FCC Announces Public Workshop on E-Rate Funded Fiber Build Projects

The Wireline Competition Bureau and the Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis announce that a public workshop will be held to provide schools, libraries, providers, and state and local policy makers with information and tools for planning fiber build projects under the new E-rate rules. The workshop will be held on May 20, 2015 starting at 1 pm, at FCC headquarters in Washington, DC.

The workshop will provide an overview of the new E-rate rules governing installment payments, state matching for fiber builds, leasing and management of dark fiber, and self-construction. It will explore best practices for fiber builds and practical challenges to aligning fiber builds with the E-rate application process and other E-rate rules, and will focus particular attention on the issues applicants need to consider in order to choose the most cost-effective option for deploying fiber.