Public Notice | Page 70 | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Public Notice

Connect America Fund Phase II Auction Support Authorized for 669 Winning Bids

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau, in conjunction with the Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force and the Office of Economics and Analytics, authorize $89,184,858.40 in Connect America Fund Phase II (Auction 903) support for the winning bids identified in Attachment A.

FCC Announces the Next National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier Launch

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announced that the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) will soft launch on December 16, 2019 in Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The soft launch period will allow eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to become familiar with the National Verifier and adjust and test their systems and business processes before use of the National Verifier becomes mandatory. During the soft launch, only ETCs will have access to the National Verifier.

FCC Chairman Pai Names Leaders of Precision Agriculture Task Force Working Groups

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced the leadership of the four working groups that will support the work of the FCC’s new Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture. The Task Force will hold its first meeting on Dec 9. 

Mapping and Analyzing Connectivity on Agricultural Lands will help identify connectivity gaps on agricultural lands.

Report and Order on Deployment of Wi-Fi in Schools and Libraries

In a Report and Order adopted November 20, the Federal Communications Commission made permanent the “category two budget” approach that the FCC adopted in 2014 to fund these internal connections with schools and libraries. The category two budget approach consists of five-year budgets for schools and libraries that provide a set amount of funding to support internal connections.

Federal Universal Service Support Mechanisms Quarterly Contribution Base for the First Quarter 2020

The total projected collected interstate and international end-user revenue base to be used in determining the contribution factor for the Universal Service support mechanisms for the first quarter of 2020 is $11,129,976,956.

FCC Partially Grants Lifeline Service Standards Relief

The Federal Communications Commission addresses the petition of CTIA and others seeking a waiver of the FCC’s rules updating the Lifeline program’s minimum service standard for mobile broadband usage, which otherwise would take effect on Dec 1, 2019.

Members, First Meeting of Precision Agriculture Task Force Announced

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, in consultation with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, has appointed members to serve on the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States. Chairman Pai has designated Teddy Bekele, Land O’Lakes Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, to serve as Chair of the Task Force, and Catherine Moyer, Pioneer Communications Chief Executive Officer and General Manager. to serve as Vice Chair.

Nominations Sought for Precision Agriculture Task Force Working Groups

On June 17, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission announced the formation of a new federal advisory committee, the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States.

NTIA Minority Broadband Initiative

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration launched the Minority Broadband Initiative (MBI), working with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to ensure all Americans can participate in the digital economy. NTIA will build upon its relationships with HBCUs, as community anchor institutions, to leverage minority stakeholder engagement in finding new opportunities for broadband deployment.

FCC Releases Lifeline Program Reforms

The Federal Communications Commission released a Report and Order aimed at strengthening the Lifeline’s program’s enrollment, recertification, and reimbursement processes so that Universal Service Fund dollars are directed only toward qualifying low-income consumers. Specifically, these reforms include: