The USF contribution factor will likely increase to 30.3% during Q3 2023 from 29.0% during Q2, emailed analyst Billy Jack Gregg Tuesday. Gregg noted the increase in overall USF demand will result from the "demand for three of the constituent funds of the USF" and decrease in the E-rate program.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Quickly restoring FCC spectrum auction authority is critical with the World Radiocommunication Conference approaching in late fall, said government officials at the FCBA annual seminar Friday and Saturday. FCBA members heard from FCC commissioners and NTIA officials on a variety of other issues, including possible "Buy America" waivers for the broadband equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program.
Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., confirmed Thursday he plans a hearing as soon as the second week of May with a primary focus on a potential legislative USF revamp. “My intention is for the focus to be in and around USF” given ongoing work with Communications ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., to “create a working group” to draft a legislative revamp, Lujan told us. “Thus far it feels like there’s bipartisan interest from all sides,” so “I’m hopeful this hearing will bring” the issue onto “the front burner and maybe can act as a catalyst for us all to work together and get things done.” Lujan and former Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., refiled the Funding Affordable Internet with Reliable (Fair) Contributions Act last month to direct an FCC study of expanding the USF funding pool to include edge providers like Google-owned YouTube and Netflix (see 2303160080). Thune and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., refiled the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act in late March in a bid to revamp USF's funding mechanism (see 2303280071).
Texas House members showed wide support for creating a state fund for broadband infrastructure this week, voting 137-7 for a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday on its second reading. On Thursday, the Senate received HJR-125 and the House voted 140-8 for companion bill HB-9 on third and final reading. Rural carriers applauded the House for passing the measures, which they said would help fill gaps from the state not fully funding Texas USF. “We will now shift our focus to the Senate where we hope to find similar support,” said Texas Telephone Association (TTA) President Mark Seale.
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission awarded about $494,000 in nonprofit access grants to 12 projects, the PSC said Thursday. The winning nonprofits will use the money from Wisconsin USF for projects to make telecom service affordable for low-income households, people with disabilities and residents in high-cost areas, the agency said.
Texas senators passed a state USF bill Wednesday that would direct VoIP providers to contribute to the telecom fund. SB-1710 would also allow the Texas Public Utility Commission to review whether previously rural areas should continue receiving support (see 2304060047). On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed SB-1893, which would ban TikTok on state government devices. Both bills now go to the House.
Carriers got part of what they asked for in response to an FCC Further NPRM proposing to extend USF support to eligible mobile and fixed carriers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, approved by commissioners 4-0 in October (see 2210270046). The FCC on Wednesday approved a transitional support period of up to 24 months for mobile services. For fixed services, the agency extended the phase-down of frozen support at its current monthly amount until Dec. 31, 2025.
Federal officials highlighted the need for continued stakeholder engagement and strategic investments to ensure broadband deployment efforts funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are implemented efficiently, during an NTCA event Monday. USDA Rural Development Deputy Undersecretary Farah Ahmad also announced the launch of a $20 million broadband technical assistance program to assist rural development projects.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed an anti-robocalls bill Wednesday aimed at fighting automated calls and texts. HB-2498 received nearly universal support in the legislature. Also that day, the Montana House concurred with the Senate on a local internet bill (SB-174) that would allow state agencies and political subdivisions to provide funding to private broadband service providers. The bill next needs a signature from Gov. Greg Gianforte (R). The Tennessee Senate voted 33-0 Wednesday to pass a bill that would make changes to broadband laws including raising the state's minimum broadband speed standard to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, from 10/1 Mbps. The House previously passed HB-1211. Meanwhile in Texas, the Senate voted 31-0 Wednesday to pass a bill (SB-1425) that would extend a Sept. 1 sunset on USF support for small telcos until Sept. 1, 2033. On Thursday, the Senate added a bill (SB-1893) that would ban TikTok on state government devices to the local and uncontested calendar, which is reserved for noncontroversial bills. Virginia's TikTok ban bill passed the legislature a second time Wednesday after lawmakers agreed to a slight wording change recommended by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin (see 2303280042). The Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee voted 13-1 Wednesday to clear HB-492, which would require a pilot program for schools to teach media literacy including for social media content.
Alaska USF’s last distribution would come in January under a tentative schedule presented Wednesday by the Alaska Universal Service Administrative Co. (AUSAC). The company could dissolve soon after, AUSAC Agent Keegan Bernier told commissioners at a livestreamed Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) meeting. AUSAC is preparing for sunset of Alaska USF regulations June 30. The final AUSF remittance would happen in July. AUSAC would distribute $1 million that month and then $77,000 in January before the company wound down. Some are looking for options to renew AUSF before it ends (see 2304110015), but at Wednesday's meeting Commissioner Robert Pickett sounded pessimistic about saving the fund: "We've been told this program essentially is going to be terminated and there are no ... realistic options." Later in the meeting, Pickett predicted "a series of events in which rural LECs are going to have a difficult time and then it will become a political emergency" that could lead to a legislative response. The problem of keeping rural phone rates low "needs a different mechanism that makes sense," he added. Multiple commissioners said they struggled to see how they could classify the looming AUSF sunset as an emergency, a procedural move that would let them expedite making new rules. Chair Keith Kurber and Commissioner Bob Doyle said they first want to see comments due May 5 on repealing AUSF regulations.