Looks like an interesting event…
Expanding Rural FTTH: Filing an Expression of Interest – Thursday, February 6, 2014 @ 2pm EST
REGISTER HERE!On January 30th, the Federal Communications Commission announced a series of initiatives designed to forward the transition of telecom networks from legacy TDM- based to IP-based. As part of these initiatives, the FCC emphasized that it wanted all Americans to benefit from this transition, including those living in rural areas. To that end, the FCC has called for entities to submit expressions of interest in providing high capacity broadband to rural areas in both price cap and rate of return territories. Most importantly the FCC is encouraging participation in these experiments from as many different entities as possible including cable operators, incumbent carriers, competitive local exchange carriers, affiliates of neighboring incumbent providers, utilities, fixed and mobile wireless providers, wireless Internet service providers state and regional authorities, research and education networks, municipalities, Tribal governments and others.
Information to be collected in this proceeding include:
- Expressions of interest – where, what and how plus high level $
- Whether wireless broadband in rural areas can offer the same level of broadband as wireline in urban areas
- How broadband to Anchor institutions will be coordinated in the proposed areas
- How should there be cooperation between funding entities such as other government grant programs, states broadband funds etc.
The deadline for non-binding expressions of interest will be March 7th.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE HOW USF IS USED AND DISTRIBUTED GOING FORWARD – IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT AS MANY ENTITIES AS POSSIBLE FILE EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST.
On Thursday February 6, 2014 at 2pm EST join Council President Heather Burnett Gold and Council Counsel Tom Cohen of Kelley Drye as they present a review of the order so that you understand the scope and requirements of the letters of interest and are prepared to participate.