Federal Communications Commission

The Federal Communications Commission announced its fourth and final set of approved Connected Care Pilot Program projects. These 16 projects were approved for a total of $29,752,601 in funding. With the newly selected projects, the Connected Care Pilot Program is set to fund 107 projects serving patients in 40 states plus Washington (DC). The following projects were approved by the FCC:

The Federal Communications Commission adopted an Order ending the ability of Pacific Networks Corp and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ComNet, to provide domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the United States. The Order on Revocation and Termination directs the companies to discontinue any domestic or international services that they provide pursuant to their section 214 authority within sixty days following the release of this Order.

The Federal Communications Commission opened a proceeding on how to prevent and eliminate digital discrimination to ensure that everyone has equal access to broadband internet access service. The Notice asks for comment on how to implement provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that require the FCC to combat digital discrimination, and to promote equal access to broadband across the country, regardless of income level, ethnicity, race, religion, or national origin.Specifically, the FCC seeks input on the following questions:

The Federal Communications Commission issued a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on establishing clear standards for how utilities and attachers must share in the cost of pole replacements. Specifically, the FCC seeks comment on the following:

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau—in conjunction with the Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force and the Office of Economics and Analytics—authorize Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (Auction 904) support. For these winning bids, the FCC has reviewed the long-form application information, including the letter(s) of credit and Bankruptcy Code opinion letter(s) from the long-form applicant’s legal counsel.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announces the E-Rate and Rural Health Care (RHC) programs’ funding caps for funding year 2022. The new caps represent a 4.2% inflation-adjusted increase in each program cap from funding year 2021. The E-Rate program funding cap for funding year 2022 is $4,456,460,992. The new cap represents a 4.2% inflation-adjusted increase in the $4,276,833,965 cap from funding year 2021.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announced that it is implementing additional measures to strengthen program integrity surrounding the enrollment of households in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) who also qualify for the Lifeline benefit. Consumer choice and consent are fundamental principles for both the Affordable Connectivity Program and the Lifeline program. No provider should undermine those principles or take advantage of consumers.