CommLaw Monitor

News and analysis from Kelley Drye’s communications practice group

FCC Regulatory Fees for FY 2019 Due September 24th, O’Rielly Urges Agency Belt-Tightening

FCC regulatory fees for FY 2019 must be paid by September 24, 2019, under an order issued by the agency earlier this week. Federal law requires the FCC to assess regulatory fees each year to cover its operating costs…

FCC Votes on Possible Changes to the Rural Health Care Program

At its last open meeting in 2017, the five FCC Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and Order regarding the Commission’s Rural Health Care (RHC) Program, a 20-year old…

AT&T Joins Effort to Expand Waivers for Late-Filed USF Forms

AT&T has joined the ranks of petitioners seeking to overturn the Wireline Competition Bureau's tough stance on contributors' late-filed USF forms. On September 13, AT&T joined Airband Communications in seeking…

Late-Filed Forms Update: Airband Seeks Review of FCC Denial

Last week, we posted an entry about the tough stance the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau is taking on late-filed Universal Service Forms submitted by contributors. One of the parties whose USF appeal was denied,…

Filer Beware: FCC Affirms Tough Stance on Late-Filed Universal Service Forms

In stark contrast to the Bureau's more liberal waiver policy for recipients of Universal Service Funds, the Wireline Competition Bureau recently released orders affirming a tough stance for contributors who miss USF…