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FCC Poised to Misspend Rural Funds in Wealthy, Densely Populated Areas Due to Bad Data
May 06, 2021
Today, in a study
filed with the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”), Competitive Carriers Association (“CCA”) asked the Commission to reconsider awarding Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) Phase I grants to wealthy, densely populated areas that already have access to broadband, and instead direct support to genuinely unserved communities.
In a statement, CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry said, “Pervasive errors in broadband data unfortunately led to some of the nation’s wealthiest, most densely populated areas set to receive RDOF Phase I funds. This program was designed to provide critical support to completely unserved areas, and I strongly encourage the Commission to better direct RDOF funding to areas that truly need it. For an organization whose members serve and connect rural communities, the potential misallocation of funding is troubling.”
Berry continued, “CCA has long advocated for more reliable data, and this is a prime example of what can happen if bad data is used. The good news is that the FCC can correct this mistake and help rural America close the digital divide. Consumers and businesses in rural areas stand to benefit greatly from access to broadband services, and CCA is ready and willing to work with the Commission to help achieve this important goal.”
rural. regional. nationwide.
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Statement by CCA President & CEO Tim Donovan on Release of “Spectrum and National Security Act of 2024”
Washington, D.C. – Competitive Carriers Association President and CEO Tim Donovan made the following statement: “CCA commends U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH), Vice Chair Randy Weber (R-TX), and Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) for leading a letter to Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel regarding the 5G Fund. We thank the additional eight Members of Congress who joined them. The importance of getting the 5G Fund right for rural America cannot be overstated. This program will replace key components of the High-Cost Fund and become the only federal funding program focused on mobility. It will determine if rural Americans maintain mobile services and gain access to ubiquitous 5G connectivity. As the Members of Congress stated, the ‘5G Fund should preserve and expand next-generation mobile wireless services in rural America’ because ‘[all] Americans deserve the opportunities that 5G service will bring to their lives.’ To do so, the FCC must recognize the criticality of leveraging BEAD-funded fiber and fixed wireless projects and basing eligibility and funding decisions on accurate mapping data. Otherwise, rural areas will be left behind and will miss out on vital connectivity opportunities – or worse, lose access to coverage available today only because of USF support. CCA will continue work with Congress and the FCC to maximize the reach and efficiency of the 5G Fund and to ensure that the data used for 5G Fund decisions is the highest quality possible.” A link to the letter can be found here. For more information about CCA and its policy priorities, please visit ccamobile.org. ### About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive wireless providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions of customers, as well as vendors and suppliers that provide products and services throughout the wireless communications ecosystem.