ACA Wants FCC to Clarify CAF Support Modeling

The American Cable Association, a representative of small and midsized cable operators concerned about the government subsidizing competition to existing service, has sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking for clarification on why census blocks containing the White House, Capitol, and National Mall show up under the FCC's Connect America Fund's (CAF) model as underserved areas eligible for government broadband subsidies.

ACA says that might be OK, but wants to make sure the FCC didn't mistakenly include those and other census blocks among the ranks of the subsidy-eligible. "Because these results seem to run counter to the objectives of the CAF, ACA asks the [Wireline Competition] Bureau to analyze them to determine whether support is warranted, and if it is not warranted, the Bureau should use its authority to address this issue," ACA said. The Connect America Fund is an FCC program which focuses on providing rural communities with greater broadband access. "ACA would not have expected census blocks within this census block group to be eligible for funding under a CAF program dedicated to supporting broadband deployment in rural or high-cost areas," the group said.