Insights: Broadband Legal Strategies Blog

On October 15, 2024, the Bureau announced that it released a new invoicing form for the Rural Healthcare Telecommunications Program:  the FCC Form 469, Description of Invoice and Request for Disbursement.  Service providers will initiate the invoice process by submitting the Form 469 in RHC Connect, after each month of service or at the end of the funding year for all services provided during the funding year.  USAC is offering trainings on how to use the new form and process. 

In its September News Brief, USAC announced that the E-Rate Administrative Window opened in EPC on October 15, 2024. 

On October 25, 2024, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (the Bureau) issued the Eligible Services List (ESL) for Funding Year 2025. 

Two petitions for reconsideration of the E-Rate Hotspot Report and Order were separately filed by the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Schools and the Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition et al. 

 On September 10, 2024, the Commission released a public notice reminding service providers with 100,000 or fewer subscribers to begin displaying broadband consumer labels in compliance with the Broadband Label Order on October 10, 2024.

On July 18, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a report and order and further notice of proposed rulemaking (Order and Further NPRM) allowing schools and libraries to receive E-Rate support for Wi-Fi hotspots and services that can be used off-premises by students, school staff, and library patrons.

On August 26, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted the FCC’s motion to stay its decision granting Consumer’s Research, et al.’s petition for review of the FCC’s first quarter 2022 universal service contribution factor.