Senator Wicker Requests Information from FCC on Accelerating Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai requesting information on accelerating the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction. The FCC plans to begin RDOF Phase I, which will make $16 billion available for broadband services, in October 2020. The letter reads, "[G]iven the current increased need for reliable internet during the pandemic, broadband funding, particularly through the RDOF program, may not come soon enough. I have heard from a number of Mississippi broadband providers that are ready to begin deploying in unserved areas, but cannot act until they receive this critical support. This situation is not unique to Mississippi...Expediting the distribution of RDOF support may help speed up our efforts to close the digital divide." Chairman Wicker also asked a series of questions and is seeking answers by June 12, 2020.