Communications and Technology Alert: FCC Commissioner Nomination; USF Comprehensive Review NPRM; Foreign Robocall Bill; FCC Tribal Workshop; Enforcement Bureau USF Payment Consent Decree [Vol. XXIII, Issue 32]
Trump Nominates Republican for Commission
Last Friday, President Donald Trump nominated Danielle Thumann Severs, currently a senior counsel to Chairman Brendan Carr, to fill one of the Commission's two vacant commissioner seats. Thumann Severs previously served as Chairman Carr’s legal advisor from 2021 to 2023, as well worked in government relations for telecommunications infrastructure provider Crown Castle and in private practice. If confirmed by the Senate, she would serve a five-year term and give Republicans a 3-1 majority on the Commission. The seat has been vacant since June 2025, when Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington departed the Commission. Another seat also became vacant around the same time following the departure of Democratic Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
Commission Approves NPRM to Review USF Programs
During the August Open Commission Meeting, the Commission approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) initiating a comprehensive review of the Universal Service Fund (USF) and its programs. The purpose of the NPRM is to ensure the USF funding is being used efficiently, fairly, and being distributed in a cost-effective manner. Specifically, the Commission has outlined four areas of review, seeking comment on the USF administration process, the structure of the USF administration, including USAC’s roles and responsibilities, USF’s operating costs, and the impact of USAC’s Board of Directors on the administration of funding. Comments will be due 30 days after publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).
Senate Passes Foreign Robocall Bill
Last Monday the Senate passed the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act (S. 2666) by unanimous consent. The bill would establish an interagency task force on unlawful robocalls to advise federal agencies and Congress on combating robocalls made from outside of the United States. The bill would also increase the terms that entities serve on the Commission’s industry-led consortium to trace the origin of suspected unlawful robocalls. Under the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act, the Commission must annually seek applications from industry groups to serve as the designated consortium, and the Commission must seek applications once every three years. For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
Commission to Host Tribal Workshop in August
Last week, the Commission announced that it will host a free day-and-a-half Tribal Workshop in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on August 20-21, 2026, to help Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian Organizations learn about federal communications and broadband initiatives that support connectivity, including on Tribal lands. The first day will focus on broadband topics and federal funding opportunities. The second day will provide hands-on training from the Commission’s Broadband Data Task Force on the Broadband Data Collection program and National Broadband Map, including guidance on broadband data reporting. The workshop is geared toward Tribal leaders, broadband providers, IT and GIS professionals, planners, and community managers, with optional pre-workshop office hours available for entities seeking GIS support and assistance with broadband mapping questions. For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
Enforcement Bureau Enters Consent Decree with VoIP Provider to Resolve USF Payments
Last week, the Enforcement Bureau released an Order announcing the Bureau had entered into a Consent Decree with VoIP provider RazorLine, LLC for failing to make full and timely payments to the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) fund. The Consent Decree requires RazorLine to implement a three-year compliance plan and pay a $25,000 voluntary contribution, as well as remain compliant with its current USF and TRS payment obligations. During its investigations, the Bureau had discovered that RazorLine had failed to complete USF payments on over 60 invoices issued by USAC as a provider of interconnected VoIP, in violation of Section 254(d) of the Communications Act and the Commission’s rules. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).
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