The Beyond Telecom Law Blog, published by Keller Heckman, focuses on legal and regulatory issues at the intersection of communications technology and policy. It covers topics such as FCC regulations, telecommunications infrastructure, broadband deployment programs, equipment authorization, and compliance with federal communications laws. The blog analyzes developments in areas like spectrum management, broadband funding initiatives, and technology-neutral regulatory approaches. It also addresses legal challenges faced by telecom providers, including marketing and sales compliance, tax implications for network investments, and evolving government policies affecting the telecom sector.
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) entered into Consent Decrees with eight Covered 911 Service Providers for failing to timely file their required 911 reliability certification in 2020.
The Rules
As background, the FCC adopted rules in 2013…
Last week, the House Energy & Commerce Committee released its portion of the Budget Reconciliation Act. This includes a $10 billion appropriation for Next Generation 911 (NG911) grant programs.
A summary of the appropriation is below.
The proposed Section appropriates…
On Wednesday, July 28, the U.S. Senate voted to move forward on a bipartisan infrastructure bill (the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act”) that includes $65 billion to support broadband deployment and adoption. While a variety of procedural and political hurdles…
We are witnessing a swing in the antitrust pendulum from minimalist to populist poles. This entry briefly highlights the dynamics, potential changes, and, perhaps more importantly from a counseling perspective, what will change and what will remain the same.
At…
At its Open Meeting on April 22, the FCC adopted a Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on proposed rules changes to 911 outage reporting. The proposed rules aim to help 911 call centers maintain emergency services and inform…
President Biden has now signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R 1319, “Act”) into law. As many are aware, the $1.9 trillion package includes $7.17 billion for an Emergency Connectivity Fund to enable remote learning, for which the…
Local governments committed to supporting their citizens most adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic should be encouraging the broadband providers serving their communities to take the necessary steps in the next several weeks to establish eligibility to participate in the…
A federal court decision last week will allow California to enforce its own net neutrality rules. As other states follow suit, the desire for a more uniform approach could lead to federal legislation clarifying the scope of FCC regulatory authority…
The 31.8% Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution factor for 1st Quarter 2021 and the ascendency of broadband to that of an essential service for our Nation’s citizens during the Covid-19 pandemic may prove to be the tipping point on USF…
Enacted on December 27, 2020 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (“Act”) establishes or re-appropriates a number of significant broadband-related support programs. Reflecting the urgency of the COVID-19 situation,…
