Senators Suggest FCC Explore Supplemental Funding for RDOF Winners

Since Phase I of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) concluded, it has become more expensive to deploy broadband due to rampant increases in construction materials, equipment, and labor costs. Given the challenges, RDOF winners—especially smaller providers—are facing, we appreciate your review of the following options:

1. The FCC could make supplemental funding available from the initial amount obligated for the RDOF Phase I auction. If so, this supplemental funding might be limited to auction winners with less than 250,000 current broadband subscribers.
2. Absent supplemental funding, the FCC could permit RDOF Phase I winners to relinquish their RDOF Phase I obligations without exposure to forfeitures or other penalties, so that these areas can be funded through BEAD and other programs.