This article contains recent news about broadband funding: FCC Universal Service Programs, Federal Funding, and State Funding.
USDA ReConnect Program Awards
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided three awards under its ReConnect Pilot Program, totaling $16,399,401 in broadband funding in three states.
Rural Carriers Initiate Class Action Lawsuit Against T-Mobile & Inteliquent Based On Violations Of FCC Rural Call Completion Rules
Two rural communications companies have filed a class action lawsuit, individually and on behalf of a class of similarly situated companies, against T-Mobile USA, Inc., Inteliquent, Inc., and 10 Doe Defendants. The Plaintiffs are seeking relief for injuries sustained from T-Mobile’s violations of the FCC’s rural call completion rules. The claims in the lawsuit are largely based on an April 2018 Consent Decree between T-Mobile and the FCC, in which T-Mobile admitted that it violated the FCC’s rules by inserting false ring tones into calls made to rural areas and failing to police the conduct of its intermediate providers.
November 2019 News Update
Here is an update on important news from November 2019.
Slaying The Dragon - FCC Will Blacklist Huawei & ZTE Equipment And Services
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has circulated a draft Report and Order that would prohibit companies from using Universal Service Fund money to purchase equipment or services from any company that poses a national security threat. The draft Report and Order initially blacklists two Chinese companies – Huawei and ZTE Corporation – as national security threats. The FCC will vote on the item at its November 19th open meeting.
State Members Of Universal Service Joint Board Recommend Changes To USF Contribution Mechanism – Assess Broadband Revenue & Move To Connections-Based Assessment On Residential Services
The state members of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service have submitted a Recommended Decision that proposes changing the existing contribution mechanism for federal universal service programs. Among other things, the state members want the FCC to assess broadband revenue and move to connections-based assessment on residential services
Judge Recommends Allowing Vicarious Liability Claim For Copyright Infringement Against ISP Charter Communications To Proceed
A U.S. Magistrate Judge has issued a decision in Warner Bros. Records Inc. v. Charter Communications, Inc., recommending the District Court deny Charter’s motion to dismiss the record company Plaintiffs’ claims for vicarious infringement. The Magistrate concluded the Plaintiffs have plausibly alleged the infringement of their content is a draw to Charter’s broadband subscribers, and demonstrated a causal relationship between the infringing activity and financial benefit received by Charter.
SpaceX Applies For Permission To Use 30,000 More Satellites For Its Starlink Network
SpaceX has applied for permission from the International Telecommunication Union to access spectrum for 30,000 satellites for its Starlink network.
FCC Releases Draft Broadband Performance Testing Order On Reconsideration
The FCC has released a draft of the broadband network performance testing Order On Reconsideration that will be voted on at the FCC’s October 25th open meeting. The draft Order On Reconsideration revises and clarifies the July 2018 Performance Measures Order, which sets a testing framework for measuring speed and latency performance that applies to fixed broadband service providers receiving high-cost universal service fund support.
News Update - September 2019
An update on news stories from September 2019.