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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Memo: Broadband Data Collection Fabric Available
July 6, 2023
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that the June 2023 version of the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Fabric is available. Service providers are encouraged to access their BDC Fabric (Fabric) data and to begin their BDC Filing early. Bulk Fabric Challenges submitted on or after June 30, 2023, must be submitted against the June 2023…
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Memo: BEAD Funding Allocations Announced
June 27, 2023
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the state funding allocations for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program yesterday. Additional information is available in the Press Release. The funding is being distributed based on BEAD requirements and the number of unserved and underserved locations as determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)…
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Memo: Potential USF Funding Reductions Due to Unsubsidized Competitors
June 16, 2023
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is to eliminate Universal Service Fund (USF) high-cost support to Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) in areas where an unsubsidized competitor is currently providing service. This applies to programs such as A-CAM, CAF-BLS, and The Alaska Plan-Phase 1. The current definition of unsubsidized competitor is “a facilities-based provider of residential fixed…
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Memo: RDOF Performance Testing Dates Announced
June 5, 2023
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) performance testing start date is January 1, 2025. Additional information is available in the Public Notice. The FCC adopted a uniform framework of performance measures requirements in the Performance Measures Orders, back in December 2020. This requires recipients of high-cost universal service support…
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Memo: STIR/SHAKEN & Robocall Mitigation Order
June 1, 2023
The FCC released a 7th Report & Order on May 19, 2023 in an effort to continue combatting illegal and unwanted robocalls. The FCC begins this phase of the effort by extending to other voice service providers several requirements currently in place for Gateway providers. Download the full memo for additional information on 24-Hour Traceback,…
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