FCC Hears Reports from Wireline Bureau and Rural Broadband Auctions Teams

The Federal Communications Commission heard reports from leaders of the Wireline Competition Bureau and Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force on their work over the last four years. The Wireline Bureau’s presentation to the Commissioners summarized the Wireline Bureau’s substantial progress in core areas, including expanding broadband to millions of previously unserved homes and businesses in rural America, removing regulatory barriers to infrastructure investment, and transitioning to next-generation networks. The Bureau also worked to promote investment and innovation through its crucial work on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order and to protect consumers through initiatives to combat robocalls and make the nation’s communications network supply chain more secure. The Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force's presentation to the Commissioners reviewed its work with over 100 staff from across the agency on reverse auctions that award Universal Service Fund support to high-cost areas. These programs implemented the Commission’s top priority of bridging the digital divide and advanced the universal service principle that everyone should have access to advanced telecommunications at reasonable cost. In 2018, the Task Force oversaw the Connect America Fund Phase II auction, which was the first multi-round reverse auction of ongoing high-cost support, and awarded $1.5 billion to bring broadband to over 700,000 unserved homes and businesses. In 2020, building on the success of the CAF-II auction, the Task Force oversaw the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, which awarded $9.2 billion to bring broadband to 5.2 million unserved homes and businesses across the country. The Task Force also managed the development of the Mobility Fund Phase II challenge process regarding the accuracy of mobile coverage maps, and the establishment of the 5G Fund for Rural America, which will award up to $9 billion to bring mobile 5G to unserved areas.