Bulletins

USAC E-Rate Demand Estimate for FY 2016 Based on First FCC Form 471 Filing Window.

The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on the attached proposed eligible services list (ESL) for the schools and libraries universal support mechanism (more commonly known as the E-rate program) for funding year 2017. We invite stakeholders to comment on any aspect of the proposed ESL, and particularly welcome comments based on applicants’ and other interested parties’ experience with the ESLs for recent funding years.

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.

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 2016 is $3,939,000,000. This figure is based on changes the Commission made in the Second E-rate Modernization Order to ensure sufficient funding is available to meet E-rate program goals and connectivity targets. In that order, the Commission adjusted the E-rate cap to $3.9 billion and continued to require that the funding cap reflect any annual inflationary changes. The new cap represents a 1 percent inflation-adjusted increase in the $3.9 billion cap from funding year 2015. 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.

The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) hereby submits the federal Universal Service Support Mechanisms fund size and administrative cost projections for the third quarter of calendar year 2016 (3Q2016), in accordance with Section 54.709 of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) rules.

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.

By the Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau: Consistent with precedent and in accordance with Commission guidance in the E-rate Modernization Order, we deny the requests for waiver listed in the Appendix, all of which seek waiver of the E-rate program rules governing invoicing deadlines. As described in greater detail below, compliance with the invoicing rules is straightforward for applicants and service providers and important for the efficient administration of the E-rate program. The rules allow billed entities and service providers to seek and automatically receive a one-time extension of the invoicing deadlines, provided that the extension request is made in advance of the initial invoicing deadline. None of the petitioners timely sought such an extension, and none present evidence that would justify waiving the requirement that invoice extension requests be filed before the invoicing deadline.

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2016 – The Federal Communications Commission today modernized and reformed its Lifeline program to help low income consumers afford access to the 21st Century's vital communications network: the Internet.

FCC Releases Streamlined Resolution of Requests Related to Actions by USAC (DA 16-334)

Federal raids last week of yeshivas in Brooklyn and in Rockland and Orange Counties in New York have set Hasidic communities on edge, as concern spreads about a possible government crackdown on Orthodox exploitation of the federal E-Rate technology subsidy program.

Remarks of Commissioner Rosenworcel at CUE16 on Closing the Homework Gap (Palm Springs, California)

The FBI raided charedi Orthodox yeshivas and technology vendors that serve them in Brooklyn and in New York's Rockland County, but declined to state publicly the details of the investigations.

In this Public Notice, the Office of Managing Director (OMD) announces that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the second quarter of 2016 will be 0.179 or 17.9 percent.

Streamlined Resolution of Requests Related to Actions by Universal Service Administrative Company.

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.

Chairman Tom Wheeler hereby appoints six members to the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). In a public notice released October 16, 2015, the Wireline Competition Bureau solicited nominations for the Board member positions listed below in accordance with section 54.703(c) of the Commission's rules.

Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the FCC to determine whether "advanced telecommunications capability" -- broadband -- is being deployed to all Americans in a "reasonable and timely fashion." If the answer is negative, the Act requires the FCC to "take immediate action" to speed deployment. Following is a summary of Chairman Wheeler’s draft of the 2016 Broadband Progress Report, which he is circulating to his fellow commissioners for their consideration at the January 28 Open Meeting.

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.1 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.

On December 15, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) Managing Director provided guidance (see DA 14-1820) to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) concerning maintenance of cash reserves for meeting funding commitments for the Schools and Libraries Support Mechanism. Consistent with this guidance, USAC has determined that a projected $1.9 billion will be available to carry-forward to Schools and Libraries Support Mechanism funding year (FY) 2016. Utilizing the agreed upon methodology, $1,357 million is projected from the Funding Years 2013 and prior, $355 million is projected from FY 2014 and $188 million is projected from FY 2015 to be available for carry-forward to FY 2016.

In this Public Notice, the Office of Managing Director (OMD) announces that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the first quarter of 2016 will be 0.182 or 18.2 percent.