Eighty-nine percent of the 950 ISPs in the FCC’s $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program aren't selling connected devices to EBB-eligible households, per the FCC. Experts said in recent interviews it could hurt enrollment efforts. Providers can get $100 for providing a connected device so long as a customer makes a $10-$50 co-payment. Eligible devices are laptops, desktops and tablets.
Eighty-nine percent of the 950 ISPs in the FCC’s $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program aren't selling connected devices to EBB-eligible households, per the FCC. Experts said in recent interviews it could hurt enrollment efforts. Providers can get $100 for providing a connected device so long as a customer makes a $10-$50 co-payment. Eligible devices are laptops, desktops and tablets.
Eighty-nine percent of the 950 ISPs in the FCC’s $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit program aren't selling connected devices to EBB-eligible households, per the FCC. Experts said in recent interviews it could hurt enrollment efforts. Providers can get $100 for providing a connected device so long as a customer makes a $10-$50 co-payment. Eligible devices are laptops, desktops and tablets.
The FCC is reviewing its systems for the emergency broadband benefit “on a day-to-day basis” to identify whether changes are needed, acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters Thursday. There were connectivity issues in applying during EBB's initial days (see 2105180050). Rosenworcel warned providers that make subscribers buy more expensive services instead of their existing plans to “knock it off.” This “violates the spirit of the program,” she said: Those encountering problems should file an FCC complaint.
The FCC is reviewing its systems for the emergency broadband benefit “on a day-to-day basis” to identify whether changes are needed, acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters Thursday. There were connectivity issues in applying during EBB's initial days (see 2105180050). Rosenworcel warned providers that make subscribers buy more expensive services instead of their existing plans to “knock it off.” This “violates the spirit of the program,” she said: Those encountering problems should file an FCC complaint.
The FCC is reviewing its systems for the emergency broadband benefit “on a day-to-day basis” to identify whether changes are needed, acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters Thursday. There were connectivity issues in applying during EBB's initial days (see 2105180050). Rosenworcel warned providers that make subscribers buy more expensive services instead of their existing plans to “knock it off.” This “violates the spirit of the program,” she said: Those encountering problems should file an FCC complaint.
Citing the impact of COVID-19 on incarcerated people and their families, FCC commissioners unanimously approved an order and Further NPRM Thursday to cut interstate rates for inmate calling services (see 2105120031). It’s “not the last action we will take because there is more that needs to be done,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel during Thursday’s meeting.
A draft order cutting inmate calling services rate caps and a Further NPRM to revise site commission payments are expected to be approved 4-0 by FCC members Thursday (see 2104280084). The draft order sets interim caps for interstate calls at 12 cents per minute for smaller facilities and 14 cents for larger ones. Commissioner aides held some meetings where minor changes were suggested, so expect some tweaks to the final text, officials said. The draft order is likely to “look quite similar to what it does now,” one said. The FCC declined to comment Wednesday. The commission also takes aim at site commissions in the draft order that would allow providers to collect no more than 2 cents per minute, which means an incarcerated person may be charged either 14 or 16 cents per minute for an interstate call. NCIC Inmate Communications CEO Bill Pope said some providers pushed back on that rate, and he suggested capping rates based on the average daily population of incarcerated individuals (see 2105120031). “We definitely need to cap the rate,” Pope said, but agencies “are paying to support these systems, and some of them … just want to be able to cover the cost of offering the phone service.”
Connectivity difficulties for households trying to apply online during the initial FCC emergency broadband benefit rollout could discourage people from returning to the website to try again, some working to encourage EBB enrollment said in interviews. Users reported initial delays (see 2105130063). The FCC posted an alert May 13, the day after the program began, warning online applicants they could have had connectivity issues in applying online. The alert cited high demand. The Universal Service Administrative Co. posted the same.
U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit judges questioned a settlement in principle (in Pacer) that Aureon and AT&T agreed to for a tariff dispute, during oral argument (see 2103190067). Whether a settlement had been reached or if the court had standing to hear the case were issues Friday.