The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced the availability of additional funding to support the increased deployment of high-speed broadband services in rural areas of the U.S.
According to a recent press release, the Commission has authorized the release of an additional $700 million for funding under its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The funding will be used to provide reliable, high-speed broadband services to over 400,000 locations in 26 states across the country and brings the total amount of investment supported under the fund to more than $1.7 billion.
The FCC says that it has also taken additional steps to help ensure that allocated funds are used as intended. The steps include conducting a thorough technical, financial, and legal review of service providers who are awarded funding through the Fund, denying waivers to winning bidders who have not secured state approvals, and identifying areas where previous providers have defaulted on the terms of delivery so that these locations are available for future funding opportunities.
Read the FCC’s press release regarding the expanded support of broadband connectivity in rural areas of the U.S.
