CenturyLink extends broadband to 600K homes, businesses via CAF-II program

CenturyLink has inched closer to meeting its Federal Communications Commission CAF-II program commitments, reaching over 600,000 rural homes and businesses with broadband over the past two years. In August 2015, CenturyLink accepted $500 million in CAF-II funding. This money, combined with its own capital, will ultimately enable the telco to deliver broadband services to about 1.2 million rural households and businesses in 33 states over the next six years. As part of that commitment, the service provider has committed to provide 10/1 Mbps speeds in these regions. While 10/1 Mbps was the initial target, CenturyLink said that about 70% of the homes in the target areas have speeds of 20 Mbps or higher. CenturyLink is on track to have enabled 60% of its CAF commitments by the end of 2018.