FCC Announces Additional Funding for Rural Broadband Expansion
Posted on Nov 19, 2021 in Broadband | Comments Off on FCC Announces Additional Funding for Rural Broadband Expansion
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved another $700 million in winning bids to be authorized through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund this week, which funding will go to 50 broadband providers for projects in 26 states. The primary beneficiary of the funds was Conexon Connect, a fiber provider powered by electric cooperatives that works with rural electric cooperatives...
NRECA Expresses Concerns Regarding Winning Bidders in Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction
Posted on Feb 5, 2021 in Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on NRECA Expresses Concerns Regarding Winning Bidders in Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), accompanied by a white paper from the NRECA and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, detailing concerns about certain winning bids in the first phase of the recent Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction and offering remedies if an FCC review determines...
Members of Congress Call on the FCC to Vet Prospective Rural Broadband Providers
Posted on Jan 29, 2021 in Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on Members of Congress Call on the FCC to Vet Prospective Rural Broadband Providers
A bipartisan group of senators and House members asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to verify the promises that broadband providers are making in their bid proposals to the recent Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction. This request is being made at the urging of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association due to the concerns that some of the winning bidders may...
FCC Doles Out $9.2 Billion in Phase I of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction
Posted on Dec 8, 2020 in Broadband | Comments Off on FCC Doles Out $9.2 Billion in Phase I of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has allocated $9.2 billion to roll out broadband in 49 States and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction. Auction results released December 7 show that bidders won funding to deploy high-speed broadband to over 5.2 million unserved homes and businesses. A broad range of...
190 Electric Coops Qualify to Bid at FCC’s $16 Billion Broadband Auction
Posted on Oct 27, 2020 in Broadband | Comments Off on 190 Electric Coops Qualify to Bid at FCC’s $16 Billion Broadband Auction
About 190 electric cooperatives have qualified to compete for up to $16 billion in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) largest reverse auction to fund broadband internet for unserved areas across the country. Winning bidders will receive funds over a 10-year period to deploy broadband to unserved census blocks identified by the FCC.
Coops Pledge to Sustain Broadband Service as Pandemic Hardships Increase
Several electric cooperatives that provide broadband internet are taking steps to keep rural communities connected during the coronavirus pandemic, including measures that go far beyond a Federal Communications Commission call to sustain service for low-income customers. Those steps include delivering higher connection speeds, even for members who subscribe to more modest plans.Congress Passes Legislation to Improve Broadband Mapping
Posted on Mar 23, 2020 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Congress Passes Legislation to Improve Broadband Mapping
The Broadband Deployment and Technological Availability Act passed Congress and is expected to be signed by President Trump. The bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to collect more detailed data from broadband providers. The bill will allow coops better information about broadband service in rural communities, addressing a common understanding that current data is...
FCC Chairman Looks at Michigan’s Rural Broadband
Posted on Feb 12, 2020 in Broadband, Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on FCC Chairman Looks at Michigan’s Rural Broadband
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai visited Michigan to get a firsthand look at Midwest Energy & Communications’ (MEC) broadband initiative. Pai’s trip preceded the vote on the rules for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), a $20.4 billion reverse auction aimed at bringing high-speed internet to the country’s unserved communities. Pai heralded MEC’s...
Virginia Coop Gets Broadband Expansion Funds
Posted on Jul 25, 2019 in Grid & Infrastructure, Technology | Comments Off on Virginia Coop Gets Broadband Expansion Funds
The Prince George Electric Cooperative has received funds from the Federal Communications Commission to expand broadband service to more than 5,200 rural locations in the Virginia counties of Prince George, Sussex, Surry, Isle of Wight and Dinwiddie.
Coop Leader Testifies Regarding Inaccurate FCC Broadband Data
Posted on Jul 9, 2019 in Legislative & Politics, Technology | Comments Off on Coop Leader Testifies Regarding Inaccurate FCC Broadband Data
Dan Stelpflug, Director of Operations, Engineering and Technology for Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative (Allamakee Clayton) in Postville, Iowa, recently testified to Congress regarding faulty Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband data provided in connection with a federal grant awarded to the coop. Specifically, the FCC awarded Allamakee Clayton a $1.4 million...
