[1st-mile-nm] FCC PR: Additional Rural Funding

[Richard Lowenberg]

FCC OFFERS ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT DEPLOYMENT OF HIGH-SPEED 
BROADBAND SERVICE TO UP TO 110,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN RURAL AMERICA

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-356324A1.pdf

WASHINGTON, February 25, 2019—The Federal Communications Commission 
today offered an additional $67 million in annual support to certain 
rural broadband providers that could bring improved service to nearly 
110,000 homes and businesses in rural communities across 43 states. 
Carriers that accept the offer must expand the availability of broadband 
service delivering at least 25 Mbps downloads/3 Mbps uploads to their 
rural customers. Carriers have 30 days to decide whether to accept the 
additional funding.

Closing the digital divide is the FCC’s top priority. The Connect 
America Fund is key to this effort, providing funding in sparsely 
populated rural areas where the cost of providing and deploying service 
can be high.

The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau made the offer of additional 
support to 207 rural rate- of-return carriers that receive funding 
through the Connect America Fund’s Alternative Connect America Cost 
Model, or A-CAM. In return for this increased funding, the providers 
must significantly expand the availability of service delivering at 
least 25/3 Mbps speeds in locations which otherwise would have received 
10/1 Mbps or worse service, thereby better meeting the needs of 
consumers and businesses in today’s online world.



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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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