Telecom Alert: Regulatory Deadlines in Hawaii Extended; RDOF Petition for Supplementary Funding; ECF Invoice-Filing Deadline Extended; CPF Grants [Vol. XX, Issue 34]

Regulatory Deadlines in Hawaii Extended

The FCC issued a Public Notice last week extending certain filing and regulatory deadlines occurring from August 10, 2023, through September 10, 2023, for licensees and applicants in the State of Hawaii.  In accordance with President Biden’s issuance of a disaster declaration, the FCC has waived deadlines scheduled for filings regarding certain minor license modifications, renewals, and notifications of construction until September 12, 2023.  The Commission has also waived its rules to allow requests for Special Temporary Authority (“STA”) to be made by telephone, which will be considered “emergency filings” and processed as expeditiously as possible.  For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239) or Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271).

RDOF Petition for Supplementary Funding

Last week, a Coalition of RDOF Winners filed an emergency petition with the FCC asking the Commission to provide relief to winners of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) Phase I auction due to construction cost increases.  In its petition, the Coalition stated that impacts from COVID, new federal fiscal policies, and pandemic-prompted broadband deployment funding programs have caused construction costs to skyrocket as much as 100 to 300 percent.  The Coalition claims that such cost increases could not have been accounted for at the time RDOF Phase I models were designed.  Accordingly, the Coalition requests that the Commission provide relief in the form of supplementary funding, relief from all or certain aspects of the letter of credit requirements, and/or that RDOF payments for years seven to ten be made accessible in years two or three to six.  For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186).

ECF Invoice-Filing Deadline Extended

Last week, the FCC issued an Order granting a limited waiver of the invoice-filing deadline for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (‘the “Fund”).  Under the Commission’s rules, invoices must be submitted within sixty days from the date of the funding commitment decision letter or service delivery date.  In recognizing that many participants have a service delivery deadline of June 30, 2023, the Commission has extended the filing deadline to October 30, 2023.  For more information, please contact Casey Lide (lide@khlaw.com; 202.434.4186).

$162.5 Million in CPF Grants

The Department of the Treasury announced the award of $162.5 million in funding for Ohio through the Capital Projects Fund (the “Fund”) to increase access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet across the state.  Ohio’s approved plans include $77.5 million for broadband infrastructure, which is designed to fund last-mile projects to provide service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps to rural areas.  It will also use $85 million for multi-purpose community facilities that will provide increased access to resources and programming for community members.  For more information, please contact Jim Baller (baller@khlaw.com; 202.434.4175).

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