USAC Announces E-rate Demand Estimate for FY2023
On March 29, 2023, USAC estimated the demand for E-rate services at $2.944 billion for Funding Year 2023. This estimate includes $1.658 billion for Category 1 services and $1.286 billion for Category 2 services.
Rural Health Care Further NPRM Comment Cycle Set
On March 23, 2023,
the Order on Reconsideration, Second
Report and Order, Order, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for
the USF Rural Health Care program was published in the Federal Register. The Federal Register publication set the
comment cycle for the Further Notice: comments are due on April 24,
2023 and reply comments are due on May 22, 2023.
WCB Grants Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Invoice Deadline Waiver
On March 20, 2023, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau granted a request filed by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Wireless, LLC (NTUAW) seeking waiver of the invoice filing deadline rule under the Rural Health Care Program’s Telecom Program for funding year 2020. Broadband Legal Strategies represented NTUAW in this proceeding.
Comment Cycle Set for E-rate Tribal Applicant NPRM
On February 16, 2023, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Schools and Libraries E-rate program regarding improvements to the E-rate program for Tribal applicants.
Proposed 2Q 2023 USF Contribution Factor Set at 29 Percent
In a Public Notice released March 14, 2023, the FCC announced that the proposed Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution factor for the second quarter of 2023 will be 29.0 percent. This is a decrease from the contribution factor of 32.6 percent for the first quarter of 2023.
WCB Extends RHC Filing Window to May 1
On March 8, 2023, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issued an Order extending the close of the Rural Health Care Program Funding Year 2023 filing window to May 1, 2023.
FCC Begins Rulemaking to Improve the E-rate Program for Tribal Applicants
On February 16, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
WCB Grants E-rate Participants Relief for Misfiled Appeals
On February 8, 2023, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issued an Order granting petitions for reconsideration filed by school districts that had mistakenly filed their appeals with the Commission first, instead of with USAC as required by the rules.
