Communications and Technology Alert: Robocall Scorecard Public Notice; New BEAD Funding Round; USF NPRM; GAO Broadband Deployment Report [Vol. XXIII, Issue 36]
Commission Seeks Comment on Robocall Scorecard
Last Wednesday, Chairman Brendan Carr released a Public Notice seeking comment on the creation of a Robocall Scorecard, which would help inform consumers about illegal robocalls and their choice of voice serve provider. In the Public Notice, the Commission states it wishes to provide consumers with more than an administrative checklist, but a set of metrics that consumers and providers can use to monitor and measure robocall mitigation efforts. The Public Notice seeks comment on the scope of ratings, data sources, key metrics to measure provider conduct and success, as well as the methodologies displayed to consumers on the scorecard. Comments on the Robocall Scorecard are due by September 22nd, while Reply Comments are due by October 2nd. For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
NTIA Opens New BEAD Funding Round to Connect Newly Identified Unserved Locations
Last Thursday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced a new round of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding that will allow states and territories to use savings generated from recent program reforms to connect newly identified unserved locations. NTIA said the reforms produced approximately $21 billion in savings, which can now be directed toward locations that were not included in earlier Commission broadband maps or have become eligible due to changes in other federal and state broadband programs. The agency described the initiative as a “location true-up” intended to help fulfill Congress’s goal of making BEAD the final federal broadband deployment program and achieving universal broadband availability nationwide. During her visit to Alaska, NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth said new initiatives could make more than 5,000 additional locations in the state eligible for broadband funding, advancing efforts to expand connectivity for underserved communities. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).
Universal Service Program Comments Deadlines Announced
Last Monday, the Commission announced that Comments in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding a comprehensive review of the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will be due on September 30th, with Reply Comments due October 30th. The NPRM seeks comment on improving USAC’s operations, oversight, organizational structure, operating costs, and Board governance. The proposal focuses on reducing administrative waste, increasing transparency, and improving the speed of USAC decision-making through potential performance metrics and public reporting requirements. The Commission is also exploring whether technologies, such as artificial intelligence, could streamline program administration while maintaining appropriate safeguards for privacy, data integrity, and security. Finally, the Commission seeks stakeholder input on establishing deadlines or "shot clocks" for USAC processes, enhancing transparency around operational performance, and improving oversight to ensure the effective and cost-efficient administration of finite USF resources. For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
GAO Report Urges Local Coordination on Broadband Maps
In August, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the impact of federal programs funding broadband deployment in rural and underserved areas. In its report, the GAO analyzed nine programs administered through four federal agencies, with NTIA’s management of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program being the largest disbursement of funds for the deployment of broadband networks. The GAO found that the Commission provides a challenge process permitting public input on its broadband mapping and deployment outcomes, but challengers often find the process “burdensome and unclear.” Therefore, the GAO broadly recommends that the Commission engage directly with smaller communities and providers to address challenges and updates to broadband mapping, among other recommendations in the report. For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186) or Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).
To sign up for our weekly alert, please send us an email at CommTechLawAlert@khlaw.com and provide us with your name and email.