Universal Service Fund

In written testimomny before the Senate Committee On Appropriations' Subcommittee On Financial Services And General Government, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai outlined the commission's priorities for the next year:

On February 14, 2019, 11 US senators wrote to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai with concerns about broadband mapping problems. They asked the following questions:

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau designated four petitioners -- Bloosurf, Hankins Information Technology, Northern Arapaho Tribal Industries (Wind River Internet), and Tombigbee Communications, Inc -- as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in eligible high-cost areas within the specified states. Designation is conditioned upon and limited to petitioners’ authorization to receive Connect America support awarded through the Connect America Fund Phase II auction (Auction 903) and effective only upon such authorization. One of these petitioners, Wind R

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Sen Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the “Broadband Interagency Coordination Act of 2019.” The legislation would direct the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of understanding to coordinate the distribution of federal funds for broadband deployment. Such an agreement would reduce overbuilding and ensure funds are targeted to unserved and underserved areas.

The Federal Communications Commission took steps that could result in over 1 million rural homes getting faster broadband service.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau authorizes 186 rate-of-return companies that elected 242 revised offers to receive additional Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) support in exchange for extending broadband service to additional locations. A report shows the revised authorization amount and deployment obligations for each carrier that elected a revised offer. These carriers are among the rate-of-return carriers nationwide that previously had been authorized to receive A-CAM support. The revised authorizations provide support to the electing comp

A group of direct service providers, advocates, public interest groups and a Lifeline subscriber met separately with advisors to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Pai, Commissioner Rosenworcel and her advisor, advisors to Commissioners Starks, Carr and O’Rielly, and Wireline Competition Bureau staff on April 18, 2019 to discuss the impacts of the 2017 Lifeline proposals and to request the FCC terminate the proceeding.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai joined President Donald Trump at the White House for an announcement about action to “ensure that America wins the race to 5G.” In addition to promoting fifth generation wireless technology, Chairman Pai announced a new $20 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund at the FCC. That sounds like a huge step forward for expanding rural broadband -- so why was it tacked on to the 5G news? 5G is really a fiber network with antennas at the end.

The Consumer Federation of America joined a lawsuit challenging the decision of the Federal Communication Commission to extend the allocation of costs between federal and state jurisdictions that was adopted in 2000 for another six years. The consumer pocketbook impact of the misallocation of costs is huge, totaling $150-$250 billion ($200-$300 per household per year) over the next six years.