FCC Sets $112 Million for Rural Broadband Funding in 9 States

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The Federal Communications Commission has authorized more than $112.2 million during the next decade to expand broadband to about 48,000 unserved rural homes and businesses. The grants, announced on Thursday, will go to 16 projects in nine states. This is the fifth round of funding from the Connect America Fund Phase II Auction and follows a similar $121 million bundle of grants last month. The selected broadband providers will begin receiving funding within the next few weeks.

The grants will go to projects in rural area of the nine states: five in Illinois, two each in California, Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota and one each in Iowa, New Mexico, Texas and Wisconsin.

FCC chair Ajit Pai called the funding "another step towards ensuring that all Americans have access to high-speed broadband.”

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“This fifth round of funding will provide rural Americans from California to Ohio with the economic, educational, civic, and healthcare opportunities that Internet access makes possible," Pai said.

The Federal Communications Commission has authorized more than $112.2 million during the next decade to expand broadband to about 48,000 unserved rural homes and businesses. The grants, announced on Thursday, will go to 16 projects in nine states. This is the fifth round of funding from the Connect America Fund Phase II Auction and follows a similar $121 million bundle of grants last month. The selected broadband providers will begin receiving funding within the next few weeks.

The grants will go to projects in rural area of the nine states: five in Illinois, two each in California, Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota and one each in Iowa, New Mexico, Texas and Wisconsin.

FCC chair Ajit Pai called the funding "another step towards ensuring that all Americans have access to high-speed broadband.”

“This fifth round of funding will provide rural Americans from California to Ohio with the economic, educational, civic, and healthcare opportunities that Internet access makes possible," Pai said.

Gary Arlen
Gary Arlen

Contributor Gary Arlen is known for his insights into the convergence of media, telecom, content and technology. Gary was founder/editor/publisher of Interactivity Report, TeleServices Report and other influential newsletters; he was the longtime “curmudgeon” columnist for Multichannel News as well as a regular contributor to AdMap, Washington Technology and Telecommunications Reports. He writes regularly about trends and media/marketing for the Consumer Technology Association's i3 magazine plus several blogs. Gary has taught media-focused courses on the adjunct faculties at George Mason University and American University and has guest-lectured at MIT, Harvard, UCLA, University of Southern California and Northwestern University and at countless media, marketing and technology industry events. As President of Arlen Communications LLC, he has provided analyses about the development of applications and services for entertainment, marketing and e-commerce.