Consolidated Fiber Expansion May be an Example of RDOF Halo Effect

Consolidated Communications announced a major fiber network expansion that will add 300,000 new gigabit-capable locations. This expansion is funded in part by the Federal Communications Commission's recently concluded Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction. Consolidated won close to $59 million to bring broadband to 27,000 locations across 7 states. That funding will help accelerate the Consolidated fiber strategy, which aims to reach an additional 300,000 locations in 2021 alone. Consolidated estimates that it can build to 150,000 locations that are in close proximity to the RDOF funded locations. This Consolidated fiber strategy tied to RDOF is illustrative of a potential RDOF “halo” effect, where adjacent rural territory to RDOF funded locations could gain better broadband access. Eventually, this Consolidated fiber strategy will have the regional broadband carrier reaching 1.6 million locations with gigabit-capable fiber broadband, the carrier said.