Today: FCC SBA National Ombudsman, Census Blocs Eligible for Connect America Phase II New York

FCC SBA National Ombudsman

The Federal Communications Commission has released a reminder to small businesses that the Office of the National Ombudsman within the U.S. Small Business Administration is available to assist them with federal agency enforcement compliance matters.   Created by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), the Ombudsman’s Office and ten regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards facilitate meaningful dialog between federal agencies and small business entities.

The FCC also notes that small businesses may request expedited treatment of an enforcement action against them, when they believe that delay may threaten the economic viability of the business.  If a small entity requests Ombudsman assistance on a matter, the agency will not retaliate. 

FCC Releases List of Census Blocs Eligible for Connect America Phase II in New York

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has released the list of census blocks that have been deemed initially eligible for Connect America Phase II support to be allocated in partnership with New York State’s New NY Broadband program. See the Regulatory Mix dated 1/27/17.  The New York program was initially launched in January 2015.  The list is based on FCC Form 477 data as of December 31, 2015.

Last month, the FCC made available up to $170.4 million to companies that are selected by the New NY Broadband process to deploy broadband services to high-cost areas that are eligible for Connect America Phase II support. Winning bidders are eligible for Connect America support up to the total reserve prices of all the Connect America Phase II auction eligible census blocks that are included in a winning bid, provided that New York has committed, at a minimum, the same dollar amount of New York support to the Connect America-eligible areas in that bid.

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The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily 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 a TMI Briefing.