US: Senate and FCC undertake steps to bring broadband to rural areas
The FCC moved forward with plans to hold a "reverse auction" next year to provide nearly $2 billion over 10 years to expand high-speed internet access in rural areas that do not have fixed broadband service. The commission is seeking comments on how to run the auction, including how interested parties can qualify to participate, how bidders will submit bids, and how the FCC will process those bids to determine the winners and support amounts.
"We expect that this auction will attract companies that have never before received universal service funding," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said at the commission's Aug. 3 meeting.
"Among others, I'm thinking here about some small competitive providers and electrical co-operatives that want to bring fiber to neighbors currently on the wrong side of the divide. And fixed wireless providers that can efficiently serve remote areas."
The auction, which has been in the works since 2011, "is all about making sure that those in rural America . . . have access to the same economic opportunities as those in more densely populated communities," FCC commissioner Mignon Clyburn said.