In the wake of the recent completion of the 3550-3650 MHz auction of Priority Access Licenses (“PALs”) in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (“CBRS”) making 70 megahertz of so-called mid-band spectrum available, and the...more
Owners and operators with incumbent earth stations operating in the 3700-4000 MHz range have three weeks to choose between the two options created by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) in its...more
Commentary -
As we were finalizing this month’s Tracker, USAC held its quarterly board meeting for July. This is the second quarterly board meeting to be held since the COVID-19 restrictions were implemented and USAC...more
Incumbent earth stations operating in the 3700-4000 MHz range are entitled to have eligible space station operators provide a turnkey solution to transition them out of the band to the upper 200 megahertz of the 3.7-4.2 GHz...more
Commentary -
Over three months into the coronavirus-related disruptions, the Universal Service Fund seems to be settling in to a new normal. The FCC acted quickly in March to waive many rules and extend deadlines. These...more
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) seeks to refresh the record in a long-dormant 2016 proceeding that sought to lend greater certainty to reviews by the group of Executive Branch agencies informally referred to as...more
General -
On April 17, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) issued a Public Notice (DA 20-426) announcing and seeking comment on proposed changes to the 2021 FCC Form 499-A, FCC Form 499-Q, and accompanying instructions....more
For years, there have been critiques about the lack of procedures surrounding the review, by a group of Executive Branch agencies commonly referred to as “Team Telecom”, of applications before the Federal Communications...more
On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau (“Bureau”) granted Onvoy d/b/a Inteliquent a temporary and limited waiver of the Commission’s rules that treats competitive local...more
COMMENTARY -
On March 10, Kelley Drye held its Annual webinar on the state of the Universal Service Fund. We gave an overview of trends in the Fund, discussed the importance of creating an ethics and compliance plan ahead...more
On March 3, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) released its Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification (FCC 20-22) (respectively, the “C-Band Order” and the “Proposed License...more
On March 3, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) released its Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification (FCC 20-22) (respectively, the “C-Band Order” and the “Proposed License...more
On March 25, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission announced a one-month postponement of the 3.5 GHz auction (3550-3650 GHz) in the Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service (“CBRS”), a.k.a. Auction 105. The Commission cited...more
On February 28, 2020, at its Open Meeting, the FCC voted to commence a rulemaking to examine the rebalancing of many technical rules governing the deployment of fixed and certain mobile, unlicensed white space devices in the...more
COMMENTARY -
We were tempted to title this edition “RDOF Takes Off,” as this is the biggest USF news of the month. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is the latest in the FCC’s attempts to revamp the High Cost program to...more
On Thursday, February 6, in a speech at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Federal Communications Chairman Ajit Pai outlined his proposal for the realignment of 3.7-4.2 GHz, the so-called C-Band. Later in...more
COMMENTARY -
Our first USF Tracker of 2020 follows an uptick in FCC activity affecting the Universal Service Fund. In the last quarter of 2019, the FCC released major orders affecting three of the four programs (E-rate,...more
COMMENTARY -
For this month, we want to spotlight the significant new oversight tasks assigned to USAC by the FCC. True, there is plenty under the ordinary administrative function of reviewing and approving applications...more
On October 7, the Enforcement Bureau (“EB” or “Bureau”) of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) took action to enhance the method by which public safety and enterprise wireless providers file...more
COMMENTARY -
Now comes the hard part. We’ve noted that the FCC has been setting the table for changes to all of its beneficiary programs, while contributions reform looms. But now, the FCC needs to start deciding the...more
At its Open Meeting on Thursday (September 26), the FCC will be set to adopt a Public Notice that seeks comment on bidding procedures for Auction 105 – the long-anticipated auction of Priority Access Licenses (“PALs”) in the...more
COMMENTARY -
If you took a long holiday this summer and, upon your return, asked, “What did I miss?” the answer in USF would be, “quite a lot.” It has been a busy summer and is setting up for a busy finish to the year. ...more
RECENT NEWS -
Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) -
On July 9, 2019, the FCC released an NPRM that proposes to make the Category Two budget approach permanent, and seeks comment on potential modifications that could simplify...more
KELLEY DRYE COMMENTARY -
Much of the activity this month focused on the FCC’s controversial proposal to establish an overall cap to the Universal Service Fund. Stakeholders aligned to oppose the proposal, while...more
KELLEY DRYE COMMENTARY -
In a month with only one minor Commission-level USF item, one of the most significant things to watch may be Commissioner O’Rielly’s questioning of USAC over possible use of USF money to overbuild...more