Chairman Pai's Response to Senator Wicker Regarding Broadband Deployment in Unserved Rural Communities Through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

On June 2, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai about the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). Chairman Wicker said Congress is now considering a proposal that would accelerate the distribution of the RDOF resources to eligible providers by requiring the FCC to allocate the RDOF monies to broadband providers that are expected to be the sole bidder to deliver gigabit-speed service in a census block or census block groups before the reverse auction scheduled for October 22, 2020. Winning bidders would have to commit to beginning construction within six months of funding authorization and make service available to consumers within one year of authorization. Chairman Wicker asked for replies to 5 questions that would inform the proposal. On June 12, Chairman Pai sent Chairman Wicker his reply.