The Federal Communications Commission committed over $450,000 in a new funding round through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, which provides digital tools and services to support students in communities across the country. This funding commitment supports applications from the third application window, connecting approximately 1,000 students. Launched in 2021, the Emergency Connectivity Program has provided schools and libraries three different “application windows” to apply for support. Approximately $7.09 billion in funding commitments have been approved. To date, the funding has provided support to approximately 18 million students, 11,500 schools, 1,070 libraries, and 130 consortia, and provided nearly 13.5 million connected devices and over 8 million broadband connections.

Today’s decision is a victory for the many rural and urban consumers and anchor institutions across the country who rely on the services supported by the federal Universal Service Fund. The USF has been, and continues to be, a critical tool to narrow the digital divide and help address connectivity gaps. The court’s ruling affirms that Congress’ directive to the FCC—over 25 years ago—to collect contributions in support of this vital Fund is constitutional. Other courts considering similar challenges should reach the same conclusion.

Many internet service providers (ISPs) who operate mature fiber networks have been recently approached to sell their businesses to buyers who want to roll up and amass multiple fiber networks into a larger business. I know fiber network owners who are being offered prices for their business that they never expected. I’ve heard of offers at a multiple in the range of twenty times adjusted earnings. High multiples are a sure sign of plans for rolling up many ISPs into a larger business. These high valuations are also a sign that the broadband industry has attracted large equity investors trying to buy into the market. It seems likely that the original impetus that attracted investors to the industry today is the big influx of grant funding that is helping to pay for broadband infrastructure. I have to honestly chuckle if that’s what the equity investors are chasing because they’ve never looked hard at a rural grant-funded ISP. Even with grant funding, the typical rural fiber market is never going to generate significant margins. Every ISP that operates a rural fiber network will tell you that the business will eventually create a modest return and will generate cash over the long haul. All market booms eventually come back to earth, and the characteristics of operating last-mile networks will never sustain permanent high multiples. A lot of these investors will get stuck with assets that will never justify the purchase price paid.

In a strong step forward for Ottawa County's Broadband Strategy, the County Board of Commissioners voted to finalize Public-Private Partnerships with 123Net and Tilson Infrastructure. The vote allows 123NET to accept an award of nearly $14 million in Realizing Opportunities with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant funding, which was prioritized for Ottawa County by the State of Michigan when the second round of funding was announced. In conjunction with $7.5 million in funding from Ottawa County's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $3.5 million in 123NET's private capital, the upcoming project will allow the construction of nearly 400 miles of new fiber in the county, further providing internet access to nearly 10,000 residents and businesses. The partnership with Tilson allows the company to start assessing opportunities for enhanced fixed-wireless coverage countywide and ultimately to construct new towers in critical locations which will be supported with new fiber infrastructure deployed by 123Net. Both partnership agreements include provisions for revenue share direct to Ottawa County. 

For 20 years, proponents of so-called Title II net neutrality have argued the only way to ‘save the internet’ is to impose 1930s-era Ma Bell telephone regulations on today’s broadband networks. Yet five years since that approach was last rejected, even the most jaded have to admit the sky hasn’t fallen. Rather than ending the connected world as we know it, the repeal of Title II offered a powerful, years-long demonstration of just how much progress can be made when government and industry work together to get the big jobs done for consumers and our connected economy. Take, for example, the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the U.S. stood head and shoulders above other countries. Meanwhile, European networks – after decades of hyperregulation and lackluster investment – performed a staggering 83% slower. While leaders there are now rethinking aspects of their regulatory approach, the FCC is proposing—yet again—to emulate it. We can, we must, do a whole lot better. Rather than becoming bogged down in yet another pointless Title II saga, we should be focused together—government working with industry—on issues that actually matter.

In 2023, fiber broadband hit all new records, with 9 million newly passed U.S. homes added by network operators in 2023, with 6 million of those newly passed homes that previously did not have fiber, according to the latest annual research conducted by RVA Market Research & Consulting for the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA). “Cumulatively we’re now at about 78 million homes passed, including second and third passings,” said Michael Render, CEO and Principal Analyst, RVA LLC Market Research and Consulting. “We’re about 69 million unique homes passed. We’re now passing 51.5% of U.S. households, unique primary homes.” There are now 30.9 U.S. million homes connected by fiber, with take rate on the increase. “We’ve dipped a bit in the past, but we’re on the rise again to about 45.4% in average passings,” said Render. 

One thing my experience has taught me is that companies hate regulation…that is until they want it.  Yes, it is funny, but it is also true and not surprising.  I am a firm believer in the power of competition to drive innovation that improves services and lowers prices for consumers.  I believe that a vibrant, strong, and competitive telecommunications and media marketplace that promotes U.S. prosperity can also meet the needs of all consumers.  But competition only works when the market works.  And when the market fails, there are public policy goals to be considered and prioritized that require government action.  This convergence of public and private action is necessary to ensure innovations benefit consumers and is why the majority of what we do can be viewed as public-private partnerships.... Over the past two months, I have thought a lot and talked about the impact of FCC action on consumers. The key principles I think about here are intentionality, trust, and empowering consumers through engagement. 

• Intentionality is important.  By that I mean delineating clearly the problem we are trying to solve, approaching it with an open mind to all solutions and acting with purpose. 
• Consumer trust is so important.  Building trust between government and businesses and historically underserved communities is challenging.  As we take actions with the goal of benefitting consumers, we need to be aware that actions that undermine trust can prevent us from reaching our goals.  
• I don’t expect consumers to keep up with the decisions of the FCC and why we are relevant to their lives.  Most consumers are too busy unless there is something wrong.  And they are trusting us to do our job.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appointed six members to the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Each appointee was nominated in response to two Public Notices soliciting nominations for the Board position listed below, including a Public Notice seeking nominations for the newly created Tribal board member position. The three-year term for these positions begins on January 1, 2024. 

• Mona L. Thompson, General Manager of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority as the Representative for Tribal communities;
• Sheba Chacko, Chief Regulatory Counsel, British Telecoms in the Americas as the Representative for competitive local exchange carriers;
• Kara Semmler, General Counsel and Executive Director, South Dakota Telecommunications Association as the Representative for incumbent local exchange carriers (non-Bell Operating Companies) with $40 million or less in annual revenue;
• Angela Siefer, Executive Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance as the Representative for low-income consumers;
• Joan H. Wade, Ed.D., Executive Director, Association of Educational Service Agencies as the Representative for schools that are eligible to receive E-rate discounts; and
• Katherine Hsu Wibberly, Ph.D., Director, Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center as the Representative for rural health care providers that are eligible to receive supported services.