FCC Offers New A-CAM Support, Broadband Duties to RLECs Under December Order
The FCC offered $67 million in additional annual support to rural telcos it said could bring improved service to nearly 110,000 residences and businesses in 43 states. RLEC representatives welcomed the Monday announcement, which flowed from a December order (see…
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1812120039). Carriers have until March 27 to decide whether to accept the offers, which would require them to "significantly expand" the availability of 25/3 Mbps in their high-cost areas, said a release and public notice in docket 10-90 (both here). The FCC made 262 revised offers to 207 rate-of-return carriers receiving alternative connect America cost model (A-CAM) support, noting locations with monthly costs above $52.50 will be funded up to a per-location cap of $200 per month. The PN links to a file showing revised state-level offers of support and associated deployment obligations. "We worked really hard to get the commission to adopt additional funding for the A-CAM program, and we’re really pleased the FCC has released the public notice to get the revised program up and running," ITTA President Genny Morelli told us. "I’m glad the revised ACAM offers have been released," emailed Derrick Owens, WTA senior vice president-government and industry affairs, noting some members previously took A-CAM support even though it "was reduced from $200/line to $146.10/line" due to widespread interest that diluted per-carrier funding. Companies "now have the data they need to make a decision" on whether to accept the additional support and obligations, he said. NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield said it's "a critical first step in a process" adopted in the December order "that should help to restore regulatory certainty and sufficiency within cost recovery mechanisms that had been lacking ... for many years." “USTelecom is pleased the Commission has moved quickly so that companies that elect A-CAM can begin getting funding and deploying broadband to rural America in the near-term," emailed a spokesperson.