On March 4, 2021, the Wireline Competition Bureau (“WCB”) released a Public Notice announcing initial milestones for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (“EBB”) Program. The February 25, 2021 EBB Program Report and Order directed the WCB to set application filing deadlines for non-ETC providers that wished to participate in the EBB Program. In the Public Notice, the WCB sets the following initial milestone deadlines:
| EBB Program Milestone | Filing Location | Date |
| Non-ETC Provider Applications & Alternative Eligibility Verification Process Portal Opens | WCB | March 8, 2021 |
| Provider Election Notice Inbox Opens – to be submitted to: [email protected] | USAC | March 11, 2021 |
| Non-ETC Provider Priority Application & Alternative Eligibility Verification Process Deadline | WCB | March 22, 2021 |
Non-ETC providers will use the same WCB portal to submit their applications and to submit the request for approval of an alternative eligibility verification process, which will be located on the WCB’s website under the “Provider FCC Approvals” section. The WCB will announce the official commencement of the EBB Program in a future public notice after the WCB and USAC have had time to review the filings submitted by providers. Non-ETC providers that file complete applications for approval by the priority deadline will be notified of their eligibility prior to the start date for the EBB Program.
Additional information about the approval process and how to submit an application may be found here: https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-program.
Additional information on USAC’s role in the EBB Program can be found here: https://www.usac.org/about/emergency-broadband-benefit-program/.
Additional information on the Provider Election Notice and directions on how to fill out the notice will be available soon here: https://www.usac.org/about/emergency-broadband-benefit-program/system-resources/get-started.
Please Contact Us if you have any questions.