The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) has dismissed a Petition for Reconsideration filed in January 2024 by Virginia resident Greg Weisiger, who was seeking a reversal of the FCC’s affirmation of the Bureau’s rejection of Starlink’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) award. The Petition was dismissed based on various procedural grounds, but mainly that the
The FCC has adopted a Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration modifying the previous framework for the 5G Fund for Rural America that was adopted in 2020. The numerous modifications to the 5G Rural Fund rules include: (1) commencing the disaggregation of mobile legacy high-cost support upon announcement of the authorization of 5G
The FCC has adopted a Report and Order to enable initial drone operations in the 5 GHz band for wireless communications necessary to safely control the flights of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The Commission has established initial service rules that allow operators to obtain direct frequency assignments in a portion of the 5030-5091 MHz band
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has announced the proposed North American Numbering Plan (NANP) administration fund size estimate and contribution factor for the fiscal year October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025 (Fiscal Year 2025). The NANP Billing and Collection Agent (Agent) has proposed a funding requirement of $8,639,736 for Fiscal Year 2025. The Agent
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved the full initial proposals for Michigan and Guam for the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Michigan will have access to nearly $1.6 billion and Guam will have access to more than $156 million to fund BEAD projects and can now move to
NTIA has published a draft BEAD alternative broadband technology guidance to provide states and territories with additional guidance regarding the use of alternative technologies to serve unserved and underserved locations. For the purposes of this guidance, NTIA defines “alternative technology” as broadband access technology that does not qualify as reliable broadband service, including unlicensed fixed
The Wireline Competition Bureaus (WCB) is seeking nominations for eight Board member positions on the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Board of Directors for a three-year term. The Board positions include Representatives for: (1) interexchange carriers with annual operating revenues of more than $3 billion; (2) rural health care providers that are eligible to receive
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has granted the FCC’s Request for Stay related to the 5th Circuit’s decision to strike down the FCC’s Universal Service fund system as unconstitutional, contingent on an FCC petition for certiorari being filed with the Supreme Court. The FCC must file its petition for certiorari by September 30 for
West Virginia has launched its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program grant application portal. West Virginia was approved for $1.2 billion in BEAD funding. West Virginia’s grant application portal will remain open for 60 days. The deadline for submissions is October 25. Grant applications may be submitted in the West Virginia Department of Economic Development’s ZoomGrants portal
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has issued Orders citing 11 companies for failing to file mandatory broadband availability and subscription data in the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection system following multiple notices by the Commission. The following companies were cited: Crazy Communications LLC, A.C.T.S. LLC, Gila Broadband LLC, Lake Linx, Inc., FiberSpark, Inc.
