47 CFR Part 54, Subpart F - Universal Service Support for Schools and Libraries

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Jennifer A. Manner, on behalf of HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC, Bohdan R. Pankiw, on behalf of Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and Arthur F. McNulty, on behalf of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

In this document, the Commission extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments on the Commission's Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in this proceeding, which was published in the Federal Register on March 13, 2017. The Commission also extends the deadline established in a separate Public Notice for filing justifications supporting confidentiality requests relating to mobile speed data filed through the Commission's Form 477.

This document corrects errors in a Federal Register document that corrected errors to an original Federal Register document that adopted significant reforms to place the universal service program on solid footing for the next decade to “preserve and advance” voice and broadband service in areas served by rate-of-return carriers. The document was published in the Federal Register on March 20, 2017.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts the framework to allocate funds to assist in the deployment of 4G LTE to areas that are so costly that the private sector has not yet deployed there and to preserve such service where it might not otherwise exist. This framework redirects funding from legacy subsidies and distributes them through the Mobility Fund Phase II and Tribal Mobility Fund Phase II, using market-based, multi-round reverse auctions, and contains defined, concrete compliance requirements to help ensure rural consumers will be adequately served by mobile carriers receiving universal support.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, an information collection associated with the Commission's Connect America Fund, Report and Order, Order and Order on Reconsideration, April 25, 2016, Report and Order, July 7, 2016, and Order, November 22, 2016 (collectively, Orders ). The Commission submitted new information collection requirements for review and approval by OMB, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, December 30, 2016, which were approved by the OMB on February 27, 2017. This notice is consistent with the Orders, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of new information collection requirements.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) takes another step towards implementing the Connect America Phase II auction in which service providers will compete to receive support of up to $1.98 billion to offer voice and broadband service in unserved high-cost areas.

This document corrects errors in the supplementary information and final rules portions of a Federal Register document adopting significant reforms to place the universal service program on solid footing for the next decade to “preserve and advance” voice and broadband service in areas served by rate-of-return carriers. The summary was published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2016.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on the parameters for the process in determining whether areas are eligible for funding under the Mobility Fund Phase II. The Commission established the framework for the Mobility Fund Phase II in a Report and Order—adopted concurrently with the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( Further Notice )—but had remaining questions regarding the process in which entities may challenge the areas eligible for support. Therefore, the Commission anticipates that additional comment will allow it to make more informed decisions on the challenge process, thereby making a more robust, targeted challenge process that efficiently resolves disputes about areas eligible for MF-II support.

A Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Paul C. Besozzi, on behalf of Adak Eagle Enterprises, LLC.

A Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's proceeding, James Barnett on behalf of Venable LLP.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on whether to expand the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) budget for rate-of-return carriers to provide additional funding with an associated increase in broadband deployment obligations.

A Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Karen Brinkmann, on behalf of Alaska Communications.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts tailored service obligations for Alaska Communications Systems (ACS), a carrier serving a non-contiguous area that elected to receive nearly $20 million annually in Connect America Phase II frozen support amounts in lieu of model-based support.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements associated with certain of the provision of the rules adopted as part of the Commission's Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Report and Order, ( Lifeline Third Reform Order ). This notice is consistent with the Lifeline Third Reform Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of those rules.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of July 29, 2016, concerning request for oppositions on Petitions for Reconsideration and Clarification. The document contained incorrect dates.

Petitions for Reconsideration and Clarification (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Mary J. Sisak on behalf of Custer Telephone Cooperative, Inc., et al, Michael R. Romano on behalf of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, Robert W. Schwartz on behalf of Madison Telephone Company, Derrick B. Owens on behalf of WTA-Advocates For Rural Broadband.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a summary of the Commission's Third Report and Order, 81 FR 33026, May 24, 2016 which fully modernizes the Lifeline program so it supports broadband services and obtains high value from the expenditure of Universal Service funds. This document clarifies the effective dates for the rules as they were published in the Federal Register, in order to promote consistency with the effective dates found in the Commission's Third Report and Order. Additionally, this document clarifies rules subject to certain effective dates in order to reflect implementation changes being made to the program.

Petitions for Reconsideration and Clarification (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Thomas C. Power on behalf of CTIA, Kevin G. Rupy on behalf of United States Telecom Association, Colin W. Scott on behalf of Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, John J. Heitmann on behalf of Joint Lifeline ETC Petitioners, John T. Nakahata on behalf of General Communication, Inc., Michael R. Romano on behalf of NTCA & WTA, Mitchell F. Brecher on behalf of TracFone Wireless, Inc., and David Springe on behalf of NASUCA.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts rules to implement a competitive bidding process for Phase II of the Connect America Fund that will harness market forces to expand broadband in targeted rural areas. The Commission also adopts rules to establish the framework for the Remote Areas Fund auction to address those areas that receive no winning bids in the Phase II auction.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on several specific procedures that will apply in the Phase II auction. Pursuant to the Commission's existing rules for competitive bidding for universal service support, “[d]etailed competitive bidding procedures shall be established by public notice prior to the commencement of competitive bidding. With this Further Notice, the Commission begins the process of seeking comment. The Commission seeks comment on three discrete sets of issues relating to the process for determining winning bidders: How to apply weights to the different levels of performance adopted in the Order above; measures to achieve the public interest objective of ensuring appropriate support for all of the states; and measures to achieve the public interest objective of expanding broadband on Tribal lands.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (the Commission) fully modernizes the Lifeline program so it supports broadband services and obtains high value from the expenditure of Universal Service funds. This Order will increase consumer choice and encourage competition among Lifeline providers to deliver supported broadband services.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts significant reforms to place the universal service program on solid footing for the next decade to “preserve and advance” voice and broadband service in areas served by rate-of-return carriers.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) clarifies that price cap carriers can use Phase II model-based support to serve locations in eligible census blocks where the price cap carrier has served or intends to serve a location or locations using Phase I Round 2 incremental support. The Commission also makes several modifications to the letter of credit requirements for recipients of rural broadband experiment support.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements associated with certain of the provision of the rules adopted as part of the Commission's Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Order on Reconsideration, Second Report and Order, and Memorandum Opinion and Order, ( Lifeline Second Reform Order ). This document is consistent with the Lifeline Second Reform Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of those rules.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's Second E-rate Modernization Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration ( Second E-rate Modernization Order ). This document is consistent with the ( Second E-rate Modernization Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

The Federal Communications Commission published in the Federal Register of October 2, 2015, a document concerning Petitions for Reconsideration in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding. This document corrects the DATES section and replaces “October 13, 2015” with “October 29, 2015” as the correct due date for replies to oppositions.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) reopens the comment periods for oppositions and replies to oppositions to CTIA—The Wireless Association (CTIA)'s Petition for Partial Reconsideration of the Commission's Order on Reconsideration requiring Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) to retain documentation demonstrating subscriber eligibility for the Lifeline Program.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Bruce Oberlies, on behalf of Wireless Innovation Forum; Jon M. Peha on behalf of Jon M. Peha; Chuck Powers, on behalf of Motorola Solutions, Inc.; Brian M. Josef, on behalf of CTIA-THE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION; John T. Scott, III, on behalf of Verizon; Tom Stroup, on behalf of Satellite Industry Association; Rick Kaplan, on behalf of NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS; and Brian Hendricks, on behalf of Nokia Networks (D/B/A Nokia Solutions and Network US LLC).

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Thomas C. Power, on behalf of CTIA—THE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION; John J. Heitmann on behalf of The Wireless ETC Petitioners.

A Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Harold Mordkofsky, on behalf of Halstad Telephone Company.

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks to refresh the record on pending issues related to Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) designations and obligations in areas served by price cap carriers.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (the Commission) seeks to rebuild the current framework of the Lifeline program and continue its efforts to modernize the Lifeline program so that all consumers can utilize advanced networks.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (the Commission) seeks to rebuild the current framework of the Lifeline program and continue its efforts to modernize the Lifeline program so that all consumers can utilize advanced networks.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of six months, the information collection associated with the Commission's Second E-rate Modernization Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration ( Second E-rate Modernization Order ). This notice is consistent with the ( Second E-rate Modernization Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) clarifies rules regarding subscriber usage of Lifeline-supported service established in the Lifeline Reform Order. The Bureau clarifies that, pursuant to the Lifeline Reform Order, an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) must both assess and collect a monthly fee from a subscriber in order to avoid the Lifeline usage requirements, including the requirement to de-enroll inactive subscribers who fail to use the service within any consecutive 60-day period.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Kevin L. Tucker, on behalf of AirNorth Communications, Inc.; Michael D. Donnell on behalf of Michael D. Donnell d/b/a San Joaquin Broadband; and Hamid Vahdatipour, on behalf of Lake Region Technology & Communications, LLC.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) initiates a rulemaking that seeks to update the Commission's rules to better reflect current requirements and technology by removing outmoded regulations from the CFR. The Commission proposes to update the CFR by eliminating certain rules from which the Commission has forborn and eliminating references to telegraph service in certain rules. The Commission would clarify regulatory requirements, and modernize our rules to better reflect the state of the current telecommunications market.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Charles F. Hobbs, on behalf of AdTec, Inc.; Jennifer Hightower, et al., on behalf of Cox Communications, Inc.; Kathleen O'Brien Ham, et al., on behalf of T-Mobile USA, Inc.; and Derrick B. Owens, et al., on behalf of WTA—Advocates for Rural Broadband, et al.

In these documents, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment more generally on letter of credit proposals raised by several petitions for waiver and their potential applicability to the Phase II competitive bidding process.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) takes the next critical steps to modernize the Universal Service Fund's Schools and Libraries program, known as E-rate. Building on the E-rate Modernization Order, the Commission adopted in July, the improvements to the program that the Commission adopts in this Order seek to close the high-speed connectivity gap between rural schools and libraries and their urban and suburban counterparts, and provide sufficient and certain funding for high-speed connectivity to and within all eligible schools and libraries. The Commission takes these actions to ensure the continued success of the E-rate program as it transitions from supporting legacy services to focusing on meeting the high-speed broadband connectivity needs of schools and libraries consistent with the recently adopted program goals and long-term connectivity targets. In the Order on Reconsideration, the Commission grants in part the petitions for reconsideration of the areas designated as urban for purposes of the E-rate program. The Commission also denies petitions for reconsideration of the document retention period, the phase out of support for telephone components and other services, and funding commitments that cover multiple years. At the same time, the Commission clarifies our cost effectiveness test for individual data plans and the cost allocation rules for circuits carrying voice services.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) takes momentous strides towards fully implementing a modernized universal service regime capable of meeting consumer demands for 21st century networks. The Commission also finalizes decisions necessary to proceed with the offer of support to price cap carriers in early 2015.