Public Notice

The Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on issues related to spectrum for the Internet of Things, as directed by Congress in the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA).

To keep pace with increasing wireless connectivity demands, the Federal Communications Commission continuously examines spectrum needs and tries to ensure that our rules enable spectrum users to conduct their business and everyday activities. In adopting the 6 GHz Report and Order, the FCC expanded spectrum access for unlicensed devices to promote competition, innovation, and more widespread and robust connectivity. The new rules made broad swaths of the 6 GHz band (5.925–7.125 GHz) available for unlicensed broadband operations.

The Federal Communications Commission approved an additional 72 applications for funding commitments totaling $41,113,186 for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program. This is the FCC’s second funding announcement of approved applications following the nearly $42 million awarded on August 26 to healthcare providers in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia.

The Federal Communications Commission is committing $1,203,107,496.88 for 3,040 schools, 260 libraries, and 24 consortia that applied for support from the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. This first wave of funding commitments will provide students, school staff and library patrons in all 50 states and Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia access to the devices and broadband connectivity they need to support their off-campus education needs.

Section 9203 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 21) calls for the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit a report to Congress containing a plan for the modernization and automation of the NTIA infrastructure relating to managing federal spectrum use by covered agencies, to more efficiently manage such use. This provides the modernization plan and addresses the topics called out in the NDAA 21.

In response to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau has waived certain Lifeline program rules in eight previous orders to provide necessary relief for low-income households. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt by many Americans. The importance of access to affordable communications services for low-income consumers has been underscored by the pandemic and its long-lasting impact.

In view of outstanding demand, the Federal Communications Commission will open a second Emergency Connectivity Fund application filing window from September 28, 2021 to October 13, 2021.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau, in conjunction with the Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force and the Office of Economics and Analytics, authorized Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support for 466 identified winning bids. The FCC will also soon post a state-level summary on the Auction 904 webpage.

The Federal Communications Commission's Office of Managing Director (OMD) announces that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the fourth quarter of 2021 will be 0.291 or 29.1 percent. The Universal Service Administrative Company submitted projected collected end-user telecommunications revenues for October 2021 through December 2021 based on information contained in the Fourth Quarter 2021 Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet—Total Projected Collected Interstate and International End-User Telecommunications Revenues for Fourth Quarter 2021: $9.517295 billion. 

The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks nominations for a position on the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) representing commercial mobile radio service providers (position formerly held by Matt B. Gerst). All nominations must be filed with the Office of the Secretary by November 8, 2021.