Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

A draft FCC notice of inquiry aimed at improving access to communications services for survivors of domestic or sexual violence should include privacy concerns and encourage partnerships with entities at the local level, advocacy organizations told us (see 2206230069). Commissioners will consider the item Thursday, which would seek comment on obstacles survivors face to obtaining broadband services and ways to amend Lifeline or the affordable connectivity program to encourage enrollment among survivors.

NARUC should press states and the federal government to lower barriers, including through increased funding and awareness campaigns, to enrollment in the affordable connectivity program, Telecom Committee member Crystal Rhoades said in an interview Thursday. The Nebraska Public Service Commission’s lone Democrat said she doesn’t expect controversy over her proposed resolution, which is up for vote at NARUC’s July 17-20 policy summit in San Diego (see 2207060037). However, Next Century Cities Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Johnston raised concerns that the draft omits local governments’ key role in raising awareness.

NARUC plans to weigh a draft resolution on increasing enrollment in the affordable connectivity program (ACP) at its July 17-20 policy summit in San Diego, said a list of resolutions released Wednesday. Also, NARUC will consider a draft by Virginia State Corporation Commission Judge Jehmal Hudson to commit the state utility regulator association to expanding diversity, equity and inclusion programming. State commissions, the FCC and the Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) should "work collaboratively with federal and state agencies that implement programs whose target participants are eligible for Lifeline and ACP to promote awareness ... among eligible households,” said the ACP resolution by Nebraska Public Service Commissioner Crystal Rhoades (D). The FCC and USAC should "establish agreements with federal and state departments of agriculture and the health and human services, and other federal and state agencies implementing programs that establish consumers’ eligibility for Lifeline and ACP,” it said. Fewer than 27% of 46.4 million eligible households are enrolled in ACP, compared with 79.9% of eligible people participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and 84% in Medicaid, noted the draft. Lifeline national verifier access to state SNAP and federal/state Medicaid databases "greatly improved the National Verifier's efficiency and accuracy in verifying eligibility and the ease of enrollment for low-income consumers,” but SNAP databases in more than half the states still haven't been connected "due to a number of barriers, including lack of funding,” it said.

The California Public Utilities Commission received much feedback from telecom companies, consumer advocates and local governments on possible changes to California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) broadband infrastructure account rules. The CPUC received comments Monday on changes proposed June 7 to the state-funded last-mile program as part of a wider California broadband effort (see 2205250045). The CPUC adopted rules in April for a last-mile program using federal funding (see 2204210046).

A draft FCC notice of inquiry would seek comment on expanding access to the affordable connectivity program and Lifeline for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, if adopted during the commissioners’ July 14 meeting. It would seek comment on the agency’s authority to adjust both programs to better assist survivors and whether the FCC should adopt certain requirements set in the proposed Safe Connections Act.

​​​​​​The FCC will consider how to leverage Lifeline and the affordable connectivity program to better support survivors of domestic and sexual violence, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday, previewing the commissioners' July 14 meeting agenda. Survivors of domestic and sexual violence "uniquely rely on access to private communications" and face "unique challenges securing reliable phone and internet service," Rosenworcel wrote: The item under consideration will look to "ensure that survivors are able to communicate safely with abuse hotlines and shelters."

Comments are due by July 25, replies Aug. 8, on an FCC NPRM on the affordable connectivity program's annual data collection on prices and subscription plan offerings, said a notice for Thursday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved the item earlier this month (see 2206090057).

The FCC Wireline Bureau wants comments by July 18, replies by Aug. 1, in docket 21-450 on the National Lifeline Association's petition for clarification that the Wireline and Enforcement Bureaus' authority to suspend an affordable connectivity program provider's enrollment or hold funding based on the "adequate evidence" standard, said a notice prepared for Friday's Federal Register (see 2203170065). It also wants comments on NaLA's request for clarification that a provider offering a connected device must provide price information for "at least one of the analogous devices from a major retailer."

The FCC Wireline Bureau granted NTCA's and AT&T's requests to waive some non-usage tracking rules for the affordable connectivity program, in an order Tuesday in docket 21-450. The bureau granted NTCA's request to let small providers track usage for households on tribal lands receiving a fully subsidized offering on a rolling 30-day basis until Sept. 15 and a retroactive waiver to Jan. 1 of the Lifeline usage tracking requirement for providers applying the Lifeline and ACP benefit to the same service if it results in a fully subsidized offering (see 2205270043). Providers must inform the Universal Service Administrative Co. of their intent to take advantage of the waiver within 30 days. The bureau also granted AT&T's request to waive the non-usage rules for its customers receiving fully subsidized plans that use asymmetric digital subscriber line technology until Aug. 13 (see 2205090056).

The FCC plans to release details about the affordable connectivity program's outreach grants and pilot program aimed at boosting enrollment among households receiving federal public housing assistance this summer, said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel during a virtual Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights event Monday.