FCC to OK $313 Million for Broadband Through RDOF

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The FCC is ready to authorize more than $313 million through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to finance new broadband deployments in 19 states bringing service to over 130,000 locations. This is the eighth round of funding in the program. To-date, the RDOF has provided $5 billion for new deployments in 47 states to bring broadband to over 2.8 million first service locations. 

“The funding will help hundreds of thousands of Americans get access to high-speed, reliable broadband service,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “We continue our expanded oversight of this program through the Rural Broadband Accountability Plan to make sure that applicants deliver services as promised to areas that truly need help.”

The Commission also denied a petition by RHMD, LLC for a waiver of the deadline to obtain eligible telecommunications carrier status because the agency said the company failed to “diligently pursue efforts” to garner the designation.

The Fiber Broadband Association praised the move. It commended the Commission for continuing to scrutinize the RDOF long-form applications and for approving fiber and well-designed broadband projects by authorizing the additional funds. FBA President/CEO Gary Bolton encouraged the FCC to continue such scrutiny of non-fiber projects, “as this precious funding is desperately needed to connect communities with reliable and future-proof broadband service now and into the future.”

A list of the eligible census blocks covered by the latest winning bids is available under the “Results” tab on this page. Read the list of RDOF providers and funding amounts by state here.

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