The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB or Bureau) has granted limited waivers of certain Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) requirements in response to petitions filed by USTelecom – The Broadband Association, Verizon, AT&T, and the Competitive Carriers Association. Specifically, the Bureau has granted a limited 60-day waiver for Verizon and AT&T of the requirement that a participating provider allow an eligible household to apply the ACP benefit to any residential service plan selected by the eligible household.
The Bureau also granted a limited 60-day waiver for all providers of the non-usage tracking and non-usage de-enrollment rules, originally scheduled to take effect on April 15, 2022. While the Bureau has granted a 60-day waiver of the non-usage rules, participating providers still must comply with the previous Emergency Broadband Benefit Program non-usage rules. Thus, service providers cannot claim support for households that have not used their ACP-supported service during that service month.
