FCC Rural Broadband
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) authorized rural broadband experiment support for Big Bend Telecom, Ltd. (BBT) and Northeast Rural Services, Inc. (NRS). The support, totaling $1,043,129.43, will bring new broadband service to 135 census blocks in Oklahoma and Texas. NRS will receive its support from USAC in equal installments over the 10-year term. BBT has elected to receive 30% of its total support upfront in exchange for meeting an accelerated deployment obligation to build out to 25% of all eligible locations by January 2, 2018. Accordingly, USAC will disburse to BBT 30% of its total support amount with the first monthly payment and the remaining 70% of the total support amount in 120 equal monthly installments over the 10-year term.
FCC LNPA Transition Outreach
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau announced that the ninth LNPA Transition Outreach and Education Plan (TOEP) webcast will be held on September 21, 2016, from 3:00-4:00 pm EDT. The webcast will be hosted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP the Transition Oversight Manager for the LNPA transition The objectives for the webcasts are: to provide transparent communications regarding the LNPA Transition; to serve as an open forum to gather and understand needs and concerns; and to incorporate feedback to improve future communications. Interested parties may register for the webcast here.
District of Columbia Universal Service Program
The PSC of the District of Columbia seeks comment on the need for changes to the rules and administration of the Universal Service Trust Fund (USTF) as a result of the FCC’s April 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order. The PSC determined that the FCC Order, among other things, expands the federal Lifeline program to cover broadband services. TMI Briefing Service subscribers see Briefing dated 9/8/16.
TMI Fall Telecom Regulatory Seminar & Workshop October 18 & 19, 2016 in Maitland, Florida