INCOMPAS News -- May 9, 2022

Vol. 18, No. 19

May 9, 2022

May 12 Webinar: What You Need

to Know About Cybersecurity Coverage and Risk Mitigation

Looking to assess your company's cybersecurity risks? On May 12, 2022, at 2 p.m. EST. UNITEL will join INCOMPAS to discuss the state of the cybersecurity coverage market for the communications industry.

During Cybersecurity Coverage and Risk Mitigation – What You Need to Know, Mike Reed, senior risk advisor at UNITEL, will share best practices for mitigating your company's and your customer's risks. He will be joined by Tom Glover, chief revenue officer at Responsive Technology Partners, which was named the 14th fastest growing IT management company in the nation by Inc. Magazine. Glover will discuss current cyber risks/threats facing our businesses today and outline process to reduce security risks.

Come away with a better understanding of what is required in the cyber coverage application process and get insights into strategies for protecting your business.

New Advocacy Guide Addresses State/Local Needs for Broadband Infrastructure Deployment

Last week we debuted the BroadLAND-INCOMPAS Guide for NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Grants. This advocacy guide is for members to use when contacting your state and local offices and helping to address state and local needs with respect to the new infrastructure funding. The guide lays out our policy priorities in representing many regional and local fiber ISPs across the country. But more importantly, it highlights for state and local offices the most common challenges our members face in terms of barriers to deployment, including permitting and franchise fees, delay times with processing applications, and gaining access to the public right-of-way. INCOMPAS encourages broadband offices to promote an open competitive bid process in each of their respective states as part of the funding.

The guide also references several examples of best practices from different state and local governments around the country. With the upcoming NTIA NOFO release now expected on Friday, May 13, we encourage our members to use the guide with their outreach efforts and stakeholder engagement. If you have any questions, please email Andrew Mincheff, [email protected].

OMB Offers Infrastructure Program Implementation Guidance

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum that provides guidance to executive departments and agencies that have responsibilities for implementing programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The IIJA provides $550 billion in new federal investment in infrastructure, including $65 billion for broadband programs.

FCC Commits $39 Million Emergency Connectivity Funding

The FCC is committing nearly $39 million in the 14th wave of Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program support, helping to close the Homework Gap. This latest round of funding is supporting 140 schools, 14 libraries, and one consortium across the country, including for students in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Puerto Rico and Virginia.

May 13, 2022, is the last day for schools and libraries to apply for support to purchase eligible equipment and services for the 2022-2023 school year through a third application window the FCC opened last week. In this window, the FCC anticipates awarding at least $1 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund program support. This window likely will be the last opportunity for schools and libraries to request funding before available funds in the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund program are exhausted.

More details about which schools and libraries have received funding commitments can be found at the FCC website.

Capito, Klobuchar Introduce Rural Broadband Protection Act

Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), both members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, introduced the Rural Broadband Protection Act (S.4126), which would require a more thorough vetting and verification process for internet service providers seeking to participate in the FCC high-cost programs. The bill would provide essential safeguards to Universal Service Fund high-cost programs by ensuring that funding goes to companies that have a proven track record of success and have demonstrated sound judgment in deploying in hard-to-serve areas.

Parties Agree to Dismiss Challenge of Net Neutrality Law

The ACA, CTIA, NCTA and USTelecom, and the attorney general of California filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California a joint stipulation of dismissal of a case challenging California’s 2018 net neutrality law. On April 20, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for rehearing of the January 2022 ruling upholding the district court’s denial of a motion for preliminary injunction to prohibit enforcement of California’s net neutrality law.

NTIA Final Pre-NOFO Webinar Scheduled for May 11

NTIA is hosting a pre-Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) technical assistance webinar series through May in connection with the five new broadband grant programs authorized and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program; the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program; and the Digital Equity Act Programs, which include the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, and Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.

These pre-NOFO technical assistance webinars are designed to help prospective applicants understand NTIA’s IIJA broadband grant programs and to assist applicants to prepare high quality grant applications.

NTIA Webinar Schedule

Webinar #5: Wednesday, May 11, 2022, from 2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. ET

These webinars will be hosted via NTIA’s virtual platform and conducted as live webinars. NTIA will post the registration information on its BroadbandUSA website.