FCC Authorizes Connect America Fund Phase II Auction Support for 856 Winning Bids

The FCC announced that it has authorized $166.8 million in funding to expand broadband over the next decade to unserved rural homes and businesses in 22 states, representing the second wave of support from last year’s successful Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II auction. Providers will begin receiving funding this month.

“I’m pleased to announce that the second round of funding starts now for buildout of high-speed Internet service to 60,850 rural homes and businesses, which will bring them to the right side of the digital divide and give them access to the 21st-century opportunities that broadband offers,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “Providers will be deploying gigabit-speed connections to the majority of locations for which funding is being authorized today, while nearly 8,000 homes and small businesses on Tribal lands will be getting fixed broadband service for the first time.”

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The Regulatory Mix Today:  FCC Authorizes Connect America Fund Phase II Auction Support for 856 Winning Bids, Chairman Pai's Statement on Increased Broadband Investment for the Second Year in a Row

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Chairman Pai’s Statement on Increased Broadband Investment for the Second Year in a Row

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement regarding US Telecom’s release of broadband investment figures for 2018:

 “When I became FCC Chairman in January 2017, investment in our nation’s broadband networks had declined for two straight years. So we turned the page on the failed policies of the past and charted a new course. We focused on reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens and cutting red tape that discourages broadband deployment. And we concentrated on updating our rules to match the modern communications marketplace.”

“The latest evidence reaffirms that our policies are working. Today’s figures show that investment in our nation’s broadband networks rose in 2018 for a second straight year, with an estimated increase of $3 billion. That follows other positive news. For instance, in 2018, fiber was deployed to more new homes in the United States than any year in history, and small cell deployment more than quadrupled. Average broadband speeds have increased substantially. And the digital divide is closing.”

“In short, we’re moving in the right direction. So in the time to come, we’ll continue on the same course—full speed ahead. That means getting rid of more unnecessary regulatory burdens and updating more outdated rules so that we can continue to connect more Americans with high-speed broadband and digital opportunity.”

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.