Executive Order Declaring National Security Threat to U.S. Communications Networks
Category Archives: news
FCC Chairman Pai Supports Much Needed $171M Increase in Rural Health Care Program Funding
Today, FCC Chairman Pai took a positive step in serving our nation’s rural health care providers (HCPs) by seeking an increase in the current Rural Health Care Program funding by $171M.
Rural Health Care Program Compliance Remains Key Focus of FCC
The slow-motion crisis in the FCC’s Rural Health Care Universal Service Support Program (RHC) has continued to unfold this Spring. With funding requests for Funding Year 2018 due by June 29, 2018, healthcare providers are down to the last few days when it is even theoretically possible to file a Form 461 or 465 request for supported services.
Universal Service Funds Are Moved to the United States Treasury Cementing USF Fees as Federal Funds
After almost two decades of operating outside of the U.S. Treasury, FCC Chairman Pai is turning the Universal Service Fund (“USF”) funds collected and administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) over to the U.S. Treasury, thereby, cementing the universal service fees collected on American’s phone bills as federal funds.
A Door Cracks Open for Rural America Through the Introduction of Legislation to Create the Office of Rural Telecommunications Within the FCC
On April 12, 2018, Representatives Cramer and Peterson introduced HR 5497 directing the Federal Communications Commission to establish an Office of Rural Telecommunications at the FCC to collect data and provide resources to rural communities across America.
Application Deadlines Approaching for Federal Funding for Community Connect and Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants
Below is a list of available broadband loans and grants that are currently available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to support and advance communications and broadband in rural communities.
Cynthia B. Schultz Featured in Broadband World News
Click on the article link below to read an edited version of Schultz’ conversation with BBWN Editor Alison Diana on the Broadband World News website.
FCC Raises Concerns About National Security Threats to Communications Supply Chain Through FCC USF Programs
On March 27, 2018, the FCC published a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (‘Proposal”), which would bar Universal Service Funding (“USF”) to be used in the purchase of equipment or services from companies posing a national security threat to America’s networks and communications supply chains.
Broadband and Network Capacity, Budgets, and Cybersecurity Still Trending as Top Key Concerns for Nation’s Educational Leaders
This week CoSN (Consortium of School Networking) hosted its 2018 Conference in Washington, D.C. under the theme of Exponential Change: Designing Learning in the 4th Industrial Revolution (the technology revolution and age of artificial intelligence), during which it released the 2018 K-12 IT Leadership Report.
The FCC’s Rural Health Care Program Gets Another Significant Haircut for Funding Year 2017
USAC, the Administrator of the Rural Health Care Program, issued its much awaited funding announcement today sending a wave of disappointment to health care facilities across our nation.