Bulletins

Issued: 04/16/2018

This is the twentieth report in a series prepared by federal and state staff members for the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Universal Service Joint Board). Unless otherwise noted, this report is generally based on information available to us as of September 2017. These reports contain information designed to monitor the impact of various universal service support mechanisms and the method used to finance them. These reports are part of a monitoring program created by the Federal Communications Commission in 1997 in CC Docket No. 96-45 to replace a similar program in CC Docket No. 87-339 that previously resulted in a series of nineteen Monitoring Reports.

Issued: 04/11/2018

E-Rate Central, as the designated state E-rate coordinator for New York, supports the recent filings initiated by the Ohio ITCs’ March 16th ex parte notice concerning the mid-window changes to the FY 2018 FCC Form 470 pulldown menus for Category 1. The menu changes made last August, combined with inconsistent and belated guidance provided by USAC over the remainder of the competitive bidding window, created extensive confusion among the applicant community — ourselves included. This is a problem that needs to be solved now. Relief is needed as a part of the FY 2018 application review process to avoid penalizing applicants who, in good faith, tried to bid and apply for Internet access and transport services. Changes need to be made to the FY 2019 Form 470 pulldown menus before July 1, 2018, to avoid similar applicant and service provider confusion in the coming procurement/application cycle.

Issued: 03/30/2018

Pursuant to our procedure for resolving requests for review, requests for waiver, and petitions for reconsideration of decisions related to actions taken by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) that are consistent with precedent (collectively, Requests), the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants, dismisses, or denies the following Requests. The deadline for filing petitions for reconsideration or applications for review concerning the disposition of any of these Requests is 30 days from release of this Public Notice.

Issued: 03/09/2018

In this Public Notice, the Office of Managing Director (OMD) announces that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the second quarter of 2018 will be 0.184 or 18.4 percent.

Issued: 02/28/2018

Pursuant to our procedure for resolving requests for review, requests for waiver, and petitions for reconsideration of decisions related to actions taken by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) that are consistent with precedent (collectively, Requests), the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants, dismisses, or denies the following Requests. The deadline for filing petitions for reconsideration or applications for review concerning the disposition of any of these Requests is 30 days from release of this Public Notice.

Issued: 02/26/2018

 In this order, by our own motion, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants a limited waiver of the Commission’s invoicing rules to allow certain E-rate program applicants and service providers to submit invoices beyond the 120-day extension already received and allowed by the Commission’s rules. Specifically, and subject to the limitations stated in this order, the Bureau waives the invoice extension rule to provide extraordinary relief for applicants and service providers that: (a) timely requested and received the one-time 120-day extension to invoice for funding year 2016 recurring charges from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC); and (b) are currently awaiting, or recently received, a revised funding commitment decision letter (RFCDL) issued for a post-commitment change request submitted to USAC (Affected Program Participants). 

Issued: 02/20/2018

Pursuant to section 54.507(a) of the Commission’s rules, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that the E-rate program funding cap for funding year 2018 is $4,062,030,726. The new cap represents a 1.8 percent inflation-adjusted increase in the $3,990,207,000 cap from funding year 2017.  The Commission began indexing the funding cap to inflation in 2010 to ensure that E-rate program funding keeps pace with the changing broadband and telecommunications needs of schools and libraries.

Issued: 01/31/2018

Pursuant to our procedure for resolving requests for review, requests for waiver, and petitions for reconsideration of decisions related to actions taken by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) that are consistent with precedent (collectively, Requests), the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants, dismisses, or denies the following Requests. The deadline for filing petitions for reconsideration or applications for review concerning the disposition of any of these Requests is 30 days from release of this Public Notice.

Issued: 01/24/2018

Remarks of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel
Federal Communications Commission
20 Years of Connecting Schools and Libraries: Policy Summit.  Washington, DC

Issued: 01/24/2018

Letter to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary Federal Communications Commission
Re: Modernizing the E-rate Program for Schools and Libraries, WC Docket No. 13-184 Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90 Ex Parte Submission
The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition is writing to share our experiences, observations and recommendations to improve the processing of applications that include fiber special construction charges in the E-rate program.

Issued: 01/09/2018

President TRUMP has renominated FCC Commissioner BRENDAN CARR for a second term, this one a full five-year term, on the Commission. CARR, a Republican, was confirmed in AUGUST to serve out the unexpired term of former FCC Chairman TOM WHEELER through this year, but a Republican effort to also approve him for a full additional term fell short.

Issued: 12/29/2017

Pursuant to our procedure for resolving requests for review, requests for waiver, and petitions for reconsideration of decisions related to actions taken by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) that are consistent with precedent (collectively, Requests), the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants, dismisses, or denies the following Requests. The deadline for filing petitions for reconsideration or applications for review concerning the disposition of any of these Requests is 30 days from release of this Public Notice.

Issued: 12/15/2017

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, NEW MEXICO – The Middle Rio Grande Pueblo Tribal Consortium (MRGPTC or "Consortium") is excited to announce its fiber optic network groundbreaking on Monday, December 18, 2017, at San Felipe Pueblo. The Consortium is a partnership of four Pueblo libraries: Cochiti, San Felipe, Santa Ana and Santo Domingo.

Issued: 12/14/2017

In this Public Notice, the Office of Managing Director (OMD) announces that the proposed Universal Service contribution factor for the first quarter of 2018 will be 0.195 or 19.5 percent.

Issued: 12/13/2017

As we move into 2018, I ask that the Board redouble its efforts at oversight, specifically in the areas of information technology and security. I am pleased the Board has nominated Radha Sekar as the next USAC CEO, in large part because of her extensive experience leading organizations facing information technology challenges.

Issued: 12/13/2017

WASHINGTON, December 13, 2017 — Chairman Pai approved the appointment of Radha Sekar as Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC), a nonprofit corporation which administers the FCC’s Universal Service programs on the FCC's behalf.

Issued: 12/06/2017

ELKO — Slow internet speeds affecting Spring Creek customers were brought to the attention of a team from Governor Brian Sandoval's office Wednesday, who are searching for ways to improve data service to the growing community.

Issued: 11/30/2017

Pursuant to our procedure for resolving requests for review, requests for waiver, and petitions for reconsideration of decisions related to actions taken by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) that are consistent with precedent (collectively, Requests), the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants, dismisses, or denies the following Requests. The deadline for filing petitions for reconsideration or applications for review concerning the disposition of any of these Requests is 30 days from release of this Public Notice.