Windstream moves to tap into FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit and Rural Digital Opportunity Fund money

Windstream is looking to leverage funds from two Federal Communications Commission programs as it expands broadband Internet and related services to new markets and customers. Kinetic, Windstream’s community broadband business, announced that it plans to participate in the FCC’s $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program. “As soon as the FCC is ready to take this program live, we are ready to implement it so any eligible customer in our 18-state footprint who needs internet service can get and stay connected,” said eff Auman, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Kinetic. Windstream also announced this week that it submitted an application to the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund in hopes of accessing $147 million over 10 years to deliver fiber-to-the-home internet services to more than 48,000 locations in Georgia.