FCC Offers Up To $485M In Additional CAF Phase I Funding

The FCC has decided to offer price cap telcos an additional $485 million in Connect America Fund Phase I funding to support broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas-a substantial increase over the $300 million that former FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski had proposed making available (TRDaily, April 24).

Last year, the agency offered $300 million in one-time CAF Phase I support to incumbent telcos that operate under price cap regulation but the carriers accepted only $115 million, because the funding came with a requirement to extend broadband service, as defined by the FCC, to at least one location for every $775 in support received. Of the $485 million on offer now, $185 million represents the funding left on the table last year.

• Continued -- Subscribers Only
• Non-subscribers -- Sign up for a FREE trial