Ajit Pai’s “surprise” change makes it harder to get FCC broadband funding

After deciding to shut New York and Alaska out of the new Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has made another change that could reduce or eliminate funding available for broadband providers in other US states. In an order adopted Jan 30, the FCC included a provision that bans funding for areas already receiving money from any similar federal or state broadband-subsidy program. The new provision is so vague and expansive that it could affect areas in dozens of states or exclude some states from receiving money entirely, according to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. The limit applies to Phase 1 of the program, which will distribute up to $16 billion of the $20.4 billion. The FCC says the first phase will "target those areas that current data confirm are wholly unserved," and the remaining money will be set aside for the future second phase.