Category: Blog

The Senate recently approved the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which if passed by the House of Representatives would allocate $65 billion to achieve the goal of universal broadband access.

On August 5, 2021, the FCC initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in Docket 03-123 to update the compensation methodology for Internet Protocol Relay Service (IP Relay).  According to the Commission,

The quarterly contribution factor for the Universal Service Fund (USF) is getting out of hand.  Just three years ago it was 17.9 percent.  Today it is 31.8 percent

No matter how hard the FCC tries to stop access stimulation and remove the arbitrage in the 8YY market it is clear abuse will continue until all switched access charges are moved to bill-and-keep.

In its upcoming meeting on August 5, 2021, the FCC is poised to introduce a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in Docket 13-97 in which it intends to modify its rules to better ensure that VoIP

On June 18, 2021, a three-judge panel at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans rejected a challenge of the FCC’s Order in Docket 18-89 barring the use of U.S. telecommunications companies

On July 9, 2021, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a consolidated challenge to the FCC’s 2019 Access Stimulation Order (Order) in Docket 18-155.

The FCC is busy meeting the Congressional requirement that all voice service providers must implement STIR/SHAKEN in their networks within 18 months of the law’s enactment.

In a big win for ISPs, a Judge from the Eastern District of New York filed a temporary injunction stopping New York state’s Broadband Affordability Act (“Act”) from taking effect.

There were two unrelated events this week that may significantly affect the future of Internet regulation.  The first involves a letter sent from 50 consumer advocacy groups seeking President Biden to appoint a fifth FCC commissioner.