BROWSING: USF

Another $3.1 billion would fully fund eligible carrier requests The Biden administration has asked Congress for an additional $3.1 billion to fully fund small-and-medium-sized network operators' efforts to remove and replace network gear and services from banned Chinese vendors. The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks...

The Universal Service Fund has survived a challenge to its constitutionality, with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruling that the Federal Communications Commission has the authority to operate the USF and that its current framework for management of the...

Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on those sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories! Brazil gets its...

The Federal Communications Commission has made a required report to Congress on the future of the Universal Service Fund, and one of the most hotly debated portions of the record was on how the USF should be funded. Some argued for a "wholesale examination...

FCC cuts off Universal Service Fund money to buy and maintain US networks that use Chinese kit It's been a long time coming but, despite the protracted journey, reaching the destination still stings for the small and rural domestic mobile network operators that use network...

Funds are aimed at hardening and improving U.S. territories' mobile networks The Federal Communications Commission has authorized $237.9 million in Universal Service Fund dollars to mobile broadband networks in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. That figure includes the agency's first USF support for...

FCC proposed rulemaking permanently modifies rules for educational Wi-Fi projects The Federal Communications Commission is looking to make it easier for Wi-Fi projects at schools and libraries to be funded under federal mechanisms. The FCC tested out a "category two" budget approach for five years under...

Geoffrey Starks tapped to replace Mignon Clyburn on FCC A Senate-led pushback on the repeal of net neutrality, a rapidly shifting relationship between service providers and content producers, national intelligence concerns regarding the use of network infrastructure and devices from Chinese manufacturers, facilitating the spectral...

MTN Nigeria works with Huawei to reduce infrastructure TCO While its growth trajectory in the U.S. rural carrier market is currently up in the air, Huawei continues to enable rural connectivity in underserved geographies around the world. The infrastructure giant recently using low-band LTE non-line-of-sight...

  Communications technology has undergone a phase of rapid innovation, completely transforming the way businesses and consumers relay and consume information. Now that our once-wired world has been almost entirely replaced by a landscape of wireless technologies, the ripple effects within the telecom space are...

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai recently called a halt to what were termed midnight regulations passed by his predecessor. Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Reality Check section is where C-level executives and advisory firms from across the mobile industry share unique insights...

The FCC dropped plans to tackle a trio of controversial telecom topics at its November open meeting as transition begins, including USF, BDS and VoLTE roaming. In the wake of the somewhat surprising presidential election results, the Federal Communications Commission has dropped...

Story edited to clarify Sprint deal is not with T-Mobile US affiliate IWireless Sprint plans to merge its Assurance business with I-Wireless’ Access Wireless in a move to improve targeting of government’s Lifeline program Sprint is parsing out one of its several prepaid brands, announcing a...

Total Call accused of rampant abuse of FCC Lifeline program, including enrollment of duplicate and ineligible customers On the heels of adopting reforms to its government subsidized Lifeline telecom service, the Federal Communications Commission announced a record $51 million fine against one participant for over...

The FCC unanimously approved USF reform rules in a push to expand broadband coverage to communities most in need The Federal Communications Commission approved what it’s calling modernization and reform of its universal service program in a rare unanimous vote. The FCC said the program will...

Washington, Nebraska, New York, Illinois and Missouri have the highest wireless tax rates Research group the Tax Foundation, in a new report, found that the average wireless consumer in the U.S. pays a combined 18% rate in federal, state and local taxes, plus associated fees. All told,...

FCC found TracFone violated device-unlocking rules for Lifeline customers TracFone Wireless ran afoul of the Federal Communications Commission’s device unlocking requirements tied to its Lifeline service offerings that could cost the prepaid provider more than $83 million. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau found that TracFone violated FCC...

LAS VEGAS — Following up on a conversation he had earlier in the day with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler, Competitive Carriers Association CEO and President Steve Berry talked with RCR Wireless News about how he felt Wheeler’s comments addressed concerns from CCA...

The Federal Communications Commission gained a court victory in support of its Universal Service Fund reform efforts, with a federal appeals court upholding the agency’s Connect America program that is designed to subsidize rural broadband services. Under former FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, the FCC in...

The Federal Communications Commission moved forward with its controversial Mobility Fund, announcing the release of a public notice with the procedures for “phase one” of the reverse auction for universal service fund support. The fund is expected to provide up to $300 million in...

2012 is forecasting to be a pivotal year for regional wireless carriers across the United States. Many of the issues we have been combating for several years will still be plaguing regional carriers, along with new issues that arise every day in this dynamic industry. Several of these issues will reach a crucial turning point for carriers. We begin 2012 with numerous questions and not enough answers.

LAS VEGAS – A relative new entrant into the mobile space, Hays, Kan.-based Nex-Tech Wireless has established itself as an entrenched partner to the Rural Cellular Association as well as across the wireless industry. Nex-Tech CEO Johnie Johnson is an example of that currently...

Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) appears set to take a hard-line stance on AT&T Inc.’s (T) proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA Inc. (DTEGY), which would put pressure on the industry’s third largest wireless provider. In a statement released today, Sprint Nextel noted the $39 billion...

Just short of a year after announcing its intentions, CenturyLink Inc. (CTL) received Federal Communications Commission approval for its acquisition of Qwest Communications International Inc. (Q) The deal, which was announced last April, calls for CenturyLink shareholders to control 50.5% of the combined operations,...