Press Release

Breezeline, the eighth-largest cable operator in the US, has introduced a new “Internet Assist Plus” package with download speeds up to 100 Mbps for customers who are eligible to receive broadband connectivity at discounted prices through the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks announced the following staff changes:

AT&T is opening a new Connected Learning Center inside the Asian Pacific American Community Center (APACC) in San Francisco (CA) to provide internet access and education tools to those who face connectivity barriers vital to their long-term success. It’s part of the AT&T Connected Learning initiative and the company's $2 billion commitment to address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption. This is the second Connected Learning Center that AT&T has opened in California.

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition published its 2022 Policy Roadmap, outlining the 10 policy priorities that shape its advocacy in 2022. In brief, the SHLB Coalition will focus on the following policy priorities in 2022: 

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) announced the launch of the 5G Challenge in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD). ITS, the US’s Spectrum and Communications Lab, supports the Department of Defense 5G Initiative through a combination of its subject matter experts in 5G and its research, development, test, and evaluation laboratory infrastructure in Boulder (CO).

The Federal Communications Commission announced that the FCC and Department of Justice (DOJ) have reached a $13.4 million settlement with TracFone Wireless in connection with violations of FCC Lifeline program rules. Specifically, the settlement resolves allegations that TracFone violated the False Claims Act by signing up more than 175,000 ineligible customers for the Lifeline program during 2012-2015 and that the false claims resulted from TracFone’s lax oversight and monitoring of its Lifeline program.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced additions to her leadership team. As of mid-April, Narda Jones will return to the FCC and assume the role of Chief of Staff. Priscilla Delgado Argeris will now serve as Chief Legal Advisor.

The Federal Communications Commission announced that its Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) has undergone a system upgrade which will help enable expanded features and functions to be introduced into ECFS in the coming year. The update transitions ECFS to a cloud-based platform, which will make the system scalable and more agile. In addition, reCAPTCHA functionality has been added to the system. This first phase of the multi-phase ECFS upgrade effort will enable development of new functions that take advantage of the upgraded technology platform.

The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will utilize a new process to confirm existing subscribers’ Lifeline program eligibility if there is reason to believe that a subscriber is no longer eligible for their Lifeline service. USAC will reach out to the subscriber and direct them to the National Verifier to verify their eligibility through a continued eligibility application. The National Verifier supports the continued eligibility process by streamlining, automating, and tracking subscriber outreach and response, a process that was previously manual and ad hoc in nature.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) adopts the first middle-mile broadband rule for the state of Texas. The rule permits electric utilities to lease their excess fiber capacity to internet service providers to provide broadband in unserved and underserved areas of Texas. While the PUCT does not regulate broadband service, this rule will help electric utilities, which the PUCT does regulate, partner with internet service providers to expand broadband access to Texans.