Federal Communications Commission	DA  22-152


DA  22-152
Released:  February 14, 2022

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES EFFECTIVE DATES OF AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM RULES AND COMMENT AND REPLY COMMENT DEADLINES FOR RELATED FURTHER NOTICE
WC Docket No. 21-450

Comment Deadline: March 16, 2022
Reply Comment Deadline: April 15, 2022

On January 21, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission released the Affordable Connectivity Program Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ACP Order and Further Notice) providing the final rules to implement the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Affordable Connectivity Program; Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, WC Docket No. 21-450, WC Docket No. 20-445, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC-22-2 (Jan. 21, 2022) (ACP Order and Further Notice). 
  The ACP Order and Further Notice was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2022. Federal Communications Commission, Affordable Connectivity Program; Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, Final Rule, 87 Fed. Reg. 8346 (Feb. 14, 2022) (to be codified at 47 CFR pt. 54). 
  As set forth in the ACP Order and Further Notice, all adopted rules have the following effective dates. See id. at 134-135, para. 305.
 
Rules that will become effective on March 16, 2022: See id. 

· § 54.1800 – Definitions 
· § 54.1801 – Participating providers
· § 54.1802(a) – Affordable connectivity benefit 
· § 54.1803 – Affordable Connectivity Program support amounts 
· § 54.1805 – Household qualifications for the Affordable Connectivity Program
· § 54.1806 – Household eligibility determinations and annual recertifications
· § 54.1807(a) – Enrollment representative registration 
· § 54.1808(a)-(g) – Reimbursement 
· § 54.1809(a)-(b), (d)-(e) – De-enrollment from the Affordable Connectivity Program
· § 54.1810(c)-(i) – Credit checks, Non-Payment, Upselling and down selling prohibition, Extended service 
· § 54.1811 – Recordkeeping requirements 
· § 54.1812 – Validity of electronic signatures 
Rules that will become effective on April 15, 2022: See id. at 123, para 270. 

· § 54.1802(b) – Availability of service plans 
· § 54.1804 – Participating provider obligation to offer the Affordable Connectivity Program
· § 54.1807(b) – Prohibition of commissions for enrollment representatives
· § 54.1808(c)(1)-(2) – Usage requirement for provider reimbursement, Provider certification requirements 
· § 54.1809(c) – De-Enrollment for non-usage 
· § 54.1810(a) – Disclosures and consents for enrollment
· § 54.1810(b)– Transfers in the Affordable Connectivity Program 
In the Further Notice, the Commission seeks comment on the structuring of an outreach grant program, and implementation of a mechanism for determining the application of the enhanced benefit for providers serving “high cost” areas as determined by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. See id. 
  The Commission also seeks comment on a potential pilot program focused on increasing awareness of and enrollment in the ACP for households receiving federal public housing assistance. See id. at 133-134, para 300.
  The Commission set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 60 days, respectively, after publication of the Further Notice in the Federal Register. See id. 
  The Further Notice was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2022. Federal Communications Commission, Affordable Connectivity Program, Proposed Rule, 87 Fed. Reg. 8385 (Feb. 14, 2022). 
 Comments should therefore be submitted no later than March 16, 2022. See ACP Order and Further Notice at 133-134, para 300.
  Reply Comments must be submitted no later than April 15, 2022. See id.  
  Commenters should follow the filing instructions provided in paragraph 300 of the ACP Order and Further Notice. See id.  

For further information, please contact Travis Hahn of the Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, at 202-418-7400, or via e-mail at travis.hahn@fcc.gov. 



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