Federal Communications Commission
Temporary Waiver of Weiss Bank Safety Rating for CAF II and RDOF
The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) partially waived, on one's own behalf, the requirement that a bank issuing a letter of credit (LOC) to a support recipient for either the Connect America Fund Phase II Auction (Auction 903) or the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction (Auction 904) maintain a Weiss bank safety rating of B- or better. This limited waiver only applies to banks that previously issued LOCs to Auction 903 or 904 support recipients, and therefore previously had a Weiss bank safety rating of B- or better.
Federal Communications Commission Congressional Budget Justification
The Federal Communications Commission's mission is to “make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges.” The FCC’s vision is to pursue policies to bring affordable, reliable high-speed broadband to 100 percent of the country and encourage the private sector to build, maintain, and upgrade nextgeneration networks so that the benefits of advanced commu
Partial Grant of SpaceX Gen2 Application to Allow E-Band Operations
In this Order and Authorization, we grant in part, with conditions, and defer in part the amended application of Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) to construct, deploy, and operate a constellation of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites, to be known as its “secondgeneration” Starlink constellation (Gen2 Starlink), to provide fixed-satellite service (FSS). Specifically, our grant here is limited to authorizing SpaceX to conduct communications in the 71.0-76.0 GHz (spaceto-Earth) and 81.0-86.0 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands (collectively, E-band), with the 7,500 Gen2 Starlin
Grant of Kuiper Modification Application to Revise Orbital Parameters
In this Order and Authorization (Order), the Federal Communications Commission's Space Bureau grants Kuiper Systems LLC’s (Kuiper) application for modification of the license for its constellation of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites. Kuiper plans to use frequencies allocated to the fixed-satellite service (FSS) and mobile-satellite service (MSS) in the Ka-band.
Chairwoman Rosenworcel Announces Members of Intergovernmental Advisory Committee
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the new members of the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. This advisory panel provides guidance, expertise, and recommendations to the FCC on telecommunications issues affecting local, county, state and Tribal governments.
FCC Announces Inflation-Based Caps for E-Rate and Rural Health Care Programs
The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announced the E-Rate and Rural Health Care (RHC) programs’ annual caps for funding year 2024. The adjusted amounts represent a 3.6% inflation-adjusted increase to both programs’ funding year 2023 annual caps. The E-Rate program funding cap for funding year 2024 is $4,940,076,139. The RHC program funding cap for funding year 2024 is $706,926,603.
Commissioner Starks Letters to Amazon, Sears, Shein, Temu, and Walmart
Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks sent letters to five online marketplaces to identify ways to stop the unlawful sale of insecure IoT devices that violate Federal Communications Commission (FCC) equipment authorization requirements. The letters raise concerns about recent reports indicating that these websites sold and continue to sell easily hacked video doorbells. “Consumers have embraced the internet of things to make their lives better to the point that a large majority of American homes now have at least one or two IoT devices.
Chairwoman Rosenworcel's Update to Members of Congress Regarding the Affordable Connectivity Program
On March 4, 2024, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wrote to congressional leaders to update them on the status of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). In her letter, the Chairwoman highlighted the impact of the February 8 freeze on ACP enrollments. "This enrollment freeze was necessary to begin the process of winding down the program, but already its effects are being felt by households that wish to enroll and are unable to do so.
Commissioner Simington Addresses Incompas Policy Summit
I focus my remarks on the satellite service sector—both what I see for its future and what the Federal Communications Commission can do today to ensure its success. Starting with direct-to-cell—I am pleased to see that the FCC is crafting a flexible framework that allows the US to take the lead on policymaking for this new service, while also ensuring that we do not constrict innovation and fledgling business models. A strong but flexible regulatory framework is the best approach for bolstering both America’s leadership and industry’s success.