Chairwoman Rosenworcel Shares Plan to Bring Reliable Broadband to Remote Areas

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated an order to her colleagues that would create the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) program to require deployment of 100/20 Mbps or faster service to all locations served by the program. A-CAM carriers currently serve some of the most remote areas of the nation. If adopted, the order would require that participating carriers serve all locations in their service areas at 100/20 Mbps or greater in return for an extension of the A-CAM program and an incremental increase in support for expensive-to-serve areas. The Enhanced A-CAM program would complement existing federal, state, and local funding programs, including the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The order would also provide an opportunity for legacy rate-of-return carriers to bring 100/20 Mbps broadband to their customers in return for a term of stable support.