New Lifeline Waivers, DOJ and FTC to Hold Merger Workshop, Digital Inclusion Certificate

FCC opens Lifeline Program benefits to wildfire victims getting assistance from FEMA.

Published

on

By

WASHINGTON, August 30, 2023 – The Federal Communications Commission announced on Friday hat it is temporarily waiving another eligibility requirement for the Lifeline Program in an effort to keep victims of the Hawaii wildfires connected.

Under the order, anyone receiving assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individuals and Households Program will automatically be eligible for Lifeline benefits for the next six months.

FEMA’s IHP provides financial assistance and other services to people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by disasters. The FCC’s Lifeline program provides low-income households with monthly subsidies of $5.25 for voice services and $9.25 for broadband services, with a $34.25 discount on either for residents of Tribal lands.

The move comes one week after the FCC waived other provisions of the program, allowing recipients affected by the fires to keep receiving benefits without submitting documents to show they are still eligible.

In that same order, the FCC waived through October 2023 filing and regulatory deadlines of several other broadband assistance programs for people in areas affected by the fire.

Under the new guidelines, subscribers to the Affordable Connectivity Program have more time to recertify their eligibility and will not be cut off from the program for not using their internet.

Applicants for the E-Rate Program and Emergency Connectivity Fund Program have extended filing deadlines and more time to install equipment, while recipients of Rural Health Care Program benefits have extended invoice and annual report deadlines.

Commission Chairwoman Jessia Rosenworcel has pledged to mobilize FCC personnel and wireless service providers to aid in recovery efforts.

The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission announced on Monday that they will jointly host three public workshops to discuss their proposed update to big tech merger guidelines

The first workshop will take place virtually on September 5. DOJ and FTC officials, as well as lawyers, academics, and watchdogs will be in attendance.

The two agencies released in July a draft of new merger guidelines aimed at increasing scrutiny on deals made by tech giants.

The draft guidelines would update how markets are defined and allow regulators to consider more factors when deciding whether or not to block a deal. The rules would apply to both vertical mergers – companies buying up parts of their supply chain – and to horizontal mergers – companies merging with their competitors.

The subsequent two workshops have not been scheduled. The public comment period for the proposed guidelines is open until September 18.

Arizona State University announced on Tuesday it will be offering a digital inclusion leadership certificate in partnership with the Marconi Society.

The 12 week program will give participants a background on technology and policy principles necessary to expand broadband access, the university said in its press release. It is targeted at government officials and people engaged in nonprofit and community work around new broadband infrastructure projects.

The program comes amid increasing federal efforts to address the digital divide – the wide gap in opportunities available to those with reliable, fast internet access and those without it. The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program allocated $42.5 billion in federal grants in June

“As billions of dollars in federal and state funding become available, the U.S. faces a critical shortage of people who understand the interdisciplinary issues associated with broadband access, affordability, and adoption,” said Karen Mossberger, director of the university’s Center on Technology, Data, and Society.

5G Fund for Rural America, FCC Disaster Information Reporting System, US Cellular Expands 5G,

Europe’s Big Tech Laws, FCC’s Precision Ag Task Force, Frequency Testing at 6 GHz

5G Fund for Rural America, FCC Disaster Information Reporting System, US Cellular Expands 5G,

Transition to Fiber is Essential for Reducing Telecom Emissions: Expert

FCC Rejects Petition to Reconsider Broadband Consumer Label Rules

Europe’s Big Tech Laws, FCC’s Precision Ag Task Force, Frequency Testing at 6 GHz

FCC and HUD Partner to Promote Internet Subsidies for Housing Assistance Recipients

Craig Settles: Believe in the Healing Power of Telehealth

The FCC will also consider new rules to streamline satellite policies and expedite processing space and earth station applications.

Published

on

By

The Federal Communications Commission will consider an item at its September open meeting that would move the agency closer to launching a 5G Fund, which has been pending since 2020, announced the agency Wednesday.

“The need for high-speed mobile services has never been more critical, yet there are some areas of our country that continue to lack access to any mobile broadband service at all,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

The FCC’s 5G Fund for Rural America was created in 2020 to ensure the deployment of next-generation, high-speed mobile service in areas of the country where it continues to be lacking, she said. The fund makes $9 billion available to bring 5G mobile to rural areas unlikely to receive it otherwise based on mobile coverage data submitted in the FCC’s broadband data collection, outlined on the national broadband map.

Commissioners will vote in the meeting to explore a series of questions on how to best harness new, granular and improve mobile coverage data from broadband data collection to better target 5G Fund support to those areas of the country where it is needed most.

In the meeting, the FCC will also consider new rules to streamline satellite policies and expedite the processing of space and earth station applications, vote on rules to modernize direct access to numbers by providers of voice services to crack down on malicious robocalls, and will update “obsolete” media rules.

The FCC announced Wednesday that it is expanding its disaster data collection to counties in South Carolina following Hurricane Idalia hit this week.

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the FCC, in coordination with Florida, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System in response to Hurricane Idalia.

DIRS is a voluntary, web-based system that communications providers can use to report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness information in times of crisis.

The FCC requested that communications providers that provide service to any areas it listed “expeditiously submit and update information through DIRS” regarding the status of their communications equipment, restoration efforts and power, whether they are using commercial power or back-up power.

Reports are requested at 9am eastern time every day until DIRS is deactivated. Areas include certain counties in Florida and South Carolina.

Wireless carrier USCellular announced Tuesday that it has received full access to the 5G C-band spectrum it was awarded in a spectrum auction in 2021, which will allow it to expand its 5G network faster than anticipated.

C-band spectrum is mid-band spectrum, considered the optimum frequency for transmitting wireless signals because of its unique mixture of speed and coverage.

Earlier this year, USCellular upgraded more than 440 cell sites in preparation for this spectrum access and the company reported that it will turn on this enhanced 5G service in the coming weeks – three months ahead of schedule.

“This early access to our C-band spectrum allows us to accelerate our plans and bring a superior network experience to more mobile and home internet customers earlier than expected,” said Mike Irizarry, executive vice president and chief technology officer. “Additional spectrum access is important as we advance our mission to connect people to what matters most.”

This spectrum adds to recent 5G network expansion builds that began in 10 states earlier this year.

Europeans can now turn off artificial intelligence-recommended videos and content.

Published

on

By

On Friday, the 27-nation European Union adopted the Digital Services Act that will subject a new set of digital regulations on big tech companies.

Users in the EU will be able to alter some of what shows up when they interact with online social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook as well as other tech giants like Google and Amazon, many of which are American based. Companies have had months since the passage of the law to prepare for its provisions.

The Digital Services Act aims to protect European users by placing regulations to protect privacy, improve transparency and remove harmful or illegal content. Large online platforms must provide data to third-party researchers for the purpose of ensuring DSA compliance.

Following the implementation of the law, Europeans can now turn off artificial intelligence-recommended videos and content. Search results will be based only on the words they type, not personalized based on the user’s previous activities, said Meta President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg.

Algorithmic recommendations have been blamed for creating filter bubbles and pushing social media users to increasingly extreme posts.

Users should also find it easier to report a post for violating the platform rules or for other illegal content. Chinese-based TikTok started to give users an additional reporting option that users can use to flag content, including advertising, they believe is illegal. This will include fake products.

Additionally, social media platforms will adopt transparency measures that will clearly express why certain posts are taken down.

“If we decide a video is ineligible for recommendation because it contains unverified claims about an election that is still unfolding, we will let users know,” TikTok said. “We will also share more detail about these decisions, including whether the action was taken by automated technology, and we will explain how both content creators and those who file a report can appeal a decision.”

A large portion of the law is dedicated to protecting children online. Social media companies have begun to adopt policies that will restrict their ability to target ads for children and teenagers.

The Federal Communications Commission’s chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel called for representatives from diverse and underrepresented communities to apply for membership on the agency’s Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force that was rechartered last week.

The FCC asked that socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers join the task force. It wants the working groups to research how connectivity impacts production and sustainability challenges for agricultural and food systems.

The Task force was first established under the 2018 Farm Bill and is intended to advise the FCC, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on how to deploy broadband service on unserved agricultural land to promote precision agriculture.

It is set to conclude its work in 2025. Nominations are open until September 20.

“Today’s farmers and ranchers rely on high-speed internet to make the best use of connected tools to efficiently run their businesses and meet the demand for food to sustain our communities,” Rosenworcel said. “I am calling on the Task Force to look closely at the link between connectivity and agricultural sustainability, to see how best to leverage innovation to improve food production for the future.”

FCC approves automated frequency coordination testing in 6 GigaHertz band

The Federal Communications Commission approved the testing of automated frequency coordination systems for the 6 GigaHertz (Hz) spectrum band last week.

Automated Frequency Coordination is a spectrum use coordination system for the frequencies on which service providers transmit mobile internet connection. The system is designed to enable spectrum in the band to be shared with existing radio astronomy and point-to-point microwave users by protecting them from interference. The 6 GHz band will be available for commercial full-power outdoor use when one or more AFC systems have been approved for use.

Thirteen entities have been conditionally approved to operate AFC systems, Broadcom, Google, Comsearch, Sony Group, Kyrio, Key Bridge Wireless, Nokia Innovations, Federated Wireless, the Wireless Broadband Alliance, the Wi-Fi Alliance, Qualcomm, Plume Design and RED Technologies.

The Wireless Innovation Forum said in a press release that it is “confident that the lab test results consistent with the test vectors will provide assurance that the AFC systems have been implemented in accordance with the Commission’s rules.”

“This is a significant and material step towards the opening of the 6 GHz band to shared use for standard power outdoor uses in conjunction with AFC system protections of 6 GHz licensees,” added Richard Bernhardt, senior director of spectrum and industry at WISPA and chair of the WInnForum Functional Specifications Working Group.

The FCC made spectrum in the 6 GHz band available on an unlicensed basis in 2020, but it has been limited to indoor low-power use. When the AFC systems are approved, manufacturers will be able to sell standard-power equipment for outdoor use.

The ECF funds will go to 184 schools and 13 libraries serving over 100,000 students.

Published

on

By

WASHINGTON, August 28, 2023 – The Federal Communications Commission announced on Aug. 23 that it will be disbursing a new round of over $68 million through its Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.

The money will go to 184 schools, 13 libraries, and two consortia – groups of schools and libraries that apply for funds together – across seven states serving over 100,000 students. It will be used to provide devices and internet connections to support nightly homework assignments and online summer programs.

The fund was opened to applicants as part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, with $7.17 billion set aside to close the “homework gap,” a lack of internet access and devices preventing low-income students from doing assignments and accessing learning materials outside of school.

“A good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, and access to digital tools are essential for a good day at school,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in the commission’s announcement.

This latest announcement puts the total committed ECF funds at $6.93 billion.

In May, the FCC granted in part a request to extend implementation deadlines for ECF funds. First and second round applicants who received funding commitments for recurring services like temporary hotspots after July 1, 2022 will now have 14 months from the date of approval to use their funds. Those who received funding for equipment after January 1, 2023 will have 180 days to use theirs.

The extensions are designed to give more time to applicants who would have had difficulty meeting the default deadline for all services of June 30, 2023.

All third window applicants will have until June 30, 2024 to allocate their awards.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced on Aug. 24 that it was awarded an additional $3.45 million through its Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program.

The money will go to seven tribes across five states. About $3 million will be used for deploying infrastructure like towers and fiber. The rest will go to engineering and regulatory planning for a future project aimed at bringing broadband access to unserved Tribal lands in Oregon.

The program, part of both the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, has now awarded over $1.79 billion of its $3 billion.

“We are happy to receive this award and it will go a long way towards providing high-speed internet to our Tribal members,” said Jenelle Roybal, governor of the Pueblo of Pojoaque. “Reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a wishlist item for them. It has become a staple utility along with electricity and water.”

All Tribes were awarded ‘equitable distribution grants,’ smaller grants up to $500,000 instead of the full amount they requested. The Government Accountability Office has pushed the NTIA to provide feedback to applicants who received these grants to help them improve future funding requests.

Applications for the program’s latest round of funding will be open until January 2024. The agency says it plans to prioritize applicants who did not receive an award in the first round of funding and whose projects are cost-effective.

Broadband Breakfast CEO Drew Clark appeared Thursday in an expert interview on CBS Streaming.

CBS News anchor John Dickerson spoke to Clark about the impact of broadband access in rural communities and the $667 million that the Biden administration committed on Aug. 21 to network expansion projects through its ReConnect Program.

“Lots of rural America is realizing that if they don’t get that kind of high speed connectivity, they’re going to be left out of the 21st century economy,” Clark said.

The ReConnect Program funds will be distributed across 37 projects in 22 states and the Marshall Islands. About $493 million will be in the form of grants and the remaining $174 million will be loaned.

The program, additional funded for which was provided by the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act, has awarded more $3 billion to rural broadband projects and plans to allocate another $260 million in the coming months. Clark also addressed the IIJA’s $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.

The minimum requirement for the ReConnect program projects is 100 Mbps symmetrical, according to White House officials. This ensures projects will be able to handle increased demand in the future. BEAD, but contrast, is funding deployments to address the “unserved” who lack broadband at 25 * 3 Mbps, and the “underserved” who lack broadband at 100 * 20 Mbps.

“Unfortunately, it isn’t a quick or instant process,” Clark said, adding it will take a few years “to get these kinds of robust connections to everywhere in the country.”

hbspt.forms.create({ region: "na1", portalId: "20721996", formId: "0f5acd00-6960-4d68-8f00-9516bbbca6e9" });

BroadbandNow: Internet Provider Search and research on the digital divide

AT&T Launches New Fixed Wireless Service, Lawsuits Over Lead Cables, $27M for Rural South Dakota Broadband

Broadband Breakfast on September 13, 2023 – AT&T and BlackRock’s Gigapower Joint Venture

Carl Guardino: 100% Broadband Access in the U.S. — The Time is Now

White House Releases ‘Buy America’ Guidance, Does Not Budge on Fiber as ‘Construction Material’

RDOF Winners Seek Supplemental Funding for Covid-related Costs

Sascha Meinrath: 12 GigaHertz Band is Key to Bridging the Digital Divide

Nokia Announced Domestic Manufacturing of Electronics Equipment for Fiber

FCC Adopts Order to Extend $75 Monthly ACP Subsidy to Households in High-Cost Areas