FCC to Reignite 5G Fund to Target Investments in Rural Communities Using Improved Broadband Maps

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to move forward with targeted investments in the deployment of advanced, 5G mobile wireless broadband services in rural communities. The bipartisan vote on these rules reignites the 5G Fund for Rural America using the FCC’s new and improved broadband coverage map, which shows that millions of homes and businesses lack mobile 5G coverage. For Phase I of the 5G Fund, the FCC will use a multi-round reverse auction to distribute up to $9 billion to bring voice and 5G mobile broadband service to rural areas of the country unlikely to otherwise see unsubsidized deployment of 5G-capable networks. Once the FCC is ready, it will announce the expected start of the auction through a Public Notice. The 5G Fund  includes up to $900 million in incentives for incorporating Open Radio Access Network technology (Open RAN) in 5G Fund-supported networks.