The FCC Thursday authorized more than $61.8 million in funding to expand broadband in 14 states over the next decade. The money stems from last year’s Connect America Fund Phase II auction.
Broadband providers will begin receiving funding later this month to connect nearly 22,000 unserved rural homes and businesses.
Specific providers in these states are on the list: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.
In total, the auction last year allocated $1.488 billion in support over the next 10 years to expand broadband to more than 700,000 unserved rural homes and small businesses. The agency has now authorized six funding waves.
Thursday’s action brings the total authorized funding to nearly $1.2 billion, which will expand connectivity to 409,661 homes and businesses. Additional rounds will be authorized in the coming months.
The latest funding applications include:
- Sunset Digital Communications is receiving nearly $29.6 million over 10 years to offer service to nearly 9,100 rural homes and businesses in Virginia and Tennessee at gigabit speeds.
- Three companies – Inventive Wireless, Tri County Telephone, and Union Telephone – are getting nearly $12.2 million over 10 years to offer service to 4,752 homes and businesses in Wyoming.
- LocalTel Communications will see over $6.8 million to offer service to 1,910 homes and businesses in central Washington state.
- Gallatin Wireless Internet is receiving over $4 million to offer service to 1,256 homes and businesses in Montana.
See the complete list here.
October 11, 2019
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