Federal Communications Commission
New Guidance for Transition to Affordable Connectivity Program
The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau waives certain rules governing the enrollment freeze and notice requirements for the end of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which will cease no later than December 31, 2021 as a result of the text in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for December 2021 Open Meeting
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 14, 2021:
FCC Commissioner Carr's Statement on Commission Inspector General Report on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse (Federal Communications Commission)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Tue, 11/23/2021 - 14:26FCC Reaches $19.5 Million Settlement of T-Mobile 911 Outage Investigation (Federal Communications Commission)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Tue, 11/23/2021 - 12:36FCC Commits Over $169 Million in Emergency Connectivity Funding
The Federal Communications Commission announced that it is committing $169,297,501.79 million in its latest wave of Emergency Connectivity Fund program support, which will connect over 500,000 students in 47 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. These additional commitments bring the current total commitments to over $3.2 billion. The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework and virtual learning, as schools and libraries continue to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
FCC Establishes Integrity Measures for Emergency Benefit Enrollments Based on Community Eligibility Provision
The Federal Communications Commission's Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued an advisory raising concerns with respect to Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program enrollments based on the USDA National School Lunch Program’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Households with a student enrolled in a school or school district participating in the CEP can qualify for the EBB Program.
FCC Inspector General Issues Advisory Regarding EBB Enrollment Fraud (Federal Communications Commission)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Mon, 11/22/2021 - 17:57FCC Approves Verizon-TracFone Deal with Consumer Protections
The Federal Communications Commission has voted to approve—with strong consumer protection conditions—the transfer of control of TracFone Wireless from América Móvil to Verizon Communications. After rigorous review, the FCC found that the transaction, as modified by Verizon’s enforceable commitments, will make Verizon and TracFone stronger providers of prepaid and Lifeline services. Given the communities that TracFone primarily serves within the US, the FCC adopted a number of binding conditions to address potential harms and to ensure the transaction will be in the public interest.
Chairwoman Rosenworcel responds to senators on agency collaboration to improve broadband connectivity, Lifeline outreach
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent letters to 20 senators on November 10, 2021, in response to their letter urging the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the FCC to share existing data to identify communities without high-speed internet access and improve broadband connectivity.