Happy New Year from TLP and welcome to the first Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up of 2022! Below you will find this week’s Weekly Wireless Wrap-Up, your update on the wireless telecommunications regulatory landscape, important wireless decisions, and more! Of note this week, President Biden re-nominated Gigi Sohn to be a Commissioner at the FCC. Here’s your wrap-up:
FCC:
- Last Wednesday, December 29, 2021, the FCC published in the Federal Register the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on the Enhanced Competition Incentive Program. Comments are due on or before February 28, 2022; reply comments are due on or before March 29, 2022. For more information, and to view a copy of the Notice, see our post here.
- Last Thursday, December 30, 2021, the FCC published in the Federal Register the Order on Reconsideration, Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Waiver Order in the Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Robocalls matter. The Order on Reconsideration is effective on January 31, 2022 and the Waiver Order is effective from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. Comments on the Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking are due on or before January 31, 2022; reply comments are due on or before February 14, 2022. In addition, yesterday, the FCC released a Public Notice regarding the Order on Reconsideration and Waiver Order’s effective dates. For more information and to view the Federal Register Notice, see our post here; to view the Public Notice, see our post here.
- Also last Thursday, the Wireline Competition Bureau released an Order providing additional guidance about requirements for the Affordable Connectivity Program (“ACP”) during the interim period until the Commission’s ACP rules become effective. The ACP began on December 31, 2021 and provides monthly support for broadband services of up to $30 for qualifying households on non-Tribal lands and of up to $75 for qualifying households on Tribal lands. For more information and to view a copy of the Order, see our post here.
- Yesterday, the Wireline Competition Bureau released an Order granting an extension of time to file comments to the Notice of Inquiry on the future of the Universal Service Fund. Comments are now due on or before February 17, 2022; reply comments are now due March 17, 2022. For more information and to view a copy of the Order, see our post here.
- Finally, as a reminder, wireless service providers are required to submit their annual HAC certification for the 2021 calendar year by midnight ET on Monday, January 31, 2022. The filing window opened on the first business day after January 1, 2022, which was Monday, January 3, 2022. For more information, see our post here.
Nominations
- Yesterday, President Biden re-nominated Gigi Sohn to be a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. Though she had been nominated and went through a nominations hearing in the Senate late last year, the nomination was returned to the President at the beginning of this year without a confirmation. No hearing on the new nomination has been set yet. To view the nomination and associated events, see Congress’ website here.
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