Universal Service Fund

New Jersey Natural Gas Files Base Rate Case With the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 31, 2024

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) requesting an increase of $222.6 million to its base rates.

Key Points: 
  • New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) requesting an increase of $222.6 million to its base rates.
  • The second is the Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS), which covers the cost of purchasing natural gas.
  • The delivery charge covers the cost of providing safe, reliable natural gas service to customers and maintaining operations and delivery systems.
  • Any customer having difficulty paying their natural gas bill should visit njng.com/energyassistance to learn about available energy assistance programs.

Statement by Connected Nation regarding Affordable Connectivity Program enrollments ending

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 12, 2024

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation, issued the following statement regarding the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) announcement that it will cease processing new enrollments in the Affordable Connectivity Program after Wednesday, February 7 due to lack of ongoing funding:

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation, issued the following statement regarding the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) announcement that it will cease processing new enrollments in the Affordable Connectivity Program after Wednesday, February 7 due to lack of ongoing funding:
    This vital program is a lifeline to online work and education opportunities that will vanish if Congress fails to act.
  • "We are disheartened that the FCC will no longer be processing new enrollments in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) as its funding is expected to be fully exhausted by the end of April.
  • This vital program, which significantly lowers monthly internet bills for millions of struggling Americans, is a key lifeline to online work and education opportunities that will suddenly vanish later this spring if Congress fails to act.
  • Failure to act will certainly only widen the Digital Divide after so much progress has been made to close it.

Connected Nation calls upon Congress to extend and preserve the Affordable Connectivity Program

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 10, 2024

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation, issued the following statement of support for the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024, sponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Clarke & Fitzgerald and in the U.S. Senate by Sens.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation, issued the following statement of support for the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024, sponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Clarke & Fitzgerald and in the U.S. Senate by Sens.
  • Welch, Vance, Cramer, and Rosen, while also calling on Congress to make the program more stable and permanent through broader Universal Service Fund (USF) reform:
    There is an urgent need for Congress to act to preserve this vitally important lifeline.
  • "Broadband affordability has long been an issue that Connected Nation has been working to address.
  • The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), borne out of necessity in response to the urgent connectivity needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has become an essential program to ensure that millions of American families can afford quality home Internet access.

NCLA Amicus Brief Encourages Supreme Court to Hear Case Against FCC’s Universal Service Fund

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 30, 2023

However, Congress wrote an evolving and open-ended statute, leaving FCC to set and then rewrite its own policies for the Universal Service Fund (USF) and to fund the program without limit through fees that escape Congressional oversight.

Key Points: 
  • However, Congress wrote an evolving and open-ended statute, leaving FCC to set and then rewrite its own policies for the Universal Service Fund (USF) and to fund the program without limit through fees that escape Congressional oversight.
  • Today, the New Civil Liberties Alliance filed an amicus curiae brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case of Consumers’ Research v. FCC, overturn this unconstitutional arrangement, and correct the enfeebled “nondelegation” doctrine that has enabled it.
  • The Supreme Court should grant certiorari in this case and once again restrict legislative power to Congress—where it belongs.
  • By relinquishing its power of the purse, FCC has gone rogue and has unconstitutionally taxed the American people to the tune of $10 billion dollars annually to fund its Universal Service Fund.

Wisper Covers 600,000 Midwest Locations (and Counting) with Tarana-Powered, Fiber-Class Internet

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 13, 2023

(Graphic: Business Wire)

Key Points: 
  • (Graphic: Business Wire)
    Of the more than 200 operators in 21 countries that have now embraced Tarana ngFWA, Wisper was the first US service provider to adopt the technology in 2021.
  • Since then, the team has significantly ramped deployment, now delivering reliable, high-speed internet from 310 Tarana-equipped towers, with plans to install on an additional 180 towers in 2024.
  • Not only has Tarana changed the game for Wisper and hundreds of service providers globally, but also for end-users on upgraded ngFWA networks.
  • It’s very rewarding to see them and their subscribers realize the many benefits that this new generation of wireless broadband technology enables.”

Wiley Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Wiley (NYSE: WLY and WLYB), one of the world’s largest publishers and a global leader in research and learning, today reported results for the second quarter ended October 31, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • Wiley (NYSE: WLY and WLYB), one of the world’s largest publishers and a global leader in research and learning, today reported results for the second quarter ended October 31, 2023.
  • Fiscal 2025 and 2026 is where we will realize the full benefits of our current actions.”
    See accompanying financial tables for the second quarter and year-to-date 2024.
  • Wiley announced the sale of University Services during the quarter with an anticipated close in early calendar 2024.
  • Fiscal Year 2024 is a transition year for Wiley as it divests non-core assets and streamlines the organization.

Highline Awarded ROBIN Grant for the Upper Peninsula by the State of Michigan

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Highline, Michigan’s premier fiber-to-the-home internet and telephone service provider, was recently awarded an approximately $22M Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant.

Key Points: 
  • Highline, Michigan’s premier fiber-to-the-home internet and telephone service provider, was recently awarded an approximately $22M Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) grant.
  • Highline will provide $3.8M in match funds that will create new fiber broadband connections to 3,074 unserved homes in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
  • “We applaud the State of Michigan's High-Speed Internet Office for recognizing the Upper Peninsula’s significant internet access problem and entrusting Highline to serve the homes impacted by the ROBIN grant.
  • Highline currently serves the communication and internet needs of residents and businesses in Michigan, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas.

Consolidated Communications Announces Third Quarter Financial Results

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNSL) (the “Company” or “Consolidated”), a top 10 fiber provider in the U.S., today reported results for the third quarter of 2023.

Key Points: 
  • Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNSL) (the “Company” or “Consolidated”), a top 10 fiber provider in the U.S., today reported results for the third quarter of 2023.
  • Net loss per share was ($0.61) in the third quarter of 2023 as compared to net income per share of $2.45 in the third quarter of 2022.
  • The Amendment provides for interim financial covenant relief by increasing the maximum consolidated first lien leverage ratio permitted under the credit agreement, subject to certain conditions.
  • In light of the announced transaction, Consolidated will not host an earnings conference call and has withdrawn its 2023 outlook.

Ribbon's NPT IP Routing Solution Enables Broadband Aggregation for Shawnee Telephone

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 20, 2023

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN), a global provider of real time communications technology and IP optical networking solutions to many of the world's largest service providers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure operators to modernize and protect their networks, today announced that Shawnee Communications, which serves residents and businesses in rural communities in Southern & Central Illinois with modern communications technology, has selected Ribbon's NPT IP Routing solution for broadband aggregation.

Key Points: 
  • PLANO, Texas, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN), a global provider of real time communications technology and IP optical networking solutions to many of the world's largest service providers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure operators to modernize and protect their networks, today announced that Shawnee Communications , which serves residents and businesses in rural communities in Southern & Central Illinois with modern communications technology, has selected Ribbon's NPT IP Routing solution for broadband aggregation.
  • "Ribbon has been a trusted partner for many years, supporting us with state of the art voice solutions, and leveraging their expertise for broadband aggregation was a natural fit," said Ben McCameron, General Manager, Shawnee Communications.
  • "Their US-based post-sales support and network staging services offer additional peace of mind as we focus on providing our customers with the high speed, resilient capacity our increasingly digital environments demand."
  • With their modular design, chassis redundancy, and support for multiple routing technologies, Ribbon's IP routers deliver resiliency and effective traffic protection while eliminating the need for duplicate devices at each site.

Wiley Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 7, 2023

Wiley (NYSE: WLY and WLYB), a global knowledge company and a leader in research, publishing, and knowledge solutions today reported results for the first quarter ended July 31, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • Wiley (NYSE: WLY and WLYB), a global knowledge company and a leader in research, publishing, and knowledge solutions today reported results for the first quarter ended July 31, 2023.
  • In June of 2023, Wiley announced that it was divesting University Services, Wiley Edge, and CrossKnowledge.
  • We are making steady progress on our transition and recently streamlined Wiley into one focused, market-facing team to better leverage our collective strength and drive operating leverage.”
    See accompanying financial tables for the First Quarter 2024.
  • For the quarter, Wiley allocated $19 million toward dividends and $10 million toward repurchasing 301,000 shares at an average cost per share of $33.25.