The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB or Bureau) has extended the Commission’s waiver of the Rural Health Care (RHC) and E-Rate program gift rules through December 31, 2020, which was previously set to expire September 30, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the program participants’ operations, the Bureau found the extension of this waiver was warranted to assist rural health care providers and schools and libraries in accessing robust connectivity. The Bureau also extended the RHC program waiver of the deadline to respond to information requests from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) through December 31, 2020. WCB also directed USAC to provide a 30-day extension to E-Rate participants to respond to certain USAC information requests issued through December 31, 2020, including those related to Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) requests.
