The FCC today announced that it is ready to authorize $163,895,636 to 42 providers in the second round of funding for new broadband deployments through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The Commission is also continuing its work to refocus the program to ensure that funding goes to unserved areas that need broadband. As part of that process, 85 winning bidders have chosen not to pursue buildout in 5,089 census blocks in response to letters the FCC sent asking applicants to review their bids in areas where there was evidence of existing service or questions of potential waste.
“More help is on the way to households without broadband,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “This is an important program for getting more Americans connected to high-speed internet, and we are continuing careful oversight of this process to ensure that providers meet their obligations to deploy in areas that need it.”
In this funding wave, 42 broadband providers will bring fiber-to-the-home gigabit broadband to approximately 65,000 locations in 21 states over the next 10 years. The Commission continues to closely review long-form applications of other winning bidders that were previously announced to ensure they meet the technical, financial, and operational capabilities to comply with program obligations.
There was no mention of LTD awards. (There are controversies around LTD potential awards, especially in Minnesota.)
Here’s the scoop in MN
- 7 winners in Minnesota
- 2,076 census blocks
- 16,406 locations
- 10 year total investment $63009843.5
Here are the details (done in paper in pencil so close but maybe not exact) on each provider:
Arrowhead Electric Cooperative
Census blocks 440
Locations 4879
Total Award $18,462,273.1
Consolidated Telephone Company
Census blocks 121
Locations 979
Total Award $18819119.10
Federated Telephone Cooperative
Census blocks 85
Locations 248
Total Award $517399
Garden Valley Telephone Company
Census blocks 186
Locations 492
Total Award $2792139.40
Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative
Census blocks 763
Locations 5088
Total Award $16307892.10
Savage Communications
Census blocks 509
Locations 4542
Total Award $6090479.10
Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association
Census blocks 57
Locations 178
Total Award $ 20541.7