FCC Addresses Petitions for Reconsideration of Enhanced A-CAM Order

In this Order on Reconsideration, the Federal Communications Commission address several petitions for reconsideration (PFRs) of the Enhanced A-CAM Order, which established the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Enhanced A-CAM) program as a voluntary path for supporting broadband deployment of at least 100/20 Mbps throughout the rural areas served by carriers that previously received A-CAM support and in areas served by legacy rate-of-return support recipients.  Among other requests, Petitioners encouraged the FCC to extend the Enhanced A-CAM Program’s deployment milestones by several years and change the program in ways that would reconsider its technology-neutral approach, and to alter the processes for determining the presence of unsubsidized competition. The FCC clarifies an Enhanced A-CAM support recipient’s obligations when filing cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans and accordingly dismissed as moot a petition raising this issue.  Because the other petitions fail to identify any material error, omission, or reason warranting reconsideration, rely on arguments that have been fully considered and rejected by the FCC, or raise issues beyond the scope of the Enhanced A-CAM Order, the FCC dismissed or denied the other petitions.