EBB to ACP Transition Smooth for Most Providers, With More Enrollment Expected: Panel

The transition from the FCC’s emergency broadband benefit program to the affordable connectivity program has been largely smooth for most providers, said Wireline Bureau staff and industry during an FCBA webinar Wednesday (see 2111230058). Some providers said it was challenging to meet the transition deadline, and they're now focused on increasing enrollment.

An average 10,000 households have enrolled in ACP per day in the past two weeks, said Office of Economics and Analytics Economist-Industry Analysis Division John Pedersen. FCC staff was “on a pretty tight timeline” to stand up ACP, said Wireline Bureau Telecom Access Policy Division Attorney Adviser Sherry Ross.

The “biggest change” from EBB was the monthly subsidy decrease for nontribal households, Ross said, noting eligibility was also expanded to include households that have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Another change was that the FCC made clear reimbursement claims for a connected device needed to be based on the “market value” of the device, said Telecom Access Policy Attorney Adviser Christian Hoefly.

The commission “did a tremendous job” transitioning from EBB to ACP and “being available” to answer providers' questions, said AT&T Director-Federal Regulatory Anisa Green. Allowing most EBB households to transition automatically into ACP was helpful, said T-Mobile Director-Government Affairs Norina Moy, because of a concern that some of those households would be left out of the new program. Both companies opted to participate in EBB and ACP.

Several stakeholders raised concerns about participating provider requirements, household eligibility and enrollment, and eligible services and devices. Others raised concerns about the consumer protection requirements added to the new program. Participating providers have until April 15 to finish needed changes to ensure the benefit can be applied to all of their generally available plans (see 2202110055). T-Mobile is “anxious” about verifying eligibility in non-national Lifeline accountability database states, Moy said.

Cox has overcome “many” of the operational obstacles for the transition, said Senior Director-Regulatory Affairs Jenny Prime. “Time has been our biggest challenge” because implementing some changes was a “cumbersome process,” Prime said. The company’s current focus is getting more households enrolled and whether the program will be made more permanent, Prime said, noting the recent announcement that 10 million households have enrolled is the starting point (see 2202140057).

Implementing ACP’s program changes has gone “fairly well,” said Amplex Internet President Mark Radabaugh, although he said small providers remain concerned about compliance and recordkeeping requirements. "I don't see the number" of participating providers decreasing if other Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act broadband programs allow providers to use ACP participation to fulfill a requirement that they offer an affordable service to receive funding, Radabaugh said (see 2202070053).

A challenging aspects for consumers has been that the program was stood up during the holiday season and “we are still in this sort of soft launch phase,” said National Consumer Law Center Staff Attorney Olivia Wein (see 2201050043).

Several panelists said they're eager to participate in ACP outreach efforts as funding is expected to be available in the coming months (see 2112270038). T-Mobile's Assurance Wireless is actively contacting tribal leaders and municipalities to reach potentially eligible households, Moy said. AT&T set up “pop-up shops” and partnered with Walmart to promote ACP, Green said.

The Universal Service Administrative Co., which administers the program, is planning to host additional webinars for participating providers, said Telecom Access Policy Attorney Adviser Jessica Campbell.