Yurok Tribe Members to Receive Android Tablets and $75 Monthly Internet Discount Via Emergency Federal Broadband Program
Image courtesy Yurok Tribe
Press release from the Yurok Tribe:
Today, Yurok Connect launched a new program that will provide free digital devices and a
substantial discount on monthly internet bills to eligible customers on the Yurok Reservation.
The Federal Communications Commission recently approved Yurok Connect to establish an
Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program. The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will
offer eligible Yurok Reservation households a reduction of up to $75 per month on monthly
internet bills. All qualified participants will also be offered a Wi-Fi-capable Android tablet. These
Commentary
2021 is well underway and the new leadership at the FCC is taking shape. While we don’t yet know who will fill the Chair on a permanent basis, the FCC under Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel is proceeding without delay. On the Universal Service front, the principal activity surprisingly has as much to do with
non-USF programs as with the USF itself. Yes, the $9 billion per year fund with its four primary programs continues to serve broadband needs in the country. And it is true that the FCC has extended many COVID-19 waivers and is considering additional waivers such as a proposal to allow E-rate funds to be used for off-campus purposes. But the big news of 2021 is turning out to be the
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The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 includes billions of dollars to expand the deployment of broadband internet networks, consumer subsidies for service and equipment, as well as non-monetary provisions that could affect broadband service providers businesses.
The broadband provisions alone of the massive Appropriations Act are dense and raise many questions about how they will ultimately be implemented. In the meantime, we offer this summary of key provisions related to broadband network deployment.
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
The Act establishes a temporary $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program that will reimburse participating providers up to $50 per month ($75 in tribal areas) for providing discounted broadband service to an eligible household. Under the terms of the legislation, the program will sunset six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares the end
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In a Second Report & Order (Second R&O) published in the Federal Register January 13, 2021, with an effective date of March 15, 2022 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously adopted rules that implement the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Secure Networks Act). Those rules require Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) to remove and replace covered equipment and services, which are to be included on the covered list required by Section 2 of the Secure Networks Act, from their network and operations environments.
The Second R&O also establishes a Reimbursement Program that will provide funds to smaller providers of advanced communications services for removal and replacement of covered equipment, and establishes reporting requirements to monitor the presence of such equipment and services in communications networks. Through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (effective De