Vol. 17, No. 46
November 29, 2021
Applications for NTIA CMC Pilot Program Due December 1
Reminder, applications for the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program are due this Wednesday, December 1. If interested in applying, please review these reminders:
  • An HBCU, TCU, or MSI must serve as the lead applicant (i.e., in a consortium application) and would enter into the grant agreement with NTIA and assume primary operational and financial responsibility for completing the project should an award be made. Note: Minority Business Enterprises or tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations must apply as members of a consortium and cannot be lead applicants.
  • Applicants who are MSIs must be deemed eligible or potentially eligible in an MSI category according to the U.S. Department of Education’s 2021 Eligibility Matrix. If an applicant is listed as potentially eligible in the matrix, they must provide a Waiver of Eligibility from the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Complete application packets must be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on December 1, 2021. Paper, email, and facsimile submissions will not be accepted.
  • All applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and current registrations in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and Grants.gov. Keep in mind the SAM.gov registration process typically takes 3-5 business days but could take more than 3 weeks.

Click here to learn more about the CMC Pilot Program and its application process.
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Guidance for
EBB Transition to Affordable Connectivity Program
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issued an Order that waives Sections 54.1610(b), (c) and (d) of the Commission’s rules governing the enrollment freeze and notice requirements for the end of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program), which will cease no later than December 31, 2021 as a result of the text in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Infrastructure Act). At that time, households enrolled in the EBB Program will have an automatic 60- day transition period during which time they will continue to receive their current EBB-benefit amount.

In addition to waiving the enrollment freeze and consumer notice rules for the EBB Program, the Bureau also provides preliminary guidance to help consumers, service providers, outreach partners and other stakeholders prepare for the transition from the EBB Program to the Affordable Connectivity Program.
FCC Announces New Measures to Strengthen Integrity
of Enrollment of Households in EBB Program
The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau issued a public notice announcing that it is implementing additional measures to strengthen program integrity surrounding the enrollment of households in the EBB program based on the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.

In addition, the FCC Office of Managing Director issued a public notice announcing measures to mitigate any harm to the EBB program. These measures include:
  • Directing USAC to modify the EBB program application portal to require applicants seeking to qualify for the EBB program based on attendance at a USDA National School Lunch Program’s CEP school to submit school enrollment documentation in addition to providing the name of the CEP school
  • Referring bad actors to the FCC Enforcement Bureau to investigate and safeguard consumers, among other things
FCC Commits More Than $169 Million in Additional
Emergency Connectivity Fund Support
The FCC announced that it is committing almost $169.3 million in its latest wave of Emergency Connectivity Fund program support. The funds will be used to connect over 500,000 students in 47 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. These additional commitments bring the current total commitments to over $3.2 billion, supporting students, school staff and library patrons in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework and virtual learning, as schools and libraries continue to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
McMorris Rogers, Latta Renew Request for FCC Oversight Hearing
Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Bob Latta (R-Ohio) sent a letter to Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Michael Doyle (D-Pa.) following up on their May 2021 letter, which urged them to hold an FCC oversight hearing to review the FCC’s implementation plans regarding the Emergency Broadband Benefit and Emergency Connectivity Fund programs.

McMorris Rodgers and Latta asserted they have no information about how these programs are being implemented or if they are effective. They also said the $25 billion provided to the FCC under the American Rescue Plan is an unprecedented amount of funding, and expressed concern about the potential for waste, fraud and abuse without proper committee oversight.