Tech & Telecom Weekly - October 12, 2021

Welcome to the Tech & Telecom Weekly, an e-newsletter keeping you apprised of the latest developments in the telecommunications and high-tech industries.

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FCC Policy

The FCC has released the Tentative Agenda for its next Open Meeting scheduled for October 26, 2021. It contains four items, including a “national security matter” and a Public Notice announcing the third set of Connected Care Pilot Program projects that will be funded out of the Universal Service Fund. Over $56 Million of the $100 Million budget has been allotted thus far. For more information, please contact Stephanie Joyce.

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Broadband News

The FCC is prepared to authorize almost $164 Million in funding to 42 winning bidders in Phase I of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction (Auction 904). But 85 winning bidders have chosen not to build out their proposed projects, and have foregone the funding, after receiving letters from the FCC asking them to consider whether “there was evidence of existing service or questions of potential waste.” As a result, just over 10% of the projected $16 Billion Phase I budget will be allocated. For more information, please contact Stephanie Joyce.  

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Compliance Alerts

The Wireline Competition Bureau has released FCC Form 499-Q, which reports projected revenues for 2022 on a quarterly basis, and FCC Form 499-A, which reports 2021 annual revenues. The Bureau also released updated instructions for these forms. Form 499-Q is due November 1, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 2, 2022, and August 1, 2022.  Form 499-A is due April 1, 2022.

The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will hold a webinar on October 19, 2021, at 2:00pm ET, regarding the use of traffic studies for allocating assessable telecommunications and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) revenues. To attend, register here.

For more information about compliance matters, please contact Katherine Barker Marshall.

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