Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Adopts Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for March Open Meeting, USTelecom Broadband Providers Send Letter to White Regarding Supply Chain for Semiconductor Chips
On February 25, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously adopted the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (Program). The Program is a $3.2 billion federal initiative to provide qualifying households discounts on their internet service bills with the ability to receive a discount on a computer or tablet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating providers will receive reimbursement from the Program for the discounts provided.
In a statement released by the FCC, Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said “Today the Federal Communications Commission made history. It adopted rules for the nation’s largest-ever program to help households nationwide afford broadband service.”
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the March Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 17, 2021:
In addition to the above items, the FCC will also consider two National Security Matters and an Enforcement Action.
The FCC publicly releases the draft text of each item expected to be considered at the next Open Commission Meeting. Drafts of items under consideration that involve specific national security or enforcement-related matters will not be publicly released. One-page cover sheets are included in the public drafts to help summarize each item. All these materials will be available on the FCC’s Open Meeting page: www.fcc.gov/openmeeting.
USTelecom, Broadband Providers Send Letter to White Regarding Supply Chain for Semiconductor Chips
USTelecom, ACA Connects – America’s Communications Association, CTIA and NCTA – The Internet & Television Association sent a letter to the White House about the global semiconductor chip shortage, writing to President Biden:
“Broadband providers are already experiencing the effects of the global semiconductor chip shortage. As the White House considers executive action on this and other important supply chain issues, we urge you to include broadband providers in measures to address the chip shortage, support initiatives that will expand domestic innovation and investment in semiconductor development and manufacturing facilities for all industries and ensure coordination across government and with industry partners on supply chain matters.”
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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.