"Universal access to affordable broadband will stimulate local economies and create jobs," Vilsack said. "All Americans – regardless of where they live – should be able to benefit from the opportunities available in our digital age."

State and local governments, corporations and Indian tribes are eligible to apply for grants from $50,000 to $1 million through USDA's Community Connect Grant Program, which was created to help rural residents tap into the tremendous potential of the internet.

Community Connect grants will bring state-of-the-art broadband services to some of America's most isolated and economically challenged communities. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and can be used to:

Applications are due by the close of business on June 19. The application guide for this grant program can be found at Broadband Grant Application Guide. Also see the April 20 Federal Register, page 17941.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development and supports the creation of critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov .

Because 2009 is an odd-numbered year, only the price cap ILECs and the ILECs filing pursuant to section 61.39 are required to file revised access tariffs this year. Any rate-of-return ILEC subject to section 61.38 may elect to make a voluntary tariff filing at this time. ILECs are permitted to make their tariff filings on either 15 or seven days prior to the effective date of their tariffs, depending on the type of changes the tariffs propose. ILECs proposing to increase any of their rates file their tariff revisions on 15 days’ notice, while ILECs proposing to decrease all of their rates file their tariff revisions on seven days’ notice.

The Commission’s rules require that annual access tariff filings must be filed with a scheduled effective date of July 1. Accordingly, the effective date for ILEC annual access tariffs filed on 15 days’ notice is June 16, 2009 and those filed on seven days’ notice is June 24, 2009.

In accordance with the tariff filing schedule, petitions to suspend or reject tariff filings made on 15 days’ notice will be due June 23, 2009 and replies will be due June 26, 2009. Petitions to suspend or reject tariff filings made on seven days’ notice will be due by 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on June 26, 2009, and reply comments will be due no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on June 29, 2009.

Price cap ILECs are required to submit both a short form TRP and a long-form TRP. Section 61.49(k) of the Commission’s rules requires price cap carriers to file a short form TRP without rate detail information 90 days prior to the effective date of July 1. For this year’s filing, the FCC waives the 90 day requirement and permits the short form TRP to be filed on May 1, 2009. The FCC will issue a separate order that will provide the details of the price cap short form and regular TRPs. Comments on the short form TRP will be due on May 15, 2009.  Reply comments will be due May 22, 2009.

(BloostonLaw 04-10-09)  Effective April 28, 2009, the application fees charged to licensees and permittees by the FCC will  increase to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index- Urban (CPI-U). Section 8(b) of the Communications Act requires cost-of-living adjustments to the application fee schedule every two years after October 1, 1991. Increases in the dollar amount of all Section 8 application fees are based on the percentage change in the CPI-U from the date of enactment of the legislation. The new Schedule of Application Fees reflects the net change in the CPI-U of 4.9 percent, calculated from October 2005 through October 2007 in accordance with Section 1.1115 of Part 1 of the Commission’s Rules. Wireless Telecommunications Services application fees that have an associated regulatory fee that must be paid at the time of application filing are noted by an asterisk in the Schedule.

Please refer to the most recent Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Fee Filing Guide for the total fee that is due for these specific services. Copies of all fee filing guides for each of the Bureaus/Offices that have fee-able services may be obtained on the Internet at www.fcc.gov/fees/appfees.html.  Copies may also be obtained by calling Forms Distribution at (202) 418- 3676 or toll free by calling 1-800-418-3676.

All revenues generated by Section 8 Application Fees are deposited in the General Fund of the United States Treasury.

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