FCC Asks 5th Circuit to Lift Stay in USF Case
The FCC asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the stay in Consumers’ Research’s latest challenge to the USF, according to a filing Monday in docket 25-60535. Petitioners agreed to the motion, said the agency, which previously sought the delay until the government reopened (see 2511040071).
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The Universal Service Administrative Co., meanwhile, released projections Monday showing USF demand of $1.84 billion in Q1, which would mean a USF contribution factor of 32.3%, down from 38.1% the previous quarter. The lower contribution factor was previously projected by analyst Billy Jack Gregg (see 2511100035).
The FCC Office of Managing Director will likely release a decision next week on the contribution factor for Q1, Gregg said in an email Tuesday. In five of the last eight quarters, the office “has applied unused funds totaling $332 million to offset the demands of the Rural Healthcare Fund and the Schools and Libraries Fund, and produce lower quarterly USF contribution factors,” he noted.