On January 1, 2021, the Universal Service Fund contribution factor officially hit 31.8% — a new and alarming all-time high. Policymakers have wrestled with concerns over the rising factor for years but crossing the 30% threshold is a serious wake-up call. A USF contribution factor of around 5% was the norm until 2005 when it…
Read More New Year, New Solutions: Reforming Universal Service ContributionsLatest From Our Blog
2021 – Closing the Homework Gap Together
One thing we all learned last year was the power of connection – the critical need to stay digitally connected to our work, school, family and friends. It was a year that accelerated the move to digital, changing permanently how we communicate, learn and work. Sadly, nearly 17 million children across America are disconnected from…
Read More 2021 – Closing the Homework Gap TogetherOur Response to the Events at the Nation’s Capitol
Attribute the following to John Stankey, AT&T CEO: “We applaud all those who stood strong to thwart an appalling insurrection bent on blocking the peaceful transfer of power following a free and fair election. Freedom, democracy and rule of law are America’s bedrock and must never be usurped. We congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect…
Read More Our Response to the Events at the Nation’s CapitolThe RDOF Auction Results and Implications for U.S. Broadband Policy
The preliminary results of the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction are now public and while it is a long road from auction results to authorization of funding to actual deployment, the results have significant implications for U.S. broadband policy. The locations covered in the Phase I auction represent the rural locations that are…
Read More The RDOF Auction Results and Implications for U.S. Broadband PolicyStaying the Course on our Commitment to Equality and Police Reform
By Ken McNeely, President – AT&T Western Region and Leader of AT&T’s Social Justice Issues Working Group Although we all have endured a year like no other, I know many of us still find ourselves, as we do this time every year, taking stock of what we’ve done over the past several months and what…
Read More Staying the Course on our Commitment to Equality and Police ReformAT&T Statement on Confirmation of Nathan Simington to FCC
The following may be attributed to Joan Marsh, AT&T Executive Vice President of Federal Regulatory Relations: “We congratulate Nathan Simington as he takes a seat at the Federal Communications Commission. We look forward to working with him and his staff on the many important issues and policy discussions before the agency that play a critical…
Read More AT&T Statement on Confirmation of Nathan Simington to FCCClosing the Homework Gap and Bridging the Digital Divide
As a country, we have weathered an extraordinary year. The pandemic laid bare fissures and inequities that we will be addressing for a long time to come. One of the many lessons learned – if there was ever any doubt – is the critical need to stay digitally connected to our work, our schools and…
Read More Closing the Homework Gap and Bridging the Digital DivideFCC Takes Steps to Eliminate Barriers to Broadband Investments
The following may be attributed to Joan Marsh, Executive Vice President of Federal Regulatory Relations: “We are pleased that the FCC has adopted the compromise framework to reform network unbundling rules, which has broad support across the industry. We all recognize that that the global pandemic has brought to the forefront the critical need…
Read More FCC Takes Steps to Eliminate Barriers to Broadband InvestmentsFCC Adopts Order to Foster Deployment of 5G Wireless Infrastructure
The following may be attributed to Joan Marsh, Executive Vice President of Federal Regulatory Relations: “We welcome today’s action by the FCC to further facilitate the deployment of wireless infrastructure necessary to roll out 5G technologies and services, and we thank Commissioner Carr, in particular, for his leadership in advocating for smart policies that streamline…
Read More FCC Adopts Order to Foster Deployment of 5G Wireless InfrastructureFCC Unleashes More Funds for 5G; Commits to Utilizing Better Broadband Maps to Distribute Support
The following may be attributed to Joan Marsh, Executive Vice President of Federal Regulatory Relations: “Today, the FCC adopted a 5G Mobility Fund order that advances the Commission’s goals of closing the digital divide and making advanced wireless services available to more Americans. We commend Chairman Pai for making more funds available for 5G investment….
Read More FCC Unleashes More Funds for 5G; Commits to Utilizing Better Broadband Maps to Distribute Support