Memo: Notify NECA of Common Line Pool Exit by November 17, 2023
November 1, 2023
Enhanced A-CAM Reminder Legacy rate-of-return carriers (i.e., CAF-BLS carriers) who elected to receive Enhanced A-CAM (E-ACAM) support beginning January 1, 2024, must exit the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) Common Line pool. However, such carriers are permitted to continue tariffing non-pool rates for Common Line and consumer broadband-only loops (CBOL) with NECA. NECA must be…
Continue ReadingMemo: Broadband Label Compliance Dates
October 16, 2023
Compliance dates for rules implementing Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act announced. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) announced compliance dates for the Broadband Label Order. The rules require Broadband Internet Access Service (BIAS) providers to display, at the point of sale, labels that disclose certain information about broadband prices, introductory rates, data allowances, broadband…
Continue ReadingEnd of Year Reminders
Must comply by December 31, 2023. As a reminder, if you have not completed the following this year, please make sure you are compliant with all by December 31, 2023: National Do-Not-Call Registry ETC Annual Notice Lifeline Annual Notice RUS Borrowers Backup Power Obligations HUBB Reporting Obligations Performance Testing Cybersecurity and Supply Chain Risk Requirements…
Continue ReadingMemo: Enhanced A-CAM Participation List Released
October 5, 2023
50% threshold met. Program going forward. On October 4, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice announcing the carriers that accepted Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) support. Contained in the Public Notice was a link to a list of those carriers. The FCC also noted that based on the election…
Continue ReadingMemo: ACP Transparency Data Collection USAC System Updates
August 21, 2023
Test Portal Opened August 18, 2023. The Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) announced the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Transparency Data collection staging (test) portal opened on August 18, 2023. Service Providers can test load data in the portal until the filing window opens on September 8, 2023. USAC also released the ACP Transparency Data Collection…
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Memos, Resources
Memo: Enhanced A-CAM Funding Illustrative Results Available
August 9, 2023
On July 24, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its Enhanced A-CAM Order giving legacy high-cost support recipients and current A-CAM I & II recipients the ability to accept the 15-year Enhanced A-CAM offer to provide 100/20 Mbps broadband service to unserved and underserved locations. Carriers must elect whether to accept the Enhanced A-CAM…
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Memo: FCC Announces BDC Filing Deadline Extended to September 15, 2023
July 26, 2023
The FCC released a Public Notice on July 25, 2023 announcing that the BDC Filing Deadline with data as of June 30, 2023 has been extended from September 1, 2023 to September 15, 2023. The extension is a result of a CostQuest June 30, 2023 Fabric processing error where certain Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) were…
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Memo: FCC Announces Updated Lifeline Minimum Standards
The FCC released a Public Notice on July 21, 2023 announcing the new Lifeline Minimum Standards that will take effect on December 1, 2024. Fixed Broadband – 25M/3M with 1280 GB of usage per month (speed remained unchanged, data usage increased) Exception Reminder – If 25M/3M is unavailable at the subscriber’s location, the Lifeline benefit…
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Memo: Enhanced A-CAM Program Adopted
July 25, 2023
Yesterday the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its Report and Order, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Notice of Inquiry (Order) extending the Alternative Connect America Model (A-CAM) program support for fifteen (15) years in exchange for the provision of broadband service to 100% of the eligible locations at speeds of 100/20 Mbps. It is a…
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Memo: FCC Pauses Voice Lifeline Phase-out and Mobile Broadband Data Capacity Increase… Again
July 17, 2023
The FCC released an Order on July 7, 2023, hitting the pause button on, (1) the support phase-out of Lifeline voice services, and (2) the data capacity increase for mobile broadband, for an additional year. As a result of the pause, the basic lifeline benefit will remain at $5.25 for eligible voice-only service and the…
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