FCC Adopts Alaska Connect Fund to Further Address Broadband Needs

In 2016, to address the unique needs of providing broadband service in Alaska, the Federal Communications Commission established the 10-year Alaska Plan to support the maintenance and deployment of voice and broadband fixed and mobile services. This Plan, along with other frozen support and model-based support, has resulted in substantially increased deployment of both fixed and mobile broadband services. Recognizing the importance of addressing current broadband funding concerns and the long-term broadband needs of Alaskan households in a rapidly changing funding environment, the FCC now establishes the Alaska Connect Fund program (the “Alaska Connect Fund” or “ACF”) to provide ongoing and certain support to both mobile and fixed carriers receiving Universal Service Fund (USF) high-cost support in Alaska through 2034, with increased support amounts that reflect the transition to higher speed service goals for the ACF.  With ACF, the FCC also applies lessons learned from the current Alaska support programs and ensure high-cost support complements other federal funding programs.