The FCC has adopted an Order on Reconsideration addressing several petitions for reconsideration in response to the Enhanced A-CAM Order, which created a mechanism to provide universal service high-cost support for deployment of 100/20 Mbps or better broadband service in rural areas served by A-CAM recipients and areas served by legacy rate-of-return support recipients. The petitions requested a series of changes to the Enhanced A-CAM program including extending the deployment milestones, reconsidering the technology-neutral approach, and altering the process for determining the presence of unsubsidized competition.
The Commission has dismissed or denied all outstanding petitions arguing that such petitions failed to identify any material error, omission, or reason warranting reconsideration. The FCC also clarified that the filing of cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans is “an iterative process” and thus dismissed a filed petition as moot raising questions with Enhanced A-CAM recipients’ cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plan obligations.
