Can “Slapping ‘New and Improved’ on CAF” Close the Digital Divide?

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai joined President Donald Trump at the White House for an announcement about action to “ensure that America wins the race to 5G.” In addition to promoting fifth generation wireless technology, Chairman Pai announced a new $20 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund at the FCC. That sounds like a huge step forward for expanding rural broadband -- so why was it tacked on to the 5G news? 5G is really a fiber network with antennas at the end. Because of this, we focus first on the part of the Administration’s announcement that could actually help fiber-based broadband reach rural America. Is Chairman Pai's proposal really a "new" opportunity to promote rural broadband or are we seeing 20 billion new lies from Pai?