The transition from the FCC’s emergency broadband benefit program to the affordable connectivity program has been largely smooth for most providers, said Wireline Bureau staff and industry during an FCBA webinar Wednesday (see 2111230058). Some providers said it was challenging to meet the transition deadline, and they're now focused on increasing enrollment.
A draft FCC Further NPRM to seek comment on resolving pole attachment and replacement disputes would expedite the broadband deployment to come through programs funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, industry experts told us. Commissioners will consider the draft during the agency's March 16 meeting, which would seek comment on several concerns raised in a 2020 NCTA petition and costs associated with pole replacements or attachments (see 2007170023).
Congress and the FCC “need to make permanent a lot of the regulatory relief” and waivers that “enabled a real spike in telehealth usage,” said Commissioner Brendan Carr during a virtual symposium Thursday recognizing broadband access, adoption and use as a social determinant of health. The FCC has “got to make sure that we get affordable internet connections to every community,” Carr said.
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended the rural healthcare program's 2022 filing window until June 1, in an order Wednesday in docket 02-60, granting a request from the New England Telehealth Consortium and Connections Telehealth Consortium (see 2203010066). The bureau cited a "shortage and burnout of health care staff aggravated by the surge of Omicron cases" since the filing window opened. The bureau also directed the Universal Service Administrative Co. to file the program's gross demand estimate by Aug. 1 and extended the determination of unused funding available to carry forward to the current funding year until Q3.
Congress and the FCC “need to make permanent a lot of the regulatory relief” and waivers that “enabled a real spike in telehealth usage,” said Commissioner Brendan Carr during a virtual symposium Thursday recognizing broadband access, adoption and use as a social determinant of health. The FCC has “got to make sure that we get affordable internet connections to every community,” Carr said.
Media companies and organizations, including Google, DirecTV and the NAB, are taking action against Russian-sponsored content in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine. “The First Amendment protects freedom of speech; however, it does not prevent private actors from exercising sound, moral judgment,” said NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt in a statement Tuesday, asking all broadcasters to cease airing “state-sponsored programming with ties to the Russian government or its agents.”
Media companies and organizations, including Google, DirecTV and the NAB, are taking action against Russian-sponsored content in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine. “The First Amendment protects freedom of speech; however, it does not prevent private actors from exercising sound, moral judgment,” said NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt in a statement Tuesday, asking all broadcasters to cease airing “state-sponsored programming with ties to the Russian government or its agents.”
The FCC made few edits to its final Further NPRM on rural healthcare program revisions, according to our comparison with the draft (see 2202180054). The final FNPRM includes questions sought by Commissioner Brendan Carr about whether the Universal Service Administrative Co. should "process applications and make funding commitment decisions within a specified period of time after the close of the filing window," and whether any program rules need clarification.
A draft notice of inquiry would seek comment on rules the FCC should adopt to combat digital discrimination and process public complaints, if adopted during the agency’s March 16 commissioners’ meeting (see 2202220069). A draft Further NPRM would seek comment on resolving pole attachment and replacement disputes.
Commenters on the Universal Service Fund generally agreed its funding system is unsustainable and in need of changes but disagreed on the solution, in comments posted Friday in docket 21-476 (see 2112220051) as the FCC prepares its report to Congress on the future of USF.