What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
Will Congress Fund the ACP?
The clock is ticking on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Current estimates show the program may run out of funding as soon as the end of the first quarter in 2024. The only solution for keeping ACP operating is for Congress to refill the ACP funding bucket somehow. Angela Siefer of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance said that reauthorizing ACP was one of the biggest broadband issues on the plate for Congress. She talked about the many gains that have been made in getting broadband to low-income homes.
FCC Announces its June 2023 Open Meeting Agenda
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the agenda for its June 2023 Open Commission Meeting. In June 2023, the FCC is:
Mississippi is the 42nd most connected State in the nation. Quinn Jordan and his team at the Mississippi Broadband Association are working to change lives in Mississippi with fiber. Quinn will share the actions underway to catapult the State from the back of the pack to leaders in connectivity and economic development.
Witnesses
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Mr. Roger Nishi
Vice President - Industry RelationsWaitsfield and Champlain Valley TelecomWaitsfield, VT -
Witnesses
- Erin Aune, MBA, CRHCP
Vice President of Strategic ProgramsFrances Mahon Deaconess HospitalGlasgow , MT - Sara Rich
President and CEO
Lifeline in crosshairs as Senate weighs USF reforms
Is the Lifeline program effective? Should E-Rate be expanded to cover school-related connectivity outside of campuses? Would it make sense to fold the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) into the Universal Service Fund (USF)? These were some of the questions asked and answered at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the state of universal service. Sen John Thune (R-SD) claimed the Lifeline program is “riddled with waste, fraud and abuse” and chided the Federal Communications Commission for failing to evaluate whether the program is functioning as intended.
Biden-Harris Administration Kicks off Infrastructure Week by Highlighting Tremendous Progress Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure 18 Months In
President Joe Biden (D-DE) signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) 18 months ago. To date, the Administration has announced over $220 billion in IIJA funding, including over 32,000 specific projects and awards, across over 4,500 communities in all 50 states, DC, and territories. To implement the law, agencies have now hired over 5,000 federal employees, and states and territories have appointed infrastructure coordinators to facilitate clear communication and coordination with the federal government.