Page 89 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023
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REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES  SAMENA TRENDS

        FCC  Chairwoman  Urges U.S. Congress  to  Renew  Funding  for Affordable

        Connectivity Program


                                                                                 participating  providers  if  they contribute
                                                                                 more  than  $10  and  less  than  $50  toward
                                                                                 the purchase price, according to the FCC’s
                                                                                 program summary, which said households
                                                                                 in  the ACP  are limited  to one monthly
                                                                                 service discount and one device discount
                                                                                 per household. “I strongly support funding
                                                                                 the  Affordable  Connectivity  Program into
                                                                                 the  future to help more families get  and
                                                                                 stay connected to the high-speed internet
                                                                                 they need  to participate  in  modern  life,”
                                                                                 Rosenworcel told the  subcommittee.  She
                                                                                 said  the ACP  is  the  largest  broadband
                                                                                 affordability program in the nation’s history.
                                                                                 Rosenworcel isn’t alone in urging Congress
                                                                                 to renew funding for the  ACP. In  October,
                                                                                 the  Biden  Administration  announced a
        Federal  Communications  Commission  described  as  an  FCC  benefit  program   request  for additional  funding  to bolster
        (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica  Rosenworcel   that  helps  ensure  households  can  afford   the ACP by extending free and discounted
        has  urged  lawmakers  to  renew  funding   broadband, according to the FCC’s website.   high-speed internet for eligible households
        for  the  Affordable  Connectivity Program   “The  benefit  provides  a  discount  of  up  to   through December 2024.  According  to
        (ACP).  Rosenworcel  made the  comments   $30  per month  toward  internet  service   the  White  House,  Biden  requested  the
        when she  addressed  the  Congressional   for eligible households and up to $75 per   money  be  allocated  as  an  emergency
        Subcommittee  on Communications  and   month for households on qualifying Tribal   request  as  part  of the  Balanced  Budget
        Technology. “Across  the  country, I have   lands,”  the  commission’s  website  stated.   and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
        met with people who have been able to get   Households  are  eligible  for  the  ACP  if   “The world is watching and the American
        online  and  stay  connected  thanks  to this   their income is at or below 200 percent of   people rightly expect their leaders to come
        program,”  Rosenworcel  said,  according  to   poverty guidelines set by the government,   together and deliver on these priorities,” the
        published opening statements. “Our current   according  to the  FCC’s  website  for the   president previously said in a statement. “I
        projections  indicate  that  our  appropriated   ACP. In  addition,  households  participating   urge Congress to address them as part of
        funds  to continue  this  program and   in  the  ACP  can  also  receive  a  one-time   a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement in
        keep  these  households  connected will   discount  of up to $100  to purchase  a   the weeks ahead.”
        run out by April of next year.” The ACP is   laptop, desktop computer, or tablet  from




        Regulatory Approval Process for Telia Sale Moves to Phase 2


        Telia  Company has  been  informed  by the   time to reach a decision. Telia and Norlys   June  2019  by  the  merger  of  energy  and
        Danish  Competition  and  Consumer   are  in  dialogue  with  the  DCCA  and  are   telecoms group Syd Energi [SE] and regional
        Authority  (DCCA)  that  the  clearance   continuing  to work  towards  closing  the   utility  Eniig)  for an  expected  enterprise
        process for  the intended  sale of  Telia   transaction during Q1 2024. In April 2023   value of DKK6.25 billion (USD924.3 million),
        Denmark to Norlys is not yet finalized and   Telia Company entered into an agreement   on a cash and debt-free basis. The valuation
        that  the  DCCA  has  decided  to extend  the   to sell 100% of its operations and network   is equivalent to 8.9x Telia Denmark’s 2022
        approval process timeline as it needs more   assets  in Denmark to Norlys (formed  in   reported EBITDA.













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