Three telecom policy stakeholder groups urged Senate Communications Subcommittee leaders Friday to include stronger accountability rules in USF revamp legislation but diverged on some other goals. The entities were responding to a late July feedback request from Communications Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., and other USF working group members for feedback on the path forward on legislation (see 2305110066). FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, meanwhile, is pushing back against criticisms from House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, of the agency's Learning Without Limits proposal to allow E-rate program money to pay for Wi-Fi on school buses and for hot spots (see 2307310063).
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
What is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)?
The Affordable Connectivity Program was a recently expired subsidy for low-income households to lower the cost of purchasing broadband internet and connected devices. The program was signed into law as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and administered by the FCC up until June 1, 2024, due to expiration of the ACP’s funding.
Will the ACP Return?
Congress continues to debate restoring ACP funding, with immediate next steps likely to come from the Senate Commerce Committee or Congressional discussions on revising the Universal Service Fund.
Latest News on the Affordable Connectivity Program
Industry urged the FCC to give providers more time to honor requests from consumers to revoke prior express consent through any reasonable means under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, in reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 02-278 (see 2308010071). Some commenters sought clarity on what would constitute "reasonable means" for a consumer to make an opt-out request.
More than 20 million households have enrolled in the FCC's affordable connectivity program to date, said a news release Monday. The commission said it has hosted or participated in more than 1,400 virtual and in-person awareness and enrollment efforts. “Enrolling more than 20 million eligible households is no small feat -- and wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of organizations in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the country who are getting the word about this powerful program," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: "We’ve made too much progress in helping families get online to turn back now."
Providers participating in the FCC's affordable connectivity program must submit information required for the commission's data collection by Nov. 9, said a Wireline Bureau public notice Friday in docket 21-450. OMB completed its review of the proposed data collection Friday. Providers can begin submitting data Sept. 8.
Consumer advocates, industry and local officials want more details in the five-year action plan California will submit to NTIA as part of the broadband, equity, access and deployment program Many in comments posted Tuesday in docket R-23-02-016 (see 2307180013) sought additional information in the final plan about affordability and digital equity efforts.
DENVER -- Sen. John Hickenlooper sees no hurdles to broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD) program success, the Colorado Democrat said Tuesday. At the Mountain Connect conference, Hickenlooper, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) and multiple states' broadband officials largely sounded upbeat on achieving universal access within a decade. Also, Hickenlooper expects “tremendous pressure” to reup the affordable connectivity program (ACP), but said debt concerns might limit how much funding it receives from Congress.
FCC commissioners approved a notice of inquiry on the use of AI and other technologies in managing how spectrum is used and an order providing an up-to-$75 monthly broadband benefit, through the affordable connectivity program, for subscribers living in qualifying high-cost areas, both 4-0 Thursday.
Consumer advocates and industry disagreed on whether it's necessary to codify FCC rules to ensure callers may revoke prior express consent through any reasonable means under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 02-278. Some carriers warned it could inhibit certain important information being provided to consumers. Commissioners adopted the item in June (see 2306080043).
California faces higher-than-expected construction costs as it works to complete the state’s middle-mile network, said Mark Monroe, deputy director-California Technology Department (CDT) Broadband Middle-Mile Initiative, at a partly virtual California Broadband Council meeting Thursday. And many more miles of fiber will be needed than originally planned, he said. Other state broadband officials said it’s important to keep funding the federal affordable connectivity program (ACP) as California makes gains enrolling households.
Congress should continue to fund the affordable connectivity program, the FCC may not be the right entity to regulate AI and the agency's spectrum auction authority should be restored, said former FCC chairs and commissioners at the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council’s 2023 virtual Former Chairs’ Symposium Tuesday. Panelists -- including former acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn and former Chairman Richard Wiley -- also discussed diversity, the failed Standard/Tegna deal, and the confirmation of nominee Anna Gomez. Gomez is “a mainstream Democrat” who will “work well on a bipartisan basis,” said former Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. “She’s not particularly ideological even though she’s been a strong fighter.”