed to sell the corporation to Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla and SpaceX. The Open Markets Institute believes the deal poses a number of immediate and direct threats to American democracy and free speech.

Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s Response to Senators Fischer and Masto Regarding Broadband Deployment Locations Map

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent letters to Sens Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) in response to their letter on the FCC’s efforts to implement the Broadband Deployment Locations Map. In the April 15, 2022 letter, Rosenworcel said the FCC began efforts to implement the broadband map following the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

FCC Seeks Partners for Local Wireless Emergency Alert Tests

The Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau seeks to gain a better understanding of end-to-end Wireless Emergency Alerts performance. The bureau seeks to partner with alert originators to conduct localized, end-to-end WEA performance tests to be conducted in the third quarter of 2022. These tests will be designed to measure WEA’s capabilities with enhanced WEA geo-targeting enabled. The bureau will work with the selected alert originator(s) to define the parameters of the test and the roles and responsibilities of test developers and participants.

FCC Launches Proceeding on Promoting Receiver Performance

The Federal Communications Commission voted to open a proceeding to explore options for promoting improvements in radio frequency (RF) receiver performance, including through use of incentives, industry-led voluntary approaches, FCC policy and guidance, or regulatory requirements.

FCC Proposes Public Wireless Emergency Alerts Performance Reporting

The Federal Communications Commission proposed to strengthen the effectiveness of Wireless Emergency Alerts, including through public reporting on the reliability, speed, and accuracy of these messages. The FCC seeks comment on:

FCC seeks comment on T-Mobile Petition for Declaratory Ruling in Bringing Puerto Rico Together and the Connect USVI Fund Stage 2

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on the Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed on April 7, 2022 by T-Mobile USA. In its Petition, T-Mobile seeks clarification that the Bringing Puerto Rico Together Fund and the Connect USVI Fund permit it to use Stage 2 mobile support for the deployment of distributed antenna systems, which T-Mobile states would further the FCC’s goal to make networks more resilient to future disasters.

Comment Due Date: May 2, 2022 Reply Comment Due Date: May 9, 2022 (WC Docket No. 18-143)

FCC Commits $37 Million In Emergency Connectivity Funding

The Federal Communications Commission announced that it is committing $37 million in the 13th wave of Emergency Connectivity Fund program support, helping to close the Homework Gap. This latest round of funding is supporting over 170 schools, 30 libraries, and 4 consortia across the country, including students in Alaska, Indiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Texas. On April 28, the FCC will open a third application filing window that closes May 13, 2022 for eligible equipment and services to be delivered or received in the upcoming school year.