Universal Service Fund
New America Urges FCC to Reject Petition That Would Harm Schools and Libraries
New America’s Open Technology Institute called on the Federal Communications Commission to reject a petition that would harm the E-Rate program, which helps schools and libraries access broadband service. Access Humboldt; National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low-income clients; Next Century Cities; Public Knowledge; and United Church of Christ, OC Inc. signed onto the comments as well.
FCC Seeks Comment on Lifeline Minimum Service Standards Petition
The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a Joint Petition to pause the implementation of scheduled updates to the Lifeline minimum service standards and support amounts. Petitioners request that the Bureau pause both the scheduled update to the minimum service standard for Lifeline-supported mobile broadband service and the scheduled reduction in the support amount for Lifeline-supported mobile voice service, both of which would otherwise take effect on December 1, 2019.
The House Passed an Appropriations Bill. With a Message for the FCC.
On June 26, the US House of Representatives passed the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act (H.R. 3351) -- an appropriations bill that provides fiscal year 2020 funding for a variety of departments and independent agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission. The massive bill passed with many amendments.
House-Passed FCC Appropriations Bill Unwinds Some Pai-Backed Decisions
The House has passed an omnibus appropriations bill, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, and it funds the Federal Communications Commission. But it will almost certainly need major tweaking if Senate Republicans are expected to approve it, partially due to three amendments related to FCC policy.
Commissioner O'Rielly Remarks Before the Hudson Institute on USF Budget
Why pursue an overall Universal Service Fund (USF) budget and what benefit would it bring? First and foremost, a budget is necessary to protect the investments of ratepayers who pay for our programs. Second, a topline budget would force the Federal Communications Commission to consider the whole USF when increasing program spending. Third, an FCC running up against a cap would have greater incentive to eliminate inefficiencies that detract from achieving the program’s mission and value. Fourth and finally, a budget would help protect universal service.
Hudson Institute will host Commissioner Michael O’Rielly to discuss the capping of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Federal Universal Service Fund (USF). The conversation will be moderated by the Director of Hudson’s Center for the Economics of the Internet Harold Furchtgott-Roth.
FCC "Soft" Launches National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier in Another 11 States
The Federal Communications Commission is "soft" launching its national Lifeline eligibility verifier in another 11 states on June 25: Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in those states who are eligible for the Lifeline subsidies will not be able to begin any subscriber recertifications after June 25 and should wrap up any current certifications under the existing rules by Aug 30.
The federal Lifeline Program provides low-income consumers with a monthly discount on their phone or internet service. This is an important benefit that helps consumers stay connected to family, work, education, and health services among many other aspects of their daily lives. With the implementation of the National Verifier, consumers and Lifeline providers can verify applicant eligibility in a faster, more efficient and more accurate manner.
3rd Quarter 2019 USF Contribution Factor is 24.4 Percent
The Federal Communications Commission's Office of Managing Director announced that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the third quarter of 2019 will be 0.244 or 24.4 percent.
FCC Announces Availability of Unused Funds to Increase Rural Health Care Program Funding for FY 2019
In June 2018, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to address increasing demand in the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program. Specifically, the FCC: (1) increased the annual RHC Program funding cap; (2) provided for the annual RHC Program funding cap to be adjusted for inflation; and (3) established a process to carry-forward unused funds from past funding years for use in future funding years. The FCC also directed the Wireline Competition Bureau to announce a specific amount of unused funds from prior funding years to be carried forward to increase available funding for future fu