Davidson Confirmed as Next NTIA Chief . . .
Ohio State Receives $3 Million Grant to Boost Broadband Jobs . . .
Ohio Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Announce Running Mates . . .
Ohio Supreme Court Sends Redistricting Maps Back to Drawing Board . . .
Governor DeWine Signs Sports Gambling Bill into Law . . .
Biden Administration to Giveaway N95 Masks . . .
AT&T and Verizon Announce Delay in Deployment of 5G Near U.S. Airports
Wireless service providers AT&T and Verizon have voluntarily agreed to a temporary delay in their rollout of 5G service at towers within a two-mile radius near U.S. airports. Some international airlines have also agreed to cancel several U.S. flights due to the potential interference. This decision averted an aviation standoff that threatened to disrupt flights.
The 5G C-Band wireless spectrum service sits next to frequencies used by key instruments on modern aircraft. Airline officials and FAA expressed serious warnings that the planned 5G deployment could interfere with systems such as radio altimeters and risk overlaps in transmission frequencies. Airline executives worked with the Biden Administration, stressing the use of radio altimeters in airline safety systems and how that could be seriously jeopardized and result in major airline cancellations.
Over the next few weeks, regulators, airlines and wireless carriers will collaborate on ways to minimize the potential impact of interference on airline safety systems and flight operations.
The carriers won the C-Band Spectrum in an $80 billion government auction.
It is still unknown how many airports are affected and how long the delays will actually last.
FCC Adopts Rules to Implement
Affordability Connectivity Program (ACP)
Congress recently created the Affordability Connectivity Program (ACP), a new, long-term $14 billion program, which will replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB)
The FCC has formally adopted new but similar rules to help households struggling to afford internet service. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel is supportive of her agency's hard efforts to put these tools in place to initiate the longer-term ACP program. The primary purpose is aimed at assisting families from having to make difficult choices between paying for gas and groceries or paying for a broadband bill.
The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 a month for eligible households and up to $75 a month if the household is on Tribal lands. It also provides a one-time discount up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible households.
Current Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program participants will continue to receive full benefits until March 1, 2022.
A household is eligible if a member of the household
meets one of the following criteria:
- An income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs (i.e. SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline)
- Recipient of a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
- Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced price school lunch program
- Meets the eligibility for a participating providers existing low-income program
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commonalities to promote and serve rural areas of Ohio
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