Sen Angus King presses FCC to police FairPoint’s broadband project

Sen Angus King (I-ME) has sent a letter to federal regulators seeking clarity about how FairPoint Communications will be held accountable as it uses millions in federal subsidies to expand broadband Internet access in rural Maine. The letter comes three months after the Federal Communications Commission announced it was awarding $13.3 million a year for six years to FairPoint to help offset the high cost of providing broadband access to areas of rural Maine.
The money, which will total nearly $80 million over the life of the project, comes from the second round of Connect America Fund, or CAF, grants.

Sen King and two other senators sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, asking him to provide more details about the accountability and enforcement measures the agency has in place to make sure companies that receive federal broadband subsidies make good use of the funds. “We believe strict enforcement measures, coupled with transparency around how, where and when the funds are used are necessary to ensure the integrity of the (Connect America Fund) program,” the senators wrote.