Department of Commerce 911 Grants

The U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced more than $109 million in grants to 34 states and two tribal nations as part of the 911 Grant Program, which will help 911 call centers upgrade to Next Generation 911 (NG911) capabilities.  The funding will power basic improvements such as providing digital and IP network capabilities to 911 emergency call centers and will assist implementation of advanced mapping systems that will make it easier to identify a 911 caller’s location. NG911 will help 911 call centers manage call overload, as call-takers will be able to transfer calls, messages and data between public safety answering points (PSAPs) that are interconnected to the IP network. The 911 Grant Program also provides funding for training costs directly related to NG911 implementation.

Grants were available to states, territories, tribal nations and the District of Columbia, provided that they successfully submitted a state 911 plan and project budget, designated a 911 coordinator, and certified that they did not use funds designated for 911 systems for other purposes in the past 180 days.  A list of the 36 states and tribal nations awarded grants is available here.

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The Regulatory Mix Today: Department of Commerce 911 Grants, FCC Announces Additional Broadband Funding, FCC Regulatory Fee Data Available

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FCC Announces Additional Broadband Funding

In separate Public Notices, the FCC authorized over $138 million in broadband funding over the next decade to expand broadband in rural areas.  First, it  authorized nearly $16.2 million in federal funding over the next decade to expand broadband to 8,088 unserved rural New York homes and businesses, the second round of matching funds being provided in a partnership with the state’s New NY Broadband Program.  The three providers will begin receiving funding this month. 

Second, it authorized over $121 million in funding over the next decade to expand broadband to 36,579 unserved rural homes and businesses in 16 states, representing the fourth wave of support from last year’s Connect America Fund Phase II auction. Providers will begin receiving funding later this month.

FCC Regulatory Fee Data Available

The FCC announced that FY 2019 Interstate Telecommunications Service Providers (ITSP) and Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) data are now available for viewing on the FCC’s electronic filing and payment system (Fee Filer).  The notice includes instructions on how to view the data for each provider type.  ITSPs include LECs, IXCs, IXC resellers, debit card providers, OSPs, inmate service providers, pay telephone providers, interconnected VoIP providers, and audio bridging service providers.  The ITSP worksheet shows the revenue amount (based on the April 1, 2019, Form 499-A) that will be used to determine a provider’s FY 2019 regulatory fees, after release of the FY 2019 Regulatory Fee Report and Order. If a provider disagrees with the revenue amount, it must file a revised Form 499-A with USAC. For CMRS providers, the data shows the provider’s subscriber, porting, and OCN information.  Providers have until August 2, 1019, to revise their subscriber accounts by following the prompts after they log in.  After a revision is made, the Commission will approve or disapprove the action. After August 28, 2019, requests for revisions will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

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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.