$22 Million in Fines Proposed for RDOF Defaults

Last week, the FCC released a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (“NAL”) identifying two Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) Phase I Auction (“Auction 904”) applicants that defaulted on their bids.  The FCC maintains that Etheric Communications LLC (“Etheric”) and LTD Broadband LLC (“LTD”) defaulted by failing to meet deadlines and requirements associated with Auction 904.  The Commission has proposed a fine of $732,000 against Etheric and $21,714,000 against LTD.  

Comment Deadlines Finalized for Wi-Fi Hotspot NPRM

The Federal Register published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) that seeks to allow E-Rate funding recipients to support hot spot loan programs (Vol. XX, Issue 46), setting the deadline to submit comments and reply comments on January 8, 2024, and January 22, 2024, respectively.  The E-Rate program is a universal service support mechanism that funds schools and libraries, and the FCC seeks to classify the hot spots as a service that provides connectivity to eligible school and library locations.  Wi-Fi hot spots help to establish connectivity for those who lack it outside of the library or school campus, and the FCC cites successful hot spot loan programs under the Emergency Connectivity Fund (“ECF”) to support the NPRM.  

New DIRS Version Announced

The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announced a new version of the Disaster Information Reporting System (“DIRS”), which has been modernized to enhance security and network features.  DIRS is a voluntary system communications providers use to report the status of their systems and request aid during disasters.  The new system is available at https://dirs.fcc.gov/ and can be accessed readily by those with existing CORES accounts.  

C-Band Submission Deadlines Announced

The FCC issued a Public Notice last week setting final deadlines for the submission of reimbursement claims for the C-Band relocation program (Vol. XX, Issue 42).  The FCC has adopted February 5, 2024, as the deadline for reimbursement claims for costs incurred and paid as of December 31, 2023, including all lump sum election claims by incumbent earth station operators and July 1, 2024, for all claims for costs incurred and paid after December 31, 2023.

Thomas B. Magee, Tracy P. Marshall, Kathleen Slattery Thompson, Sean A. Stokes, and Wesley K. Wright contributed to this article.