Regulatory Updates

March 8, 2024

There has been quite a bit happening over the last few months and we know you have all been inundated with webinars/updates/changes etc.  We don’t want to rehash information you already have, but want to throw out a few reminders.  Please reach out if you want more information as we are happy to answer questions, or point you in the right direction on any of these items.

 

  • Corporate Transparency Act (CTA): While many of your companies may be exempt, some, and some subsidiaries or affiliates may be required to comply with the reporting requirements of the CTA regarding beneficial ownership information.  You may want to contact your consultants/auditors/attorneys to see if you are required to comply. Deadlines for entities created in 2024 are 90 days from creation.  New entities after 2024 must file within 30 days.  Existing entities created prior to 2024 have until the end of this year.
  • ReConnect Round 5: A Notice of Funding Opportunity was released on February 21 announcing the availability of up to $700 Million for loans and grants for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to deploy fixed broadband service in eligible rural areas. The NOFA can be found here: Federal Register :: Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural eConnectivity Program for Fiscal Year 2024.  Application may be filed between March 22, 2024 and May 21, 2024.  This is a more extended window than was originally announced. For more information, please visit the ReConnect website: https://www.usda.gov/reconnect
  • End of ACP: April 2024 is the last fully funded month of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Don’t forget to send written notices to ACP-Enrolled households advising them that ACP is ending prior to March 19th.
  • BOOT: Announcement of BOOT Round 1 Awards are expected to be announced in May ’24.  There will be a second round of BOOT, but it will remain pending while the BEAD program rollout is underway in an effort to avoid duplicated funding. 
  • BEAD Challenge Process:  We will make you aware as soon as the challenge process and timeline is announced.  The Broadband Development Office (BDO) submitted its initial proposal to NTIA on December 23, 2023.  While the challenge window was expected to begin in April of 2024, no official timeline can be set until the initial proposal is approved by NTIA.  At the industry roundtable on February 27, the BDO did not give any indication of how fast the challenge process would begin following approval of the initial proposal, only that more information would be provided once the proposal was approved and a vendor was onboarded.
  • Tier D License: Reminder for those of you that want to participate in the BEAD program’s challenge process, apply for an award, and report for an awarded grant that you must have a Tier D License.  This is a fabric license and there is no cost associated with these licenses.  Please visit the following link to apply: NTIA Tier D License Request (costquest.com).
  • PUC Annual Reporting: Reminder of annual ILEC/SPCOA/COA reporting requirements due by the end of April.  In addition, for those of you with SPCOA/COAs, companies that have a COA or SPCOA are required to file a renewal of its certification with the PUC every ten years (16 TAC § 26.111(k).  COA/SPCOA renewals were last filed in 2014.  We have attached a copy of the renewal form that PUC staff provided for your use. The COA/SPCOA renewal forms must be filed in Project No. 56034 no later than June 1, 2024. If the COA/SPCOA certification renewal has not been accepted or processed by the PUC by October 1, 2024, your COA or SPCOA certification will be rendered permanently invalid, and you must immediately cease providing telecommunications services in Texas.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the area where you will find access to a number of documents pertaining to regulatory issues.  These pages are updated on a regular basis.  If you are looking for a particular document you can't find on these pages, please contact TSTCI at [email protected], or call 512-343-2587.