Public Notice

President Donald Trump directed the Secretary of Commerce to work with agencies and policymakers on all levels to develop a National Spectrum Strategy to guide our country’s spectrum policy in the years to come. The Strategy will examine how to improve spectrum management and assess research and development priorities to create new technologies and improve United States competitiveness. The Strategy will provide a comprehensive roadmap for policymakers on all levels so that we can successfully lead the way to a connected future.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announces that effective November 2, 2018, the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) will fully launch in the initial six participating states—Colorado, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an Open Meeting on the subjects listed below on Wednesday, Sept 26, 2018:

In this Public Notice, as required by the RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks information and data for the Federal Communications Commission’s report on promoting broadband Internet access service for veterans. Section 504 of the RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018 directs the Commission to, within one year, “submit to Congress a report on promoting broadband Internet access service for veterans, in particular low income veterans and veterans residing in rural areas” and “provide the public with notice and an opportunity to comment” in preparing the report.

The Federal Communications Commission released updated data on fixed broadband deployment and mobile voice and broadband deployment as of June 30, 2017. These data were collected through FCC Form 477 and are available on the Commission’s website.

The Federal Communications Commission seeks nominations for the following positions on the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) for a three-year term.

Bidding in the Connect America Fund Phase II auction concluded on August 21, 2018. There were 103 winning bidders in the auction, with the 10-year support amount totaling $1.488 billion and covering 713,176 locations in 45 states. Of the 974,223 locations in the 30,033 eligible census block groups (CBGs), approximately 73 percent of the locations are covered by winning bids. While winning bids are for a range of performance tiers, winning bids for downstream speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps) cover 53 percent of these locations.

In response to requests from Congress made on November 13 and November 15. 20! 7, the Federal Communications Commission Oflice of Inspector General (OlG) conducted an investigation into whether FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Chairman Pai "has taken actions to improperly benefit Sinclair Broadcast Group and "is executing his leadership of the FCC free from influences that compromise his objectivity and impartiality," especially with regard to the proposed merger of Sinclair and Tribune Media." 

By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission announces the anticipated renewal of its Disability Advisory Committee (Committee) and solicits applications for membership on the Committee, subject to renewal of the Committee’s charter. Applications for membership are due by 11:59 P.M. EST on September 21, 2018. The mission of the Committee is to make recommendations to the Commission regarding disability issues specified by the Commission.

In this Order, we extend the previously announced deadline for the close of the Mobility Fund Phase II (MF-II) challenge window by an additional 90 days. Challengers will have until November 26, 2018, to submit speed test data in support of a challenge. We adopt this extension to ensure that interested parties can initiate and submit speed test data for areas they wish to challenge. In addition, given this extension, we propose to make modifications to the speed test data specifications regarding the relevant timeframes for valid speed tests.