Federal Communications Commission	DA 21-XX


DA 21-91
Released:  January 28, 2021

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON EMERGENCY BROADBAND BENEFIT PROGRAM
Roundtable Will Help Shape Approach to Administering the Program
WC Docket No. 20-445
By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces an Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Roundtable Discussion to take place on February 12, 2021, at 10:00 AM EST.  Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-260 (2020), available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/133/text (Consolidated Appropriations Act). 
 established an Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund of $3.2 billion and directed the Federal Communications Commission to use that fund to establish an Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, through which eligible households may receive a discount off the cost of broadband service and certain connected devices during an emergency period relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, and participating providers can be reimbursed for such discounts.  
The Commission will host the discussion to provide an opportunity for Commission staff and interested parties to examine proposed actions the Commission should take to establish the program.  The Commission is currently receiving comments regarding the program, See Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund Assistance, Public Notice, DA 21-14 (WCB 2021) (establishing deadlines for comments of January 25, 2021 and reply comments of February 16, 2021).
 and this roundtable will provide an additional opportunity to determine the best approach to leverage the funding to help close the digital divide.  Specifically, the roundtable discussion will focus on the important public policy and program administration decisions that will shape the Commission’s approach to administering the funding.  
In a subsequent public notice, the Bureau will announce further information about the event, including panel discussion topics and participants.  The Commission anticipates the roundtable discussion will last no longer than half a day.  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCC Headquarters is closed. See FCC Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Filing, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 2788 (OMD 2020).
  Accordingly, the roundtable discussion will be a virtual event available at www.fcc.gov/live. 
Open captioning will be provided for this event.  Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.  The request should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed and contact information.  We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible in order to allow the agency to satisfy such requests whenever possible.  Send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202)418-0530 (voice), (202)418-0432 (TTY).
For further information, please contact Christian Hoefly at christian.hoefly@fcc.gov. 
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