The Federal Communication’s Connect America Fund has authorized over $32 million in funding to provide new broadband access to over 42,000 unserved homes and businesses in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. This will now allow 100,000 people the ability to connect to broadband service.
The first distribution was allocated to Alaska Communications Systems (ACS), Hawaiian Telecom, and Puerto Rico Telephone Company (PRTC). ACS received $174,000 to reach 316 homes and businesses in Yukon-Koyukuk Borough; Hawaiian Telecom received $1 million to reach 1,317 homes and businesses in Hawaii County and PRTC received $31.6 million to reach 40,736 homes and businesses across the entire territory.
As part of FCC’s initiative to bring broadband access to rural communities, the Connect America Fund goal is to extend broadband to as many as 600,000 households and businesses in 44 states and one territory in the near future.
