By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 5-20-21
As promised, Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) has introduced a bill, the Expanding Opportunities for Broadband Deployment Act, that would eliminate the ETC (eligible telecommunications carrier) requirement for accessing Lifeline broadband subsidies.
Butterfield represents a rural North Carolina that desperately needs broadband, he has said, but that qualified providers are being discouraged from participating in FCC subsidy programs due to the “outdated” state-by-state ETC reporting requirements.
Cable operators have long pushed to scrap the ETC requirement to open up subidies for more cable operators. » Read More