FCC

          E-Rate Eligible Services

The FCC is seeking comment on a proposed eligible services list (ESL) for the schools and libraries universal support mechanism (more commonly known as the E-rate program) for funding year 2017.  The FCC proposes to adopt various changes to ESL and seek comment on those proposals.  Among other things, the FCC proposes to: revise the description of eligible dark fiber service to further explain the distinction between leased dark fiber and self-provisioned fiber under E-rate program rules; delete special construction from Note 2 to better reflect the existing requirement that applicants that seek bids for either leased dark fiber or self-provisioned fiber also must seek and fully consider bids for leased lit fiber service, regardless of whether the funding request includes special construction; and include a new explanation of how to classify connections between multiple buildings of a single school depending on whether they are located on a single campus or different campuses.  Comments are due July 5, 2016; reply comments due July 20, 2016.

          Rural Broadband

The FCC announced it is ready to authorize six winning bids for rural broadband support, totaling $4,355,984.61.  Northeast Rural Services, Inc. (NRS) will use its allotted support to bring broadband services to 120 census blocks in Oklahoma.  Lake County Minnesota Lake County d/b/a Lake Connections (Lake Connections) will use its allotted support to bring broadband services to 845 census blocks in Minnesota.  To be authorized to receive this support, each of these bidders must submit at least one acceptable irrevocable stand-by letter of credit (LOC) and Bankruptcy Code opinion letter from its legal counsel in accordance with the instructions provided by June 17, 2016.