1. Monthly archive
  2. February 2020

February 2020

Carr Statement on Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

I want to highlight three features of our decision today. First, we support the type of high-speed networks that are key to building 5G in communities across the country. So our decision marks another significant step forward for U.S. leadership in wireless. Second, when we launched this proceeding last summer, I proposed that we prioritize truly unserved communities over those that might already have fast Internet connections. Instead of treating every community with less than 25 Mbps the same, I suggested that we first focus on communities that have dial-up or nothing.

O'Rielly Statement on Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

While there is a long road ahead, especially in terms of finalizing auction procedures, this Report and Order makes considerable progress in the effort to bring broadband to unserved Americans. And, to make clear at the outset, by limiting Phase I eligibility to those census blocks that have no broadband whatsoever and targeting those consumers truly deserving of FCC assistance, our action should not in any way trigger or exacerbate the rightful concerns raised over our broadband mapping procedures.

Pai Statement on Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is building on the success of the Connect America Phase II auction. But we’re also making some significant changes to our CAF II approach—changes that will mean better networks covering more Americans. We’re more than doubling the minimum speeds that the auction will support from 10/1 Mbps in CAF II to 25/3 Mbps. We’re increasing the weights on bids to favor higher speeds and lower latency.

Report and Order Creating Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

The Federal Communications Commission adopts the framework for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. It builds on the successful model from 2018’s Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II auction, which allocated $1.488 billion to deploy networks serving more than 700,000 unserved rural homes and businesses across 45 states. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund represents the FCC’s single biggest step to close the digital divide by providing up to $20.4 billion to connect millions more rural homes and small businesses to high-speed broadband networks.

Is Universal Service Fund in Peril? A Close Look at the Budget – and Where the Money Comes From

The percentage of end-user phone bills that go toward the Universal Service Fund (USF) has been climbing and there are serious questions about the sustainability of that funding mechanism, despite a relatively stable USF budget. The money for USF comes from companies that offer interstate and international long-distance telecom services (i.e., voice services). At one time most of the money went toward voice services but over the years, more and more of it has gone towards broadband.

Senator Hawley Proposes to Overhaul the Federal Trade Commission

Josh Hawley (R-MO) is proposing to overhaul the agency by restructuring it to meet the needs of today’s digital markets. The plan would relocate the FTC to the Department of Justice, eliminate the multi-member commission and replace it with a single Director, end the jurisdictional overlap regarding mergers and acquisitions, and create a new "Digital Market Research Section" within the FTC composed of technologists, economists, and market specialists.

Mapping Legislation Creates Risk for Schools, Libraries, and Healthcare Providers

Congress is on the verge of passing legislation to improve broadband maps. Unfortunately, tucked inside the “Broadband DATA Act” is a provision that could unintentionally jeopardize broadband funding for schools, libraries, and healthcare providers.

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