The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a 24-page order that outlines how broadband providers can apply for funding to bring broadband to unserved rural areas. In July, the FCC announced that $100 million will be made available under the program, which is designed to provide incentives for the deployment of high-speed internet and voice services to census blocks that are currently unserved.
In the spring, several IAMU members participated in a joint "Expression of Interest" in the FCC's Rural Broadband Experimental Program. In total, over 1,000 EOI's were received from entities ranging from large multiple system operators to small providers and non-profit organizations.
The $100 million fund is divided into three funding pools. The largest pool, $75 million, will be used to help fund the build out of broadband services in high-cost areas that offer 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds and 5 Mbps download speeds. $15 million has been set-aside for projects in high-cost areas that provide 10 Mbps downloads and 1 Mbps uploads. The remaining $10 million is aimed at "extremely high cost areas" for 10 Mbps downloads and 1 Mbps uploads.
More information on the FCC's Rural Broadband Experiments program can be found on the FCC's website, http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/rural-broadband-experiments
The $100 million fund is divided into three funding pools. The largest pool, $75 million, will be used to help fund the build out of broadband services in high-cost areas that offer 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds and 5 Mbps download speeds. $15 million has been set-aside for projects in high-cost areas that provide 10 Mbps downloads and 1 Mbps uploads. The remaining $10 million is aimed at "extremely high cost areas" for 10 Mbps downloads and 1 Mbps uploads.
More information on the FCC's Rural Broadband Experiments program can be found on the FCC's website, http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/rural-broadband-experiments
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