By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 3-11-22
With the National Telecommunications & Information Administration getting most of the attention for its role in overseeing more than $40 billion in infrastructure broadband subsidies, the Federal Communications Commission is reminding digital divide watchers that it is already handing out billions.
The FCC said it has authorized another $640 million in Rural Digital Opportunity Fund broadband monies to help close the rural digital divide in 26 states. There were also some defaulted bids, meaning those census blocks will be eligible for other broadband subsidy programs, like those being overseen by NTIA, which includes the Administration’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD). » Read More