Telecompetitor reports…
CenturyLink has warned the FCC that the company may not meet deadlines for completing broadband deployments funded through the CAF (Connect America Fund) program. In a meeting with senior commission officials this week, CenturyLink representatives attributed the deployment delays to the COVID-19 pandemic and asked the commission for a deployment deadline extension.
In a letter that CenturyLink sent to the FCC summarizing the meeting, the company noted a range of reasons why the pandemic was causing CAF deployment delays, including:
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Some localities have mandated a complete work stoppage that extends to broadband deployment.
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Numerous permitting agencies are shut down or have scaled back operations, substantially reducing their ability to process permit applications.
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Higher instances of backorders and product unavailability for electronics, fiber and other equipment needed for broadband deployment.
It’s a shame it’s happening just when end users need it the most.
