The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) has released a Second Report and Order (“Order”) and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”)[1] in which it has expanded its current rules and procedures on data collection on the availability of broadband services.[2] The new rules adopted in the Order will help to better identify geographic […]

Short-Form Application Window Opens:  July 1, 2020 Short-Form Window Closes:  July 15, 2020 Auction Scheduled to Begin:  October 29, 2020   The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) has released a Public Notice setting forth the final auction procedures for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) Auction Phase I (“Auction 904”), scheduled to begin on October 29, 2020.  The […]

FCC To Vote on RDOF Schedule and Procedures   The Federal Communications Commission ( “FCC”) is scheduled to vote at its June 9, 2020 Open Meeting on the final procedures for the first phase of the Rural Development Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) auction (Auction 904), which will provide $16 billion to expand broadband at minimum speeds […]

Supply Chain Data Collection Deadline For Inventory of Potentially Prohibited Equipment and Services Data Due May 22, 2020   In an Order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) in November 2019, the FCC directed the Wireline Competition Bureau and the Office of Economics and Analytics to collect information regarding potentially prohibited equipment existing in […]

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission released a Public Notice seeking comments on procedures for Auction 107, the auction of 5,684 overlay licenses in the 3.7-3.98 GHz band (“Lower C-band”).  Comments on the proposed Auction 107 procedures are due May 1, 2020 and reply comments are due May 15, 2020.  Please see below for Herman & Whiteaker’s summary of the […]

The Wireline Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) has waived, on its own motion, the geographic restriction on competitive eligible telecommunications carriers’ (“ETCs”) use of legacy high-cost universal service support until June 30, 2020.  The Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) rules require all legacy high-cost support to be used in a particular service area, but the temporary waiver of […]

The Wireline Competition Bureau granted two requests to waive the Federal Communications Commission’s tariffing rules, allowing rate-of-return carriers to meet the Commission’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In granting the waiver requests, the Commission permits tariff revisions that allow rural broadband and phone providers to waive consumer fees for late payments, installations, and […]

If your company wants to challenge an area that it covers and that should not be listed as eligible for the RDOF Phase I auction you will need to update the company’s Form 477 data first and then file comments demonstrating that the Form 477 has been updated to show the area is covered. Please contact […]

Today, the Office of Economics and Analytics and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) announced that it will postpone the auction of Priority Access Licenses (“PALs”) for the 3550-3650 MHz band (“Auction 105”) until July 23, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Accordingly, all other dates and deadlines related to Auction 105 […]

Licensees in 3650-3700 MHz Band Given 6 Month Extension to Transition to Part 96 ___________________________________________________ Yesterday, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“Bureau”) of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) granted a blanket extension (“Extension”), on its own motion, to extend the deadline for certain Part 90 licensees in the 3650-3700 MHz band to transition to Part […]