THE REGULATORY MIX AND BLOG ARTICLES

Today's Regulatory Mix: USDA Announces Funding for Oklahoma Broadband, FCC Eliminates Three Legacy TRS Rules, FCC Issues Ruling On Inmate Calling Service (ICS) Rates

USDA Announces Funding for Oklahoma Broadband

The USDA announced it is investing more than $29 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Oklahoma.  Specifically:

Today's Regulatory Mix:  FCC Finalizes Agenda for August Meeting, USDA Announces Funding for Maryland Broadband

FCC Finalizes Agenda for August Meeting

The FCC announced the final agenda for its August 6, 2020 Open Meeting. It includes the following items:

• Inmate Calling Services – A Report and Order on Remand and a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would respond to remands by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and propose to comprehensively reform rates and charges for the inmate calling services within the Commission’s jurisdiction.

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

FCC 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:

Today's Regulatory Mix:  USDA Announces $28 Million Broadband Investment in Virginia, FCC Proposes over $200 Million in Fines for Wireless Location Data Violations, FCC Proposes Bidding Procedures for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction, FCC Seeks Comment on Cable Operator Recordkeeping Rules 

USDA Announces $28 Million Broadband Investment in Virginia 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Virginia Beth Green announced USDA has invested $28 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure for more than 17,000 rural households in Virginia.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  USDA Announces South Carolina and Nevada Broadband Grants, California Attorney General Urges Congress Not to Preempt CCPA 

USDA Announces South Carolina and Nevada Broadband Grants 

The USDA announced two new broadband investments.  The first is a $9.1 million investment in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for 6,251 homes in rural Kershaw County, South Carolina.  The second is a $2.3 million investment in a high-speed broadband infrastructure project that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 273 households, seven farms, seven businesses and a critical community facility in eastern Nevada.

Today's Regulatory Mix:  California Announces New Online Comment Portal for the Public, USDA Announces Georgia Broadband Grant, FCC February Open Meeting Agenda

California Announces New Online Comment Portal for the Public 

The PUC issues a press release announcing that the public can now submit comments on CPUC matters electronically, as well as review the comments of others.  Importantly, the PUC noted that the new format is only for public comments on proceedings. 

Today's Regulatory Mix:   USDA Announces Utah Broadband Grant, US House RESILIENT Networks Act,  US House Hearing on Emergency Communications Solutions

USDA Announces Utah Broadband Grant

The USDA announced a $23.6 million investment in high-speed broadband infrastructure in Utah. This investment will build an all-fiber network that will serve more than 3,000 farms, businesses and homes spread over more than 400 square miles in rural Duchesne and Uintah counties.

USDA Broadband Grants in Arkansas and West Virginia 

In West Virginia the USDA’s West Virginia State Director Kris Warner announced USDA has invested $18.7 million in a high-speed broadband infrastructure project that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for more than 6,300 rural households and an estimated 383 farms in Harrison, Doddridge, Lewis, Barbour and Upshur counties in West Virginia.

USDA Investing over $83 Million in Broadband Grants in Three States: Alabama, Illinois, South Carolina 

In Illinois, the USDA announced it has invested $12.8 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 1,650 homes in rural Illinois.   

“We know that rural communities need robust, modern infrastructure to thrive, and that includes having access to broadband e-Connectivity,” Secretary Bill Northey said.

USDA Announces Broadband Grant in North Carolina 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it has invested $23.7 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for nearly 8,750 rural households in North Carolina.