Universal Service Fund

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration preparing to award over $44 billion to construct rural broadband networks. Almost by definition, these networks will be built in rural areas where it’s hard to justify a business plan where revenues generated from the grant areas are sufficient to fund the ongoing operation and eventual upgrades to any broadband networks.

Charter Communications—through its affiliates Charter Fiberlink – Michigan LLC, Charter Fiberlink – Missouri, LLC, and Charter Fiberlink CCO, LLC—was awarded Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) funding to deploy gigabit-speed internet service in certain unserved areas of Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

The National Lifeline Association (NaLA) submitted a petition to the Federal Communications Commission requesting that the FCC temporarily waive the Lifeline reimbursement amounts in the Commission’s rules until Congress allocates additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) or passes broader legislation to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF) and pay for the ACP in an alternative manner.

Spectrum announced construction is underway on several fiber-optic network expansion projects that will bring gigabit broadband and other Spectrum services to more than 400 homes and small businesses in Pettis County, Missouri. The buildout is part of Spectrum’s approximately $5 billion investment in unserved rural areas, which includes $1.2 billion won in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction.

Spectrum announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to more than 1950 homes and small businesses in Barnwell County (SC). Spectrum’s newly constructed fiber-optic network buildout in Barnwell County is part of the company’s approximately $5 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF)-related investment in unserved rural communities, partly offset by $1.2 billion in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) RDOF auction. The company’s RDOF expansion will provide broadband access to 1.3 million customer locations across 24 states in the coming years.

With the FCC's vote on net neutrality coming up Thursday, April 25, some industry groups are making a final push for a change to the language in order to leave open the possibility of meaningful Universal Service Fund (USF) reform at the agency level. Specifically, representatives at industry trade groups NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, Incompas, and the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) met with members of the FCC in the last week to urge the Commission not to forbear applying USF to broadband Internet access providers (BIAS). I

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel made it clear recently that the FCC is not willing to tackle funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that is expiring in May 2024. She estimated that the FCC would have to add something like $9 to every broadband bill in the country to fund the ACP plan. However, states could pick up the ACP funding just for their state. States will have the authority to do this after the FCC approves the reinstitution of Title II authority this week.

Spectrum announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to 400 homes and small businesses in Charleston County (SC). Spectrum’s newly constructed fiber-optic network buildout in Charleston County is part of the company’s approximately $5 billion RDOF-related investment in unserved rural communities, partly offset by $1.2 billion in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction. The company’s RDOF expansion will provide broadband access to 1.3 million customer locations across 24 states in the coming years.

A lot of folks have been pleading with the Federal Communications Commission to pick up the tab to continue the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Folks are assuming that the FCC has the ability to take on the ACP program inside the Universal Service Fund.

The Oregon Broadband Office is pleased to announce the awardees of the Broadband Technical Assistance Program (BTAP) grants of up to $150,000 per county which can be used for eligible broadband planning and pre-construction activities, staffing, and grant application support.