WASHINGTON — The FCC last week announced it is ready to authorize $554,150,641 million in its third round of funding for new broadband deployments through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, including initiatives in Kentucky. Together with two prior funding wave announcements, the commission has now announced over $1 billion in funding to winning bidders for new deployments.
In this funding wave, 11 broadband providers will bring fiber-to-the-home gigabit broadband service to over 180,000 locations in 19 states. The commission also denied several waiver petitions by companies that did not diligently pursue their applications.
“This is good news for consumers waiting far too long for broadband in parts of the country that have yet to be served,” said Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Broadband is an essential service and during the pandemic we’ve seen just how critical it is for families, schools, hospitals, and businesses to have affordable internet access. Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated FCC staff who are carefully reviewing applications and working to clean up the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, this program will build new broadband infrastructure in areas that truly need it.”
The 19 states slated for funding are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. Michigan and Georgia received the most funding in this wave, $188 million and $149 million, respectively. The commission continues close review of the applications of other winning bidders that were previously announced to ensure they meet the program’s technical, financial, and legal requirements.
The FCC also continued to work to ensure that funding only supports providers that comply with program requirements.
These efforts continue the agency’s work to clean up the program to ensure that funding goes to unserved areas that need broadband.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
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