CAF Phase II Auction Closes, Allocates $1.488 Billion to Close the Digital Divide

Bidding in the Connect America Fund Phase II auction concluded on August 21, 2018. There were 103 winning bidders in the auction, with the 10-year support amount totaling $1.488 billion and covering 713,176 locations in 45 states. Of the 974,223 locations in the 30,033 eligible census block groups (CBGs), approximately 73 percent of the locations are covered by winning bids. While winning bids are for a range of performance tiers, winning bids for downstream speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps) cover 53 percent of these locations. And over 99.7 percent of these locations will receive at least 25 Mbps downstream speeds, more than twice the 10 Mbps minimum standard for the Connect America Fund program.  Winning bidders are required to submit a post-auction application for support (FCC Form 683) no later than October 15, 2018. Winning bidders that wish to assign some or all of their winning bids to related entities must do so by September 14, 2018. 

Several publicly held companies – including Verizon, Frontier, Cincinnati Bell, Otelco  and Hawaiian Telcom – won no more than $18 million apiece. Other winners included rural local exchange carriers, wireless internet service providers and others, according to telecompetitor.


Connect America Auction to Expand Broadband to 713,176 Rural Locations (Public Notice) Connect America Auction to Expand Broadband to 713,176 Rural Locations (Press Release FCC Hands Out $1.488 Billion in CAF II Auction (B&C) CAF II Auction Winners: ViaSat One of Few Large Winners (telecompetitor)