Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Joshua Guyan

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Fri, 04/26/2024

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Daily Digest 4/25/2024

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Thu, 04/25/2024

Coverage Type:

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

Digital Divide

Federal Agency

Federal Communications Commission

Federal Broadband Programs

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

Telecommunications Act of 1996

Adoption

Universal Broadband

Legislation

Level of Government

Federal

Marginalized Populations

Low-income

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

National Lifeline Association Submits Comments to Senate Universal Service Fund Working Group

benton — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:50:38 +0000

Congress and the Federal Communications Commission must act swiftly and purposefully to ensure that low-income households continue to have sustainably affordable access to communications services through a fully funded low-income program that is structured to effectively close the affordability component of the digital divide while preserving program integrity. National Lifeline Association (NaLA) offers the following recommendations and observations:

Congress and the FCC should either consolidate the Lifeline program with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) or reform both so that they better serve the goal of making essential communications services affordable each and every month. Consolidating the ACP and Lifeline program would require reconciling policy differences.
Any future low-income program should be designed to ensure that low-income households have sustainably affordable access to essential communications services by carrying forward key program design elements from the ACP
The effectiveness of a low-income support program should be measured by whether low-income households have sustainably affordable access to essential communications services
Appropriated funding will be needed at least until USF reform can be accomplished
If ACP and Lifeline remain separate programs, they should be reformed to be more complementary and consistent
The FCC and USAC must be more transparent and accountable in the administration of any low-income affordability program

Benton Content:

https://www.nalalifeline.org/lifeline-news/nala-submits-comments-to-senate-unive…

Teaser:

The success of the Lifeline program and the Affordable Connectivity Program demonstrates the urgent need for continued ACP funding and Lifeline program reform.

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Fri, 08/25/2023

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 8/24/2023

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Thu, 08/24/2023

Coverage Type:

https://www.kelleydrye.com/News-Events/Publications/Newsletters/USF-Tracker/USF-…

Are we seeing a once in a generation shift in our approach to Universal Service?

Grace Tepper — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 23:34:09 +0000

For years, the Federal Communications Commission has administered the Universal Service Fund (USF), overseeing four programs designed to bring connectivity to rural areas, to target institutions like schools, libraries and healthcare facilities and to low-income consumers. Temporary COVID-19 connectivity programs appear to have presaged a shift from the FCC defining universal service programs to Congress appropriating funding and directing the future of universal service, all the while shifting the primary administrator of the funding. The bipartisan infrastructure law could represent a sea-change in how universal broadband is funded. First, the legislation moves oversight from the FCC to the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an Executive Branch agency more easily influenced by the President. It also gives a significant role to the states to disburse funding for specific local projects. Second, the legislation implicitly rejects an “if you build it, they will come” approach to broadband, supplementing infrastructure funding with adoption funding to lower the digital divide. This funding will support programs aimed at the users of broadband services rather than broadband service providers. Finally, the legislation provides several targeted programs, like a Tribal Broadband fund and a fund for broadband to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and similar institutions. It is not clear whether these funds represent one-time universal service boosts or will become more permanent supplements to, or perhaps even replacements for, the USF. But the signs of change are present nonetheless.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

Temporary COVID-19 connectivity programs appear to have presaged a shift in our approach to Universal Service.

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Wed, 12/01/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 11/30/2021

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Tue, 11/30/2021

Coverage Type:

Government & Communications

Digital Divide

Infrastructure

Telecommunication

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

Headlines Specific Topic:

Coronavirus and Connectivity

National Lifeline Association Discusses Lifeline and Emergency Broadband Benefit Programs with Rosenworcel's Staff

benton — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 19:31:32 +0000

On October 4, 2021, the National Lifeline Association (NaLA) met with the Office of Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Rosenworcel to discuss the Lifeline Program and the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program. The discussion focused on the Lifeline minimum service standards (MSS), getting the Lifeline program ready for the end of the EBB and certain Lifeline and EBB process improvements that should be made by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). There is a looming December 1, 2021 deadline for another dramatic increase in the mobile broadband MSS. In her dissent to the 2019 MSS Waiver Order, then Commissioner Rosenworcel called a pause at 2 GB a “smart approach” because another arbitrary increase would do “nothing to provide the certainty we need for this program.” She went on to correctly foresee that “without pausing for review, the FCC will simply be back in the same place, wrestling with the same issues, and more of the same scheduled service adjustments at this time next year.” She was right. Unfortunately, the FCC’s majority did not listen and instead increased the mobile broadband MSS in 2019 to 3 GB, and then the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau did the same thing in 2020 by increasing the MSS again to 4.5 GB. Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s view that pausing the mobile broadband MSS would be a “smart approach” is as true today as it was in 2019. However, the FCC also needs to address the petitions for reconsideration of the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order’s mobile broadband MSS formula that have been pending for five years. Further, the FCC should waive reimbursement reductions to restore the Lifeline voice reimbursement to $9.25 per month for which many Lifeline providers will offer unlimited or the equivalent of unlimited voice minutes (e.g., 3,000) to eligible low-income households. The FCC could also address these MSS issues more permanently by taking action on the NaLA Petition for Rulemaking filed on April 19, 2021.

Benton Content:

https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1007003413241/NaLA%20Lifeline%20and%20EBB%20OCH%20E…

Teaser:

The looming December 1, 2021 deadline for another dramatic increase in the mobile broadband Lifeline minimum service standards

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Send date:

Tue, 10/12/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 10/8/2021

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Publish Date:

Fri, 10/08/2021

Coverage Type:

Agenda

Report on past event

Upcoming policy issue

Universal Broadband

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

Headlines Specific Topic:

Coronavirus and Connectivity

National Lifeline Association Seeks FCC Rulemaking

benton — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 22:27:52 +0000

The National Lifeline Association urged the Federal Communications Commission to expeditiously release a Public Notice seeking comment on the association's Petition for Rulemaking so that others can comment on it and the FCC can build a record to take the necessary actions to transition the Lifeline program into a program that is post-Emergency Broadband Benefit Program ready. The FCC should not work in a linear fashion, but rather consider important improvements to the Lifeline program now so that those improvements can be in place when the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program funding runs out.

Benton Content:

https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1061090767330/NaLA%20Lifeline%20Petition%20for%20Ru…

Teaser:

Now Is the Time to Make Lifeline Post-Emergency Broadband Benefit Ready

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Mon, 06/14/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 6/11/2021

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Publish Date:

Sat, 06/12/2021

Coverage Type:

Letter

Agenda

Upcoming policy issue

Digital Divide

Adoption

Universal Broadband

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

Headlines Specific Topic:

Coronavirus and Connectivity

Lifeline Coalition Connects with Pai’s Staff on Broadband, Net Neutrality

benton — Mon, 15 May 2017 20:45:52 +0000

The Lifeline Connects Coalition met with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai’s Wireline Legal Advisor, Dr Jay Schwarz, on May 11, 2017, to discuss the draft Open Internet NPRM and the Commission’s commitment to support broadband services through the Lifeline program. It also discussed the upcoming increase in the Lifeline minimum service standards and current barriers to entry and industry consolidation in the Lifeline program.

https://prodnet.www.neca.org/publicationsdocs/wwpdf/51217lcc.pdf

Source:

Lifeline Connects Coalition

Author:

https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1025726812465/Lifeline%20Connects%20Petition%20for%…

Send date:

Tue, 05/16/2017

Publish Date:

Mon, 05/15/2017

Coverage Type:

Lauren Frayer

Lifeline Connects Coalition Seeks Waiver of Certain Lifeline Rules

Robbie McBeath — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:26:17 +0000

The Lifeline Connects Coalition filed a Petition on October 25, 2016 seeking a waiver of certain new Lifeline rules. The coalition asked the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau to waive changes which replace a current 60-day non-usage period with 30 days because the new 30-day non-usage rules will harm and endanger consumers. The coalition also asked the Bureau to direct the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to rescind its guidance that would implement the 30-day non-usage rule prior to the December 2, 2016 effective date, arguing it is unlawful and impractical for eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to administer.

Source:

Lifeline Connects Coalition

Author:

https://prodnet.www.neca.org/publicationsdocs/wwpdf/7116lcc.pdf

Jennifer Holtz

Send date:

Fri, 10/28/2016

Publish Date:

Thu, 10/27/2016

Coverage Type:

Lauren Frayer

Lifeline Connects Coalition Discusses Petition for Reconsideration of Lifeline Reform Order

Robbie McBeath — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 20:09:51 +0000

The Lifeline Connects Coalition met with legal advisors to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler and fellow-FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel and FCC Wireline Competition Bureau staff on June 28, 2016, to discuss its Petition for Reconsideration of the Lifeline Reform Order.

The coalition seeks reconsideration of: the mobile broadband minimum service standards after December 1, 2017; issues related to the National Verifier; and the decision not to provide streamlined ETC application processing for voice-only Lifeline services. The coalition also seeks clarification of the rolling recertification rule. The coalition also discussed potential for confusion regarding the use of FCC and Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)-established dispute resolution processes for Third Party Identity Verification, applicant addresses, and the Independent Economic Household worksheet and process established to implement the FCC’s one-per-household rule.

Source:

Lifeline Connects Coalition

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