INCOMPAS Member Profile: Greenlight Networks

Greenlight Networks designs, builds, owns and operates fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) networks, delivering ultra high-speed Internet connections. Based in Rochester, N.Y., and serving more than 200,000 homes and over 10,000 small businesses in 27 municipalities in New York, Greenlight Networks' FTTP network provides residential and small business customers with future-proof connectivity, offering Internet speeds of up to 8 Gigabits per second.

Learn more about Greenlight Networks.

INCOMPAS Congratulates Olivia Trusty on FCC Nomination

Last week, President Trump nominated Olivia Trusty, a policy director on the Senate Commerce Committee, to serve on the Federal Communications Commission.

"Olivia is a great friend to INCOMPAS and has been an incredible advocate for competition and innovation. Her deep expertise will be a tremendous asset to the Commission and bolster the new Administration's efforts to roll back onerous red tape to connect all Americans and ensure the United States remains a global leader on communications issues," said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. "We look forward to working with Olivia in this new capacity and urge the Senate to swiftly act on her nomination." 

FCC Issues Declaratory Ruling, NPRM on Cybersecurity

On January 16, the FCC issued a declaratory ruling and NPRM on safeguarding communications systems from cybersecurity threats. The declaratory ruling found Section 105 of Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act affirmatively requires telecommunications carriers to secure their networks from unlawful access or interception of communications.

In the NPRM, the FCC seeks comment on ways to strengthen the cybersecurity posture of the nation’s communications systems and services. The FCC also proposes to require covered communications service providers to submit an annual certification attesting they have created, updated and implemented cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans. 

FCC to Rely on Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric for Verifying Compliance with High-Cost Deployment Obligations

The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau issued an order adopting the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric as the basis it will rely on for generally verifying compliance with high-cost program deployment obligations and adjusting the location obligations for certain high-cost support mechanisms.

The bureau said the Fabric is the most accurate and granular dataset of broadband serviceable locations the FCC has available to date. The bureau adopted processes and policies for implementing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) location readjustment process prior to the six-year RDOF service milestone that will maximize the number of consumers served through RDOF support, and also leverage existing FCC processes to implement streamlined location adjustment procedures for the Bringing Puerto Rico Together Fund, the Connect USVI Fund, A-CAM I, revised A-CAM I and A-CAM II carriers. The bureau will permit A-CAM carriers to seek a downward adjustment in their location totals by using the Fabric to demonstrate the actual number of locations in their service areas and provide a one-time window for carriers to request such an adjustment. The bureau will release a public notice specifying the process for making this request.

Click here for more information on updated A-CAM I and II authorizations.

RUS Community Connect Grant Deadline April 21

The Rural Utilities Service published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the application window for the Community Connect Grant Program for fiscal year 2025. The application window will be open February 20 through April 21, 2025.

The RUS estimates approximately $26 million will be available for FY 2025 to eligible applicants to construct broadband networks that provide service on a community-oriented connectivity basis in rural areas.

FCC Waives Rules, Deadlines to Provide Relief to Wildfire Victims

The Wireline Competition Bureau issued an order waiving certain rules and deadlines to provide relief to victims located in areas of California affected by wildfires. In response to current and anticipated damage from the wildfires, the bureau offered a waiver of various provisions of the E-Rate, Lifeline and phone number aging rules for those located in the affected areas.

Rep. Allen Reintroduces AI-Generated Robocall Bill

Rep. Rick W. Allen (R-GA) reintroduced a bill that would amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish technical and procedural standards for artificial or prerecorded voice systems created through generative artificial intelligence.

The Creating Legal and Ethical AI Recordings Voices Act codifies Section 227(d)(3) of the act to incorporate AI-generated systems, ensuring they are subject to the same regulations and standards as traditional telephone-based systems and grants the FCC authority to determine and apply these standards to other emerging technologies as appropriate. The bill was originally introduced in July 2024.

Sen. Capito Bill Establishes Vetting for High-Cost Programs

Sen. Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced a bill that would require the FCC to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding.