March 29, 2021 1pm – 2pm
Telecommunications: A Look Into the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
Description: A new emergency Federal program providing Internet service discounts of $50/$75 a month for low-income households will start before the end of April. It addresses the need these households have for distance learning, telecommuting and telemedicine during the pandemic. The program was created by Congress in December and implemented by an FCC Order on February 26. It should interest municipalities, schools, churches, social service agencies and others dealing with households affected by the pandemic and which need robust Internet access. The program is of limited duration (until 6 months after the pandemic ends, or until $3.2 billion in Federal funding ends) so getting households signed up promptly is important.
We will describe the benefit ($50/$75 a month plus $100 for equipment) and the large number of households that are eligible: those with students receiving free/reduced price school meals during 2020 or 2021, SNAP (formerly food stamp) beneficiaries, and Medicaid participants as well as those getting Lifeline phone/Internet service, receiving Pell grants, or having been laid off/had a substantial loss of income since February of last year. Special additional rules apply to Tribal lands. Households will get the discounts directly from their cable, phone, cell phone or other Internet provider, with the providers reimbursed by the government. We will describe how to enroll for the discounts.
Speakers: John Pestle (jwpestle@varnumlaw.com) and Jonathan Kramer (kramer@telecomlawfirm.com)
John Pestle is the Chair of the Telecommunications Group at the Varnum law firm and is admitted to practice in Michigan and Arizona. He represents municipalities and private property owners nationwide on cell tower leases and zoning and other telecommunications matters. John is a graduate of Harvard College, Yale Graduate School, and the University of Michigan Law School. Among his many qualifications, John held an FCC license to work on radio, TV and ship radar transmitters and was Chair of the Municipal Lawyers Section of the Michigan Bar. He has received the "Member of the Year" award from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, and a "Special Award of Merit" from the Michigan Municipal League for his work representing municipalities on cable and telecommunications matters. For the Varnum web page on cell towers go to www.varnumlaw.com/celltower and for John's cell tower blog go to www.varnumlaw.com/blogs/cellphone-tower/ .
Jonathan Kramer is the principal attorney of Telecom Law Firm in Los Angeles. Since 1984 as a consultant, and 2006 as an attorney, he has advised more than 800 government agencies regarding wireless and broadband matters. Telecom Law Firm works for governments and private landlords around the country crafting reasonably fair wireless site leases. The firm has made a mark detecting and collecting rent-in-arrears for overoccupancy at lease sites, which is a frequent occurrence, and has resulted in 6 to 6-figure collections of back rent and interest, and increased rent going forward. Jonathan co-authored and edited the FCC’s publication for local government officials on radio frequency emissions safety, and at the request of the FCC he is presently revising and expanding it. Kramer holds a bunch of FCC licenses and telecom industry engineering certifications. Jonathan is admitted to practice in California and New Mexico and holds a LL.M degree in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law.