FCC Form 395 Due May 31, 2019 Common carrier licensees or permittees with sixteen (16) or more full-time employees must file an annual employment report (FCC Form 395) with the Federal Communications Commission by May 31st of each year. If the filing concerns a licensee that had fewer than sixteen (16) full-time employees during the […]

(Upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz) (AU Docket No. 19-59) The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) has released a Public Notice seeking comment on competitive bidding procedures for the incentive auction of Upper Microwave Flexible Use (“UMFUS”) licenses in the Upper 37 GHz (37.6-38.6 GHz), 39 GHz (38.6-40 GHz), and 47 GHz […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (“USDA”) Rural Utilities Service (“RUS”) announced that it will begin accepting applications for its rural broadband pilot program, the ReConnect Program, on April 23, 2019 through reconnect.usda.gov.  The ReConnect Program will award up to $600 million to help build broadband infrastructure throughout rural America.  The program will make 3 types of awards available, each with […]

Due April 1, 2019 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 […]

Telecommunications carriers, including Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) providers, must file annual Customer Proprietary Network Information (“CPNI”) compliance certifications by Friday, March 1, 2019 (for data pertaining to the previous calendar year).  Carriers must include a statement explaining how their operating procedures are in compliance with the CPNI rules and any actions taken against data […]

As a reminder, the final construction deadline and license expiration date for certain 700 MHz (Lower A Block, B Block, and C Block) licenses is June 13, 2019. By that date, licensees are required to submit a detailed construction demonstration and a separate renewal showing. For construction showings, a Lower 700 MHz A or B Block […]

(GN Docket No. 18-122; GN Docket No. 17-183; RM-11791; RM-11778) The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) is currently considering clearing up to 500 megahertz of mid-band spectrum, currently used for satellite services, for flexible use, including wireless mobile broadband and point to multipoint fixed wireless services. Rural telecom groups have yet to weigh in […]

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) plans to suspend most of its operations midday today, January 3, 2019, due to the partial shutdown of the federal government.  Employees will have four hours to complete “an orderly shutdown.”  The partial shutdown began on December 22, 2018 and in a Public Notice released on Wednesday, January 2, […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced new rules for how it will award up to $600 million in broadband loans, grants and loan/grant combinations through its “ReConnect Program” to help build broadband infrastructure throughout rural America. Projects eligible to receive funds from the program must serve rural communities with a population […]

The Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC” or “Commission”) has released a Report and Order, FCC 18-167 (“Order”), revising the reporting, web site disclosure, and record retention requirements relating to Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets. The FCC took steps to improve the information that consumers and the FCC receive about wireless hearing aid compatibility (“HAC”) by strengthening […]