FCC Begins the Transition of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program into the Affordable Connectivity Program
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
November 2021
Analysis
Analysis
Security Guidance for 5G Cloud Infrastructures: Securely Isolate Network Resources (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)
Submitted by benton on Mon, 11/22/2021 - 19:33
FCC Establishes Integrity Measures for Emergency Benefit Enrollments Based on Community Eligibility Provision
The Federal Communications Commission's Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued an advisory raising concerns with respect to Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program enrollments based on the USDA National School Lunch Program’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Households with a student enrolled in a school or school district participating in the CEP can qualify for the EBB Program.
FCC Inspector General Issues Advisory Regarding EBB Enrollment Fraud (Federal Communications Commission)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Mon, 11/22/2021 - 17:57
FCC Approves Verizon-TracFone Deal with Consumer Protections
The Federal Communications Commission has voted to approve—with strong consumer protection conditions—the transfer of control of TracFone Wireless from América Móvil to Verizon Communications. After rigorous review, the FCC found that the transaction, as modified by Verizon’s enforceable commitments, will make Verizon and TracFone stronger providers of prepaid and Lifeline services. Given the communities that TracFone primarily serves within the US, the FCC adopted a number of binding conditions to address potential harms and to ensure the transaction will be in the public interest.
Virginia lieutenant governor-elect expresses concern for rural broadband under infrastructure law
Winsome Sears (R-VA), Virginia's lieutenant governor-elect, expressed the importance of rural broadband access and her concerns over how funds allocated for broadband access in the newly signed infrastructure law would help Virginians, especially in the southwestern part of the state.
How the infrastructure package could fix rural America's internet problems
Many rural areas across the US lack access to high-speed, affordable internet largely because installing the infrastructure isn't worth the investment for internet service providers to take on. The unprecedented amount of federal funding for broadband included in the recently signed infrastructure law aims to fix the digital divide in a different way than the government has tried before. It will put money into the hands of communities that may know how to best address the issue.
John Malone sizes up the threat to cable posed by fiber
US cable operators are increasingly threatened by the vast sums of money being plowed into fiber overbuilders, but cable industry legend John Malone believes that multiple-system operators (MSOs) such as Charter Communications are well-prepared to handle the hazards of more capable competition. Malone, whose Liberty Broadband unit holds 26 percent of Charter and owns Alaska's GCI, remains upbeat about Charter's prospects in the face of new and emerging competition from fiber overbuilders. "I believe they can defend their territory quite effectively," Malone said.