Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Community Anchor Institutions

https://www.benton.org/blog/future-universal-service-still-future

Author:

Brian Whitacre

John Horrigan

Alejandro Alvarado Rojas

Hernan Galperin

Send date:

Fri, 03/17/2023

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Daily Digest 3/16/2023

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Fri, 03/17/2023

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Op-Ed

The Future of Universal Service is Still in the Future

benton — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 11:20:32 +0000

When it comes to broadband, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is about more than money. For example, Congress also directed the Federal Communications Commission to consider the impact of the law's $65 billion broadband investment on the FCC's existing broadband support programs under the umbrella of the Universal Service Fund (known to wonks as the USF). Congress asked for a report on the future of the USF including the FCC's options for improving its effectiveness in achieving the universal service goals for broadband in light of this COVID-era legislation including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Congress explicitly said that the FCC could make recommendations on further actions the Commission and Congress could take to improve the ability of the FCC to achieve the universal service goals for broadband, but the FCC could not make recommendations that in any way reduce the congressional mandate to achieve the universal service goals for broadband. Recommendations could expand the universal service goals for broadband, if the FCC believes such an expansion is in the public interest. The FCC sent that report to Congress this week and below we look at what the FCC is recommending about its universal goals for broadband, the four main USF programs, and how the USF is paid for.

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The FCC releases the Report on the Future of the Universal Service Fund

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Fri, 08/19/2022

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Daily Digest 8/18/2022

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Fri, 08/19/2022

Coverage Type:

Libraries

Healthcare Facilities

Adoption

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

Universal Service Fund

Rural Health Care

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

5G Fund for Rural America

Affordable Connectivity Plan Enrollment and Digital Equity Planning

benton — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 11:30:42 +0000

If the federal government’s investments in broadband connectivity are to be effective, different programmatic pieces must work together. Broadband infrastructure funds are necessary to ensuring universal access, but not sufficient to achieve full digital equity. Equitable broadband adoption depends on people having the financial means to maintain service, which the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) facilitates, as well as access to wrap-around digital inclusion services (such as tech support and skills training). Effective coordination between infrastructure and digital equity investments can ensure that people subscribe to new networks that the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funds. ACP enrollment data offers clues as to how well a community is positioned to take advantage of funds to promote digital equity. Abysmal ACP enrollment levels may indicate a capacity deficit; a community may have a dearth of institutions that can make people aware of ACP benefits and aid in enrollment. Strong ACP enrollment invites exploring why. Are particular places doing outreach that might explain high enrollment levels? If so, state policymakers would be wise to consult with digital inclusion advocates in these areas (as BEAD planning requires) and explore whether initiatives in high-enrollment areas might be replicated elsewhere. Understanding the geography of ACP adoption can therefore help states more effectively prioritize resources for digital equity. If, for instance, Digital Equity Act (DEA) funds will provide grants to entities providing digital inclusion services in cities and communities, wouldn’t it help to know which places have the greatest need? Patterns of ACP enrollment help answer that question.

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Benton Original Content

https://www.benton.org/blog/affordable-connectivity-plan-enrollment-and-digital-…

Teaser:

Examining Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment can help target resources to places with the most need

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Author:

John Horrigan

Send date:

Thu, 06/16/2022

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Daily Digest 6/15/2022

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Thu, 06/16/2022

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https://www.shlb.org/policy/research/USForward

USForward: FCC Must Reform USF Contributions Now - An Analysis of the Options

benton — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 14:14:19 +0000

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF or Fund) has been one of the nation’s most important tools for connecting our nation, including rural communities, low-income families, schools, libraries, and rural health care facilities. However, the funding mechanism that supports the Fund is under significant duress. The “contribution base” – the revenues used to calculate USF contributions – has declined 63% in the last two decades, from $79.9 billion in 2001 to $29.6 billion in 2021. Meanwhile, the “contribution factor” – which is the USF fee assessed on interstate and international telecommunications service and certain telecommunications revenues – has increased from 6.9% in 2001 to a historic high of 33.4% in the second quarter of 2021. Assuming a continuation of historical trends, the contribution factor could approach 40% or more in the coming years. This situation is unsustainable and jeopardizes the universal broadband connectivity mission for our nation without immediate FCC reform. To ensure the enduring value of the USF program and America’s connectivity goals, we must have a smart and substantive conversation about the program’s future. At the request of INCOMPAS, NTCA – the Rural Broadband Association, and the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, this report analyzes several options for FCC reform of the current status quo that have been pending in FCC rulemakings dating back to the early 2000’s: (1) modifying the current revenues-based contribution methodology to assess broadband internet access service revenues, (2) assessing connections, or (3) assessing telephone numbers. Reforming the current revenues-based system to include broadband internet access service revenues is the preferred approach, both as a matter of policy and ease of implementation. Doing so would reduce the contribution factor to less than 4%.

First, it is appropriate as a matter of public policy to assess broadband internet access service revenues because all four programs in the USF promote universal broadband. The revenues from broadband internet access services that are increasingly used by Americans today should contribute to the USF programs that support the expansion of such services to all. This will better reflect the value of broadband internet access service in today’s marketplace for both consumers and businesses.
Second, broadband internet access service revenues are expected to be stable in the future, with the potential for some modest growth. This would stabilize the funding mechanism and stop the death spiral in the current USF contribution methodology.
Third, it is a solution that can be implemented more quickly than the alternatives. It would be far less uncertain than seeking congressional intervention and can be done by the FCC pursuant to its current statutory mandate. FCC reform of the USF contribution mechanism now is an important first step in stabilizing the current system.
Fourth, there is a significant advantage to retaining the current revenues-based system because most of the revenues reported to the FCC for USF purposes come from publicly traded companies that are audited and subject to stringent financial reporting standards for their revenues. This external financial scrutiny would provide an additional level of assurance that the metric used to assess USF contributions is accurately reported.
Fifth, assessing both broadband internet access service and voice services removes the incentives of providers to arbitrarily allocate revenues from bundled services to one service and not the other. This creates an inequitable situation where some end users continue to pay into USF, while others do not, yet everyone benefits from the positive network externalities of universal connectivity made possible from the four USF programs that support broadband-capable networks and service.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

New research from the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, INCOMPAS, and NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association

Source:

Schools Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition

Author:

Carol Mattey

Send date:

Wed, 09/15/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 9/14/2021

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Publish Date:

Tue, 09/14/2021

Coverage Type:

Healthcare Facilities

Infrastructure

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

Universal Service Fund

Rural Health Care

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

5G Fund for Rural America

Chicago Connected: A Year in Review

benton — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 12:02:16 +0000

Launched in June 2020, the Chicago Connected program provided a bridge to learning for more than 64,000 Chicago Public Schools students who didn’t have the connectivity or speed to access their remote lessons from home. An inspiring commitment on the part of Chicago’s philanthropy, business, government and nonprofit sectors, Chicago Connected has been replicated in cities across the country and is the national model for bridging the urban digital divide. One year after its launch, we revisit how the program was created, how it serves families’ needs, where improvements can be made, and how it can be further replicated nationwide.

The creation of Chicago Connected, the longest-term, most comprehensive connectivity program in the nation, is truly groundbreaking. Chicago Connected is eliminating broadband accessibility as a barrier to digital learning—and providing a roadmap for other cities and school districts to follow. From its initial launch and throughout implementation, Chicago Connected partners have embraced an “open source” approach, sharing lessons learned along the way. More than 20 cities have reached out to Kids First Chicago and its public-private partners to learn more about the program’s creation and model. Philadelphia and Miami have both launched initiatives modeled after Chicago Connected in design and structure.

Benton Content:

https://kidsfirstchicago.org/chicago-connected-year-review

Teaser:

Ultimately, Kids First Chicago envisions a future where lack of access to the internet is no longer a barrier to student success

Source:

Kids First Chicago

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Thu, 07/01/2021

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Daily Digest 6/30/2021

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Thu, 07/01/2021

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Headlines Specific Topic:

https://www.benton.org/blog/schools-and-libraries-can-act-now-bridge-digital-div…

Schools and Libraries Can Act Now to Bridge the Digital Divide

benton — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 11:44:03 +0000

Schools and libraries have an enormous window of opportunity to help their students and patrons obtain affordable internet access. At the end of this month, the Federal Communications Commission will open a 45-day filing window for the Emergency Connectivity Fund program, which will make $7.17 billion available to fund broadband service and devices off-campus. Although the FCC’s E-rate program has supported broadband services to and within school and library premises, the new Emergency Connectivity Fund leverages the E-rate application process to let schools and libraries connect their students, staff, and patrons at home. Speaking at a virtual workshop hosted by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel described the Emergency Connectivity Fund as “the largest single effort in our nation’s history to make sure students have access to the broadband and devices they need for school...so that kids who have been locked out of the virtual classroom can now go online for class and do their nightly schoolwork. Plus, it will make it possible for libraries nationwide to offer their patrons, including students, new ways to go online and bring connectivity home.” There are several significant reasons why schools and libraries should apply for Emergency Connectivity Fund support:

The support covers broadband services and devices for use off-campus.
The program will reimburse 100 percent of the costs associated with purchasing eligible services and equipment (no matching contribution is required).
The program adopts the SHLB Coalition’s “to and through” approach to deploying broadband (in areas where no commercially available broadband service exists).

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Benton Original Content

Teaser:

Maximizing the Emergency Connectivity Fund Opportunity: Lessons from the Field

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Author:

John Windhausen Jr

Alicja Johnson

Send date:

Wed, 06/23/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 6/22/2021

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Wed, 06/23/2021

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Op-Ed

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https://www.benton.org/blog/1-billion-broadband-infrastructure-tribal-lands

$1 Billion for Broadband Infrastructure on Tribal Lands

benton — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 11:33:08 +0000

On June 3, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the availability of nearly $1 billion in National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grants to expand broadband access and adoption on Tribal lands. "Indigenous communities have shaped our nation throughout our history," said Vice President Harris. "And yet, we know that disparities—deep disparities—persist in Tribal communities." The Vice President noted that one in three Americans who live in rural areas and on Tribal lands lack access to high-speed internet. With the heightened awareness of the importance of broadband during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress established the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Here we briefly recap the NTIA's Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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Benton Original Content

Teaser:

The NTIA's Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program

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Send date:

Fri, 06/11/2021

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Daily Digest 6/10/2021

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Fri, 06/11/2021

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https://www.benton.org/blog/how-fcc-will-help-schools-and-libraries-bridge-digit…

How the FCC Will Help Schools and Libraries Bridge the Digital Divide

benton — Thu, 13 May 2021 11:44:19 +0000

This week, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules for the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, providing $7.171 billion for schools and libraries for the purchase of connected devices and broadband connections for use by students, school staff, and library patrons at locations other than a school or library. Notably, the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program is separate from the E-Rate Program, which, since its creation in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, has provided funding for broadband services delivered to and within schools and libraries. In the interest of efficiency and simplicity, however, the goals and measures, rules, and processes for the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program leverage the FCC's experience administrating the E-Rate Program.

The support provided through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program will first allow eligible schools and libraries to seek funding for upcoming purchases of eligible equipment, including Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and connected devices, as well as advanced telecommunications and information services, to meet the remote learning needs of students, school staff, and library patrons who would otherwise lack access to connected devices and broadband connections sufficient to engage in remote learning during the upcoming school year. If additional funding remains available after the provision of support to eligible schools and libraries for future purchases of eligible equipment and services, the FCC will provide schools and libraries an opportunity to apply for reimbursement of the reasonable costs they have already incurred in purchasing eligible equipment and services to meet the unmet needs of their students, school staff, and library patrons who otherwise lacked access to equipment or internet access services sufficient to engage in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

A look at the rules for the FCC's Emergency Connectivity Fund Program

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Send date:

Thu, 05/13/2021

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Daily Digest 5/12/2021

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Thu, 05/13/2021

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https://www.benton.org/blog/digital-inclusion-week-indeed

Digital Inclusion Week Indeed

benton — Fri, 07 May 2021 16:12:56 +0000

In the coming days, we will see major progress on a $10+ billion federal investment in digital inclusion. This moment is unprecedented. We've never seen such a large commitment to making broadband service affordable for all. And, as Congress starts to focus on long-term solutions for universal broadband, we're seeing the potential for more digital inclusion investment in the coming months.

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Send date:

Mon, 05/10/2021

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Daily Digest 5/7/2021

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Publish Date:

Fri, 05/07/2021

Coverage Type:

Agenda

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

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https://www.benton.org/blog/show-us-money-federal-broadband-support-during-covid…

Show Us the Money: Federal Broadband Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic

benton — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:30:08 +0000

A number of readers have reached out to us at Benton asking for help figuring out where to find all the pools of broadband support appropriated by Congress over the past year. So we've decided to create this placeholder for all the funding we've seen in the CARES Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and the American Rescue Plan. We look at money for infrastructure, digital inclusion, telehealth, distance education, and cybersecurity.

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Benton Original Content

Teaser:

Sorry, Rod Tidwell fans, that headline is total clickbait.

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