Public Notice

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Request for Comments (RFC) seeking public input on the development of a comprehensive, long-term National Spectrum Strategy. The strategy must accomplish several goals, including increasing spectrum access, improving spectrum sharing, enhancing spectrum management, and leveraging ongoing research and development activities.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announced the 2019 reasonable comparability benchmarks for fixed voice and broadband services for eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) subject to broadband public interest obligations, including incumbent local exchange rate-of-return carriers, incumbent price-cap carriers receiving CAF Phase II support, Rural Broadband Experiment providers, and Connect America Fund Phase II Auction (Auction 903) winners. In addition, the FCC posted the fixed voice and broadband services data collected in the most recent urban rate s

Chairman Ajit Pai appointed six members to the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC):

The Federal Communications Commission published its tenth annual report to Congress on the collection and distribution of 911 fees by states. The report finds that in calendar year 2017, states and territories collected more than $2.9 billion in 911 fees. But almost $285 million of that funding—approximately 9.7%—was diverted for uses other than 911. The FCC’s report identifies six states and one territory as diverting 911 fees for other uses last year: Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and the US Virgin Islands. 

The Federal Communications Commission is required to review biennially its regulations “that apply to the operations or activities of any provider of telecommunications service” and“determine whether any such regulation is no longer necessary in the public interest as the result of meaningful economic competition between providers of such service.” The FCC must repeal or modify any regulation that it finds are no longer in the public interest.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces its general policy and application procedures for funding under the broadband pilot program established pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 which provides loans, grants, and loan/ grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, the pilot will fuel long-term rural economic development and opportunities in rural America. One of those opportunities is precision agriculture. The use of this technology requires a robust broadband connection.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that effective January 15, 2019, the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) will fully launch in five states – Hawaii, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and South Dakota – and one territory – Guam.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) released updated data on fixed broadband deployment and mobile voice and broadband deployment as of December 31, 2017. These data were collected through FCC Form 477 and are available on the FCC's website.

The Federal Communications Commission's Office of Managing Director (OMD) announces that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the first quarter of 2019 will be 0.200 or 20.0 percent. Total Projected Collected Interstate and International End-User Telecommunications Revenues for First Quarter 2019: $12.289162 billion.

The Federal Communications Commission announces its intent to recharter the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC), a federal advisory committee, which provides advice and recommendations to the Commission on accelerating the deployment of high-speed Internet access. By this Public Notice, we seek nominations for membership on the BDAC. The Commission intends to renew the BDAC’s charter (subject to any necessary approvals by the General Services Administration) for a period of two (2) years, starting on or about March 1, 2019.