FCC https://fcc.gov has authorized over $524 million over the next decade to expand broadband to 205,520 unserved rural homes and businesses in 23 states supported by last year’s Connect America Fund Phase II auction.
In total, last fall’s auction allocated $1,488 billion to expand broadband to more than 700,000 unserved rural homes and small businesses over the next ten years. The FCC had already authorized funding in May and June to expand connectivity to nearly 100,000 homes and businesses lacking services. This recent action authorized over $524 million over the next decade which brings the total authorized funding to nearly $803 million and expands connectivity to 305,518 homes and businesses.
A few of the funding applications approved by the FCC include:
- AMG Technology Investment Group will receive $281.3 million to deploy service to nearly 100,700 homes and businesses in rural Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas
- Crystal Automation Systems will receive $27.2 million to deploy service to 178,610 homes and businesses in rural Michigan
- California Internet LP will receive $87.8 million to deploy service to 11,845 rural California and Nevada homes
In addition to the funding made available through the auction, FCC Chairman Pai has proposed that the FCC launch a new “Rural Digital Opportunity Fund” which would provide at least $204 billion over ten years to further expand broadband to additional rural areas.
The Funding would provide a reverse auction to service providers to enable providers to have up to gigabit-speed broadband in the parts of the country in the most need for connectivity. Eventually, up to four million rural homes and small businesses will be connected to high-speed broadband networks.