The auction for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) support is expected to begin October 22, 2020, with a preliminary list of eligible areas for Phase I portion of the auction expected to be released soon.  The list of Phase I eligible areas will be based on current Form 477 data, which list will be subject to […]

The annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet (FCC Form 499-A) is due April 1, 2020.  All telecommunications carriers, and with very limited exceptions, all intrastate, interstate, and international telecommunications service providers, as well as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers, are required to file FCC Form 499-A.  The FCC Form 499-A reports revenue information used to assess contributions to […]

All service providers and equipment manufacturers that are subject to Sections 255, 716 and 718 of the Communications Act must maintain records of their efforts to make their telecommunications services and equipment, advanced communications services and equipment, and Internet browsers built into mobile phones accessible to people with disabilities, as required by the Communications Act […]

In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) adopted rules for improving E911 wireless location accuracy, including vertical location requirements by requiring CMRS providers to provide either dispatchable location using the National Emergency Address Database (“NEAD”) or vertical (z-axis) location information in compliance with a yet-to-be determined FCC approved metric. Following industry testing and […]

(GN Docket No. 18-122; AU Docket No. 20-25) ___________________________________________________ The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) circulated two draft documents detailing its plans to make a portion of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (the “C-band”) available for next generation wireless uses through a public auction (“Auction 107”).  In a draft Report and Order and Proposed Order of […]

Federal Jury Awards $1 Billion Against ISP Cox Communications For Copyright Infringement in 2019 Case ___________________________________________________ A federal jury in Virginia has awarded a group of music recording companies (“Plaintiffs”) a $1 billion verdict against the Internet service provider (“ISP”) Cox Communications (“Cox”), finding that Cox was contributorily and vicariously liable for copyright infringement committed […]

Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) voted to establish the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”), which will distribute $20.4 billion over 10 years to support high-speed broadband deployment in rural, unserved areas through a two-phase reverse auction mechanism.  RDOF’s Phase I will begin later this year and will make up to $16 billion available […]

Four CBRS SAS Administrators Authorized for Commercial Use; 3650 Transition Period Ending; PALs Auction Scheduled for June 25, 2020 Docket No. 15-319 ___________________________________________________ On Monday, January 27, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology authorized four Citizens Broadband Radio Service (“CBRS”) Spectrum Access System (“SAS”) Administrators, CommScope, […]

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) has adopted a number of changes to the Form 477 data collection, which includes no longer treating as confidential service providers’ minimum advertised or expected speed data for mobile broadband services. Specific changes beginning with the March 2020 Report (covering data as of December 31, 2019) include: Fixed […]

CPNI Certifications Due No Later Than March 1, 2020 ___________________________________________________ Telecommunications carriers, including interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) providers, are required to establish and maintain systems designed to ensure they protect their subscribers’ Customer Proprietary Network Information (“CPNI”) and must file an annual CPNI compliance certification no later than March 1, 2020[1](for data pertaining […]