Groups Seek ECF Service Delivery Date Deadline Extension

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and Consortium for School Networking asked the FCC to extend the Emergency Connectivity Fund's rules and service delivery deadlines, in a waiver request Wednesday. The groups asked that the June 30 service delivery deadline be extended by one year for round one and round two applicants that "received a funding commitment decision letter or revised funding commitment decision letter on or after March 1, 2022." They also sought an extension until June 30, 2024, for round three applicants. The program would "currently provide minimal assistance, at best, to those applicants who are still waiting for funding request approval or to those who are inhibited from fully using their funds" if the current service delivery dates are not extended, the groups said, saying an extension would "be a far better policy outcome" than opening a fourth application window to award any remaining funding.