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Posted by Amy Gross on 7/15/20 4:32 PM

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces First Completed CAF II Project,  FCC Hospital Robocall Protection Group Named, USDA Announces Funding for Mississippi Broadband

 

 

FCC front view-1-1FCC Announces First Completed CAF II Project

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement regarding Bloosurf, LLC, the first broadband provider to have its Connect America Fund Phase II auction buildout validated as complete by the Universal Service Administrative Company:

 

“I congratulate Bloosurf for being the first company to satisfy its buildout requirements with funds from our recent Connect America Fund Phase II auction, making fixed broadband available to more than 5,000 rural homes and businesses in Maryland and Delaware. I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact that the funds provided through the Connect America Fund Phase II auction are having across the nation—including in Delaware itself, where I visited with Bloosurf in rural Seaford in early 2019. I look forward to additional providers satisfying their broadband deployment requirements in the months and years to come. I am also looking forward to our upcoming $16 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Phase I auction this fall, which will bring high-speed broadband to up to 5.4 million unserved rural locations. This FCC is pulling out all the stops to close the digital divide, and we are making significant progress.”

 

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE FCC BRIEFING

 

 

 

 

FCC logo-1FCC Hospital Robocall Protection Group Named

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the members and first meeting date of the new Hospital Robocall Protection Group (HRPG), a federal advisory committee dedicated to combating robocalls to hospitals. This new federal advisory committee was created as required by the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act) and will develop best practices on how phone companies can prevent unlawful robocalls to hospitals, how hospitals can better protect themselves from such calls, and what federal and state governments can do to help.  Chairman Pai has designated Paul D. (Dave) Summitt, Chief Information Security Officer of the Moffitt Cancer Center, to serve as Chair of the HRPG, and Patrick Halley, Senior Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, US Telecom, to serve as Vice Chair.

 

The first meeting will be held on July 27, 2020.  The meeting will take place via video conference, and will be accessible online at http://www.fcc.gov/live. The public may submit questions to livequestions@fcc.gov.

 

As required by the TRACED Act, the HRPG is composed of one member each from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), plus an equal number of representatives from the following six categories: (1) voice service providers that serve hospitals; (2) companies that focus on mitigating unlawful robocalls; (3) consumer advocacy organizations; (4) providers of one-way voice over internet protocol services; (5) hospitals; and (6) state government officials focused on combating unlawful robocalls.  Members were selected from a diverse mix of organizations to balance the expertise and viewpoints that are necessary to effectively address the issues to be considered by the HRPGA.  The FCC representative is Commissioner Brendan Carr and the FTC Representative is Commissioner Noah Phillips.  The full list of HRPG members appointed by the Chairman is attached to the Public Notice.

 

 

USDA LogoUSDA Announces Funding for Mississippi Broadband

The USDA announced it is investing more than $16 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Mississippi.  Specifically, Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association will use a $16 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to connect 2,082 people, 331 farms, 32 businesses, a post office, and six fire stations to high-speed broadband internet in Yalobusha, Tallahatchie, Panola, Grenada and Quitman counties.

 

The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now – as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require access to broadband,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “I am so proud of our rural communities who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times, and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.”

 

Contact Us   for  Broadband Reporting Assistance!

____________________________

 

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: USDA Broadband Grant, Hospital Robocall Protection Group, Funding for MIssissippi Broadband, CAF II Project

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Posted by Amy Gross on 7/15/20 4:32 PM

Today's Regulatory Mix: FCC Announces First Completed CAF II Project,  FCC Hospital Robocall Protection Group Named, USDA Announces Funding for Mississippi Broadband

 

 

FCC front view-1-1FCC Announces First Completed CAF II Project

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement regarding Bloosurf, LLC, the first broadband provider to have its Connect America Fund Phase II auction buildout validated as complete by the Universal Service Administrative Company:

 

“I congratulate Bloosurf for being the first company to satisfy its buildout requirements with funds from our recent Connect America Fund Phase II auction, making fixed broadband available to more than 5,000 rural homes and businesses in Maryland and Delaware. I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact that the funds provided through the Connect America Fund Phase II auction are having across the nation—including in Delaware itself, where I visited with Bloosurf in rural Seaford in early 2019. I look forward to additional providers satisfying their broadband deployment requirements in the months and years to come. I am also looking forward to our upcoming $16 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Phase I auction this fall, which will bring high-speed broadband to up to 5.4 million unserved rural locations. This FCC is pulling out all the stops to close the digital divide, and we are making significant progress.”

 

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE FCC BRIEFING

 

 

 

 

FCC logo-1FCC Hospital Robocall Protection Group Named

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the members and first meeting date of the new Hospital Robocall Protection Group (HRPG), a federal advisory committee dedicated to combating robocalls to hospitals. This new federal advisory committee was created as required by the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act) and will develop best practices on how phone companies can prevent unlawful robocalls to hospitals, how hospitals can better protect themselves from such calls, and what federal and state governments can do to help.  Chairman Pai has designated Paul D. (Dave) Summitt, Chief Information Security Officer of the Moffitt Cancer Center, to serve as Chair of the HRPG, and Patrick Halley, Senior Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, US Telecom, to serve as Vice Chair.

 

The first meeting will be held on July 27, 2020.  The meeting will take place via video conference, and will be accessible online at http://www.fcc.gov/live. The public may submit questions to livequestions@fcc.gov.

 

As required by the TRACED Act, the HRPG is composed of one member each from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), plus an equal number of representatives from the following six categories: (1) voice service providers that serve hospitals; (2) companies that focus on mitigating unlawful robocalls; (3) consumer advocacy organizations; (4) providers of one-way voice over internet protocol services; (5) hospitals; and (6) state government officials focused on combating unlawful robocalls.  Members were selected from a diverse mix of organizations to balance the expertise and viewpoints that are necessary to effectively address the issues to be considered by the HRPGA.  The FCC representative is Commissioner Brendan Carr and the FTC Representative is Commissioner Noah Phillips.  The full list of HRPG members appointed by the Chairman is attached to the Public Notice.

 

 

USDA LogoUSDA Announces Funding for Mississippi Broadband

The USDA announced it is investing more than $16 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Mississippi.  Specifically, Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association will use a $16 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to connect 2,082 people, 331 farms, 32 businesses, a post office, and six fire stations to high-speed broadband internet in Yalobusha, Tallahatchie, Panola, Grenada and Quitman counties.

 

The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now – as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require access to broadband,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “I am so proud of our rural communities who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times, and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.”

 

Contact Us   for  Broadband Reporting Assistance!

____________________________

 

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: USDA Broadband Grant, Hospital Robocall Protection Group, Funding for MIssissippi Broadband, CAF II Project

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