The FCC has adopted an Order creating the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Transparency Data Collection, a statutorily mandated annual data collection describing all internet service plans subscribed to by households enrolled in the ACP. Congress, through the Infrastructure Jobs and Investment Act, required the FCC to collect this data for all service plans subscribed to by an ACP-enrolled household. Providers must also submit plan characteristics including speed, latency, and bundle characteristics, and a unique identifier associated with a broadband label if applicable, as well as certain aggregated plan enrollment subscriber data.

The Order would require ACP providers to submit annually data on price, plan coverage and plan characteristics of their broadband internet services subscribed to by ACP-enrolled households. A Further Notice seeks comment on subscriber enrollment data, digital divide metrics, metrics related to low-income plan and connected device offerings, and on the merits and burdens associated with the collection of subscriber level information. The Further Notice also seeks comment on whether the FCC should collect information related to the digital divide, including whether an ACP subscriber is a first-time or existing broadband subscriber or is subscribed to multiple plans. In addition, the Further Notice seeks comment on the collecting information related to providers’ low-income broadband plan and connected device offerings.

The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its December 21 open meeting:

• Preventing Digital Discrimination – An NPRM that would take the next step in the Commission’s efforts to promote equal access to broadband by seeking comment on potential rules to address digital discrimination of access to broadband, consistent with Congress’s direction in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• Satellite Application Processing – A NPRM seeking comment on changes to its rules, policies, or practices to facilitate the acceptance for filing of satellite and earth station applications under Part 25 to help Commission processing stay apace with the number of innovative satellite applications in the new space age.
• Improving Wireless 911 Call Routing - An NPRM regarding a proposal to require wireless carriers and covered text providers to implement location-based routing on their networks in order to reduce misrouting of wireless 911 calls and texts and improve emergency response times.
• Improving Accessible Phone Services – An NPRM and Order on Reconsideration to propose Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund compensation for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS), propose a technical amendment to the compensation formula for Internet Protocol Relay Service (IP Relay), and resolve petitions for reconsideration of a prior order setting IP CTS compensation.

The FCC adopted new rules prohibiting communications equipment deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to national security from being authorized for importation or sale in the United States. This is the latest step by the FCC to protect our nation’s communications networks. In recent years, the FCC, Congress and the Executive Branch have taken multiple actions to build a more secure and resilient supply chain for communications equipment and services within the United States.

The Report and Order applies to future authorizations of equipment identified on the Covered List published by the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau pursuant to the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. The new rules prohibit the authorization of equipment through the FCC’s Certification process, and makes clear that such equipment cannot be authorized under the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity process or be imported or marketed under rules that allow exemption from an equipment authorization. The Covered List (which lists both equipment and services) currently includes communications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Dahua Technology (and their subsidiaries and affiliates). The new rules implement the directive in the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, signed into law by President Biden last November, that requires the FCC to adopt such rules.

The FCC also adopted a FNPRM seeking further comment on additional revisions that should be made to the rules and procedures prohibiting the authorization of “covered” equipment. It also seeks further comment on potential revisions to the FCC's competitive bidding program. The FCC is also seeking comment on future action related to existing authorizations.

The NTIA’s Communications Supply Chain Risk Information Partnership (C-SCRIP) has launched its new website. This updated site is a one-stop shop for resources on improving the security of your organization’s supply chain, both physical and digital. The new site offers the following:

• Supply chain security resources
• Dedicated page to 5G and Beyond technologies
• Dedicated page to NTIA’s Internet for All programs
• More information about federal grant programs, free training sessions and events
• RSS subscription for regular updates
• Mailing list sign-up for additional information, including the bi-monthly C-SCRIP Update.

C-SCRIP, which was created by NTIA at the request of Congress, brings together the federal government, telecommunications companies and equipment suppliers to share information about supply chain security risks. Any questions or comments about the C-SCRIP program may be directed to [email protected].

Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) led their Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter to the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce about the need to expand high-speed internet access in rural communities.

Internet providers are required to obtain permits from the federal government when installing telecommunications infrastructure on federal lands or for projects using federal funding. Right now, they face extensive delays in the permitting process. In their letter, the Senators encourage the Biden administration to streamline the permitting process, close the digital divide and expand high-speed internet in rural areas across the country.

Senators signing on to the letter include Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jacky Rosen (R-Nev.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Catherine Cortez-Masto (R-Nev.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.); John Thune (R-S.D.), Chair and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband; Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), all members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, introduced the Rural Internet Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation would streamline and bolster U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development broadband programs and ensure that their funding is being targeted to rural areas that need it the most.

The Rural Internet Improvement Act would:

• Streamline USDA’s broadband authorities by merging and codifying the popular Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect) with USDA’s traditional broadband loan and grant program
• Ensure ReConnect funding is going to areas most in need of reliable broadband service by limiting funding to areas where at least 90 percent of households lack access to broadband service
• Enhance the participation of all types of broadband providers in the ReConnect Program by removing unnecessary barriers
• Increase transparency by improving the challenge process in the ReConnect Program
• Improve the coordination between USDA and the FCC on broadband programs
• Require USDA to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the FCC and NTIA to facilitate outreach to rural residents and businesses of available federal programs that promote broadband access, broadband affordability and broadband inclusion.