Telecom Alert: Broadband Consumer Label Display Date; School Bus Wi-Fi E-Rate Eligibility; Rip-and-Replace Extensions; C-Band Submission Deadline [Vol. XX, Issue 42]

Broadband Consumer Label Display Date Set

Last week, the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the dates by which ISPs must display, at the point of sale, a broadband consumer label (Vol. XX, Issue 36).  These labels contain critical information about the cost and performance of broadband services, as well as links to information about network management practices and privacy policies.  ISPs with 100,000 or fewer subscribers must begin displaying the labels by April 10, 2024, while all other ISPs must do so by October 10, 2024.  For more information, please contact Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4344).

E-Rate Eligibility for School Bus Wi-Fi

The FCC will consider a Declaratory Ruling at its Open Meeting on October 19 that would clarify that use of Wi-Fi or other similar access point technologies on school buses is eligible for E-Rate funding.  Although the E-Rate program does not provide support for most off-campus services, the Commission has seen an increase in requests from stakeholders asking that services and equipment that enable access to Wi-Fi on school buses be made eligible for funding.  If adopted, the Declaratory Ruling would clarify that use of such equipment has an “educational purpose” and direct the Commission to fund the provision of these services for the 2024 funding year.  For more information, please contact Sean Stokes (stokes@khlaw.com; 202.434.4193).

Rip-and-Replace Deadline Extensions Granted

Last week, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau granted extension requests filed by five entities for their removal, replacement, and disposal terms under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (the “Program”).  The petitioners cited various issues with meeting their initial deadlines including partial funding of the Program and ongoing supply chain issues.  In granting the extension requests, the Commission noted that the funding shortfalls and other delays were of no fault by the petitioners.  For more information, please contact Greg Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178).

C-Band Submission Deadline Proposal

The FCC issued a Public Notice last week seeking comment on a proposal to set final deadlines for the submission of reimbursement claims for the C-Band relocation program.  In an ex parte filing, the Relocation Payment Clearinghouse LLC (“RPC”) asked the Commission to adopt two claims submission deadlines by which incumbents and other eligible stakeholders would be required to submit any outstanding transition-related claims to the RPC for processing.  Specifically, the RPC proposed deadlines of February 5, 2024, for reimbursement claims for costs incurred and paid as of December 31, 2023, including all lump sum election claims by incumbent earth station operators and September 30, 2024, for all claims for costs incurred and paid after December 31, 2023.  For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).

To sign up for our weekly alert, please send us an email at telecomalert@khlaw.com and provide us with your name and email.