Incompas Speakers Skeptical of RDOF Phase I Auction Results
The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction continues to get criticism about certain winning bidders’ ability to deliver broadband and the speeds they bid on (see 2101190069). One of the “biggest elephants in the room” has been whether fixed…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
wireless providers can deliver the gigabit-tier service they bid on, IdeaTek Telecom Chief Innovation Officer Daniel Friesen told an Incompas event Tuesday: “We’re confused because we don’t see that the market has the type of scalable technology, especially in rural areas.” Friesen said it's surprising the full $16 billion from Phase I wasn't awarded. Even with potential market failures, the auction was an overall success, said Brian Regan, Starry vice president-legal, policy and strategy. There are “certainly issues” with FCC broadband data, and the money would have been better targeted if the maps were better, he said: “The FCC did the best it could with what it had.” It's important to see how broadband maps are used during Phase II of the auction, said Mammoth Networks CEO Brian Worthen. “What we don’t want to do is lock down a [census] block so that future funding in that area is not going to happen,” Worthen said. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks acknowledged earlier in the day that broadband mapping is a key part of ensuring unserved and underserved areas are covered. He expects quick action to complete new maps.