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Posted by Cory Garone on 6/9/20 4:21 PM

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Adopts Final Bidding Procedures For Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, FCC Commissioner Announces Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition Program

 

 

FCC meeting room-1-1FCC Adopts Final Bidding Procedures For Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

At its Open Meeting today, the FCC voted to adopt procedures for Phase I of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction (Auction 904), which will award up to $16 billion in support over 10 years for the deployment of fixed broadband networks to millions of unserved homes and businesses across rural America. Bidding in the auction will begin on October 29, 2020, with the application window for potential bidders opening on July 1. 

 

The Public Notice adopts application procedures to ensure that bidders have the business experience and financial means to deploy broadband networks and intend to use a network technology that will allow them to meet performance requirements.  FCC staff will closely scrutinize applications to ensure that all applicants are proposing to use technologies with demonstrated success in providing mass market retail broadband to consumers to ensure taxpayer funding is not wasted. 

 

 

starks-bio-page-02192019FCC Commissioner Announces Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition Program

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks announced the creation of a Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition (DOER) Program to commend organizations, institutions, companies and individuals who, through their actions and responses to the COVID-19 crisis, have helped to make quality affordable broadband service available to unserved or underserved communities.  Nominations for the first round of recognitions should be submitted by July 8, 2020.

 

Starks said: “The COVID-19 crisis has changed so much of how we go about our daily lives in ways no one could have foreseen, and many have stepped up to ensure that no one gets left behind because they lack broadband connectivity. I am excited to introduce the DOER  Program as a way to recognize and applaud those going above and beyond to help connect all Americans to reliable, equitable and affordable broadband services. The Advisory Board members I have assembled to help me select recipients worthy of recognition represent diverse sectors and are themselves fully engaged in the fight for digital opportunity and equity. I am thankful for their perspectives and judgment as we work to make this program a meaningful endeavor.”

 

5G from shutterstock_1341108944FCC Facilitates Wireless Infrastructure Upgrades For 5G Deployment

At its Open Meeting today, the FCC voted to facilitate the deployment of 5G networks by clarifying and seeking comment on the rules regarding state and local government review of modifications to existing wireless infrastructure.  The action is intended to expedite equipment upgrades to deploy these next-generation networks, which are critical to expanding economic opportunities and supporting public health and safety in American communities.

 

Specifically, the FCC adopted a Declaratory Ruling that affirms its 2014 rules with regard to when the 60-day shot clock for local review begins. The ruling also clarifies how certain aspects of proposed modifications – height increases, equipment cabinet additions, and impact on concealment elements and aesthetic conditions – affect eligibility for streamlined review.  The action also clarifies that, under FCC rules on environmental and historic preservation review, FCC applicants do not need to submit environmental assessments based only on potential impacts to historic properties when parties have entered into a memorandum of agreement to mitigate effects on those properties.  

 

The FCC also adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on proposed rule changes regarding excavation or deployment outside the boundaries of an existing tower site and the effects of such activities on eligibility for streamlined review under §6409(a) of the Spectrum Act of 2012.  (That section is intended to streamline state and local government review of certain requests to modify wireless transmission equipment on existing structures by requiring a state or local government to approve within 60 days any request for modification of an existing structure that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of that structure.)

 

 

DyLQMV-VAAA-vMKFCC Waives Reporting Requirement For Some ETCs

The FCC has waived the requirement that privately held rate of- return eligible  telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that receive loans from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) file electronic copies of their annual RUS Operating Report for Telecommunications Borrowers with their FCC Form 481 filings by July 1, 2020.  The waiver will allow them to submit the report at the time it is due to USDA.  On May 4, 2020, USDA issued a notice of actions taken to help rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Among these actions, USDA waived all financial reporting requirements for RUS loan recipients through June 30, 2020.

 

 

 

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE FCC BRIEFING

____________________________

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.

 

Watch Our Complete - 3 Part - RDOF Webcast Series: Auction 904

 

Topics: FCC June Open Meeting, RDOF, 5G Deployment, Wireless Infrastructure Upgrades, Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition Program, ETC Reporting Requirements

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Posted by Cory Garone on 6/9/20 4:21 PM

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Adopts Final Bidding Procedures For Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, FCC Commissioner Announces Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition Program

 

 

FCC meeting room-1-1FCC Adopts Final Bidding Procedures For Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

At its Open Meeting today, the FCC voted to adopt procedures for Phase I of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction (Auction 904), which will award up to $16 billion in support over 10 years for the deployment of fixed broadband networks to millions of unserved homes and businesses across rural America. Bidding in the auction will begin on October 29, 2020, with the application window for potential bidders opening on July 1. 

 

The Public Notice adopts application procedures to ensure that bidders have the business experience and financial means to deploy broadband networks and intend to use a network technology that will allow them to meet performance requirements.  FCC staff will closely scrutinize applications to ensure that all applicants are proposing to use technologies with demonstrated success in providing mass market retail broadband to consumers to ensure taxpayer funding is not wasted. 

 

 

starks-bio-page-02192019FCC Commissioner Announces Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition Program

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks announced the creation of a Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition (DOER) Program to commend organizations, institutions, companies and individuals who, through their actions and responses to the COVID-19 crisis, have helped to make quality affordable broadband service available to unserved or underserved communities.  Nominations for the first round of recognitions should be submitted by July 8, 2020.

 

Starks said: “The COVID-19 crisis has changed so much of how we go about our daily lives in ways no one could have foreseen, and many have stepped up to ensure that no one gets left behind because they lack broadband connectivity. I am excited to introduce the DOER  Program as a way to recognize and applaud those going above and beyond to help connect all Americans to reliable, equitable and affordable broadband services. The Advisory Board members I have assembled to help me select recipients worthy of recognition represent diverse sectors and are themselves fully engaged in the fight for digital opportunity and equity. I am thankful for their perspectives and judgment as we work to make this program a meaningful endeavor.”

 

5G from shutterstock_1341108944FCC Facilitates Wireless Infrastructure Upgrades For 5G Deployment

At its Open Meeting today, the FCC voted to facilitate the deployment of 5G networks by clarifying and seeking comment on the rules regarding state and local government review of modifications to existing wireless infrastructure.  The action is intended to expedite equipment upgrades to deploy these next-generation networks, which are critical to expanding economic opportunities and supporting public health and safety in American communities.

 

Specifically, the FCC adopted a Declaratory Ruling that affirms its 2014 rules with regard to when the 60-day shot clock for local review begins. The ruling also clarifies how certain aspects of proposed modifications – height increases, equipment cabinet additions, and impact on concealment elements and aesthetic conditions – affect eligibility for streamlined review.  The action also clarifies that, under FCC rules on environmental and historic preservation review, FCC applicants do not need to submit environmental assessments based only on potential impacts to historic properties when parties have entered into a memorandum of agreement to mitigate effects on those properties.  

 

The FCC also adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on proposed rule changes regarding excavation or deployment outside the boundaries of an existing tower site and the effects of such activities on eligibility for streamlined review under §6409(a) of the Spectrum Act of 2012.  (That section is intended to streamline state and local government review of certain requests to modify wireless transmission equipment on existing structures by requiring a state or local government to approve within 60 days any request for modification of an existing structure that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of that structure.)

 

 

DyLQMV-VAAA-vMKFCC Waives Reporting Requirement For Some ETCs

The FCC has waived the requirement that privately held rate of- return eligible  telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that receive loans from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) file electronic copies of their annual RUS Operating Report for Telecommunications Borrowers with their FCC Form 481 filings by July 1, 2020.  The waiver will allow them to submit the report at the time it is due to USDA.  On May 4, 2020, USDA issued a notice of actions taken to help rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Among these actions, USDA waived all financial reporting requirements for RUS loan recipients through June 30, 2020.

 

 

 

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE FCC BRIEFING

____________________________

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.

 

Watch Our Complete - 3 Part - RDOF Webcast Series: Auction 904

 

Topics: FCC June Open Meeting, RDOF, 5G Deployment, Wireless Infrastructure Upgrades, Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition Program, ETC Reporting Requirements

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