Federal Communications Commission

E-Rate And Rural Health Care Programs' Inflation-Based Caps For Funding Year 2022

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.

FCC Announces Additional Program Integrity Measures to Protect Consumer Choice in the Affordable Connectivity Program and Lifeline Program

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.

Advisory on Providers Deceiving Lifeline Consumers

The Federal Communications Commission's Office of Inspector General alerted Lifeline, Emergency Broadband Benefit, and Affordable Connectivity Program consumers and providers to improper and abusive enrollment practices that are part of some providers’ online enrollment processes. These providers impermissibly coerce and deceive applicants for Lifeline service into enrolling in unwanted EBB/ACP service or into transferring their EBB/ACP service away from their preferred provider, contrary to the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s earlier Enforcement Advisory and FCC rules.

FCC Publishes Additional Data Specifications for the Broadband Data Collection

On February 22, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Data Task Force and Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) announced the filing dates for the initial Broadband Data Collection (BDC) availability data collection. On March 9, the Task Force, OEA, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and the Office of Engineering and Technology released the BDC Mobile Technical Requirements Order, which adopts technical requirements to implement the BDC mobile challenge, verification, and crowdsourcing processes.

FCC Releases Data on Internet Access Services as of June 30, 2019

This report summarizes information about Internet access connections in the United States as of June 30, 2019 as collected by Federal Communications Commission Form 477. For purposes of this report, Internet access connections are those in service, over 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at least one direction, and reported to the FCC through Form 477. Total Internet connections increased by about 4.7% between June 2018 and June 2019 to 449 million.

FCC Announces Over $640 Million for Rural Broadband in 26 States

The Federal Communications Commission announced that it is ready to authorize more than $640 million through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to fund new broadband deployments in 26 states bringing service to nearly 250,000 locations. To date, the program has provided $4.7 billion in funding to nearly 300 carriers for new deployments in 47 states to bring broadband to almost 2.7 million locations.

FCC Commits Nearly $64 Million in Emergency Connectivity Funding

The Federal Communications Commission announced that it is committing $63,613,404.33 in the 11th wave of Emergency Connectivity Fund program support, helping to close the Homework Gap. Since its June 2021 launch, the program has committed nearly $4.69 billion in funding connecting over 12.5 million students with broadband connections and equipment. This latest round of funding is supporting schools and libraries across the country, including providing connected devices and broadband connections for students in central Maine, Puerto Rico, Alaska, California, and South Carolina.

FCC Publishes Data Specifications for the Broadband Data Collection

On February 22, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Data Task Force and Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) announced the filing dates for the initial Broadband Data Collection (BDC) availability data collection beginning on June 30, 2022.1 Now the Task Force and OEA published data specifications related to the biannual submission of subscription, availability, and supporting data for the Broadband Data Collection (BDC).

FCC Chair Rosenworcel Announces Staff Changes

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced an addition to the Office of Legislative Affairs and a transition of leadership in the agency’s Wireline Competition Bureau. Brian Moulton will serve as the Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, and Trent Harkrader will lead the Wireline Competition Bureau as Chief following Kris Monteith’s retirement from federal service.

Telecommunications Workforce Interagency Group Announces Kickoff Webcast For March 8

The Telecommunications Workforce Interagency Group (TWIG) will hold a kickoff webcast on March 8, 2022 at 11am (eastern). The webcast will feature remarks of leaders from the Federal Communications Commission, Department of Labor, the Department of Education, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The distinguished speakers will provide remarks regarding the importance of the TWIG’s mission and formally initiate the work of the group.

Remarks of FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel at Mobile World Congress 2022

"To support the next-generation of wireless connectivity, we must work together to free up more spectrum—and especially mid-band airwaves," said Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel at the Mobile World Congress of 2022 In Barcelona, Spain. "I'm excited to announce that the United States will hold another mid-band spectrum auction. This July we will kick off our auction of the 2.5 GHz band.

FCC Launches Inquiry into Internet Routing Vulnerabilities

The Federal Communications Commission released a Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on steps that the FCC should take to protect the nation's communications network from vulnerabilities posed by the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). The Department of Homeland Security warned US organizations at all levels that they could face cyber threats stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The proposal would begin an inquiry into the vulnerabilities of the Internet’s global routing system.

FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for March 2022 Open Meeting

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the March Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, 2022:

FCC Commits Another $86 Million In Emergency Connectivity Funding To Support Students And Libraries And Help Close The Homework Gap

The Federal Communications Commission is committing over $86 million in the 10th wave of Emergency Connectivity Fund program support. Since its June 2021 launch, the program has committed over $4.62 billion supporting all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia.

FCC Chairwoman Proposes Plan For Next Gen 911

In a speech at the National Press Club celebrating the 10th anniversary of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed a plan to dedicate proceeds from upcoming spectrum auctions toward a nationwide investment in digital, next-generation 911 services.

FCC Announces Inaugural Broadband Data Collection Filing Dates

All facilities-based providers of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service can begin to submit broadband availability data under the new rules and procedures for the Broadband Data Collection beginning on June 30, 2022. Filers must submit data depicting deployment as of June 30, 2022, and must submit the data by September 1, 2022. The Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Data Task Force and the Office of Economics and Analytics are providing this Public Notice more than six months in advance of the September 1, 2022 filing deadline.

FCC Extends Emergency Connectivity Fund Service Delivery Date to June 30, 2023

The Federal Communications Commission granted, in part, a waiver requested by a group of Emergency Connectivity Fund Program stakeholders led by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition extending the service delivery date to June 30, 2023 for all applicants who applied for Emergency Connectivity Fund support for equipment, other non-recurring services, and recurring services during the first and second application filing windows.