A bill introduced by Republican Senators Shelley Moore-Caputo, WV, Roger Wicker, MS, and Todd Young, IN, would order the FCC to conduct a feasibility study of collecting USF payments from internet edge providers. These are companies such as Google, Netflix and YouTube that – according to the proposed FAIR Contribution Act — provide “online content … Read More
Carr Calls for Large Streaming Companies to Share USF Burden
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, in a recent Newsweek op-ed, suggested that large online streaming service providers – Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Microsoft – should begin paying their fair share of Universal Service costs. He pointed out that these five companies account for 75% of all traffic on rural broadband networks and almost 78% … Read More
NTCA Renews Calls to Waive USF Cuts from Budget Control Mechanism
In a recent meeting with the FCC, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, asked again that the Commission waive application of its budget control mechanism to certain kinds of universal service support. NTCA correctly pointed out that such cuts in support would be extremely harmful as small USF recipients and their customers face the economic … Read More
Commission Restrictions Lead to New Certification Requirements
As you may know, the FCC has prohibited the use of Universal Service Funds to purchase, obtain, maintain or in any other way support equipment or services from companies found to post a threat to national security. After release of the Supply Chain First Report and Order in November, 2019, Huawei and ZTE were identified … Read More
No Hee-Hee as FCC Imposes Huge Forfeiture
In a recent decision, according to Chairman Ajit Pai, the FCC concluded a long-standing action against Sandwich Isles Communications, its parent company, Waimana, and its then sole stockholder, Albert Hee. Mr. Hee, his two main companies, and several affiliates, were fraudulently engaged in a long running scheme to overcharge the Universal Service Fund by some … Read More
AT&T: Now is the Time for Congress to Appropriate Universal Service Funds
According to Joan Marsh, AT&T Executive Vice President of Regulatory & State External Affairs, “It’s time for us to fundamentally rethink how we fund USF programs – programs that have become even more essential” due to both COVID-19 and, “the clear need for all Americans to access a reliable broadband service.” Her recent blog post … Read More
RWA Study Shows Need for Rural 5G Support
A recent survey and resultant study conducted by the Rural Wireless Association presents a very positive picture of how small RLECs have used legacy USF support to improve and expand telecommunications and broadband services. It also makes a strong case that more support is needed to help them with the future provision of 5G services. … Read More
NTCA Plays Key Role in Expanding USF Support
NTCA –The Rural Broadband Association, has become the undisputed national champion of small, rural telecommunications and broadband service providers. In our May 14th blog, we partially quoted NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield’s enthusiastic endorsement of the proposed House bill to add broadband services to the USF contribution base. Now, in a recently released study, NTCA has … Read More
Proposed Bill Would Include Broadband Services in USF Contribution Base
Finally, legislation has been introduced in Congress to impose USF support payments on broadband service providers. The Universal Broadband Act, sponsored by Congressmen Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Don Young (R-AK) and supported by a bipartisan group of eight other Representatives, will – if passed – expand the USF contribution base to include all broadband services. … Read More
Budget Cap on USF Fails THE Basic Test
As you probably know, the FCC’s recent NPRM proposed an $11.49 billion cap on the total Universal Service Fund. This amount represents the sum of the authorized budgets of the four USF programs in 2018. Not surprisingly, comments on this proposal drew a goodly number of dissenting views from assorted industry sources. One group argued … Read More
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