Frontier prepares to pounce on broadband funding from infrastructure bill

Frontier Communications is gearing up to capitalize on broadband funding opportunities created by the passage of the US infrastructure bill and points to the federal dollars as a key part of its fiber expansion plan. Though it is expected to take several months before the states receive the funding, Frontier CFO Scott Beasley said the company is already “organizing to really benefit from it.” Frontier is aiming to reach a total of 4 million locations by the end of 2021 and grow its footprint to 10 million by the end of 2025. Beasley didn’t provide an exact figure for how many locations it might be able to reach with the help of government funding but stated “we know it’s a significant number…we know there’s a huge part of our footprint that doesn’t have access to broadband now and that this program will be critical in helping bridge that digital divide.” Frontier is also looking to boost enrollment in the government’s broadband subsidy program. The CFO said Frontier currently has around 14,000 customers participating in the Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, adding “We are investing to make it easier for customers to get access to that affordability fund now that it’s permanent.”