Page 89 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

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.

89 DECEMBER 2023