Tag Archives: A-CAM

Arvig sign up for Enhanced A-CAM funding in Todd, Becker, Stearns, Hubbard, Otter Tail, Redwood and Cass Counties

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I wrote about the Minnesota companies that opted to sign up for Enhanced A-CAM funding but it’s nice to see local press pick up on it too. Grand Forks Herald reports…

Arvig has elected to enroll in a newly modernized Alternative Connect America Model (A-CAM) program that has been granted additional project funding and includes higher internet speed targets.

The Federal Communications Commission established Enhanced A-CAM after adopting an order to raise target speeds to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload in eligible project areas. The updated program also makes a share of $13.5 billion available to Arvig and the nation’s 446 other participating service providers. …

Through this federal program, Arvig will invest in network projects across dozens of rural communities in the coming years to bring high-speed internet to thousands of households in the region. Arvig is on track to easily meet the higher speed targets, of up to 100 Mbps/20 Mbps, with many eligible areas projected to receive access to internet speeds up to 8 Gbps. …

Arvig has participated in A-CAM since it was established in 2016 and has since provided services to more than 43 rural communities throughout Minnesota. In 2023, Arvig is focusing its ACAM efforts on the rural areas of Eagle Bend, Frazee, Grey Eagle, Melrose, Nevis, New York Mills, Wabasso, Walker and Vergas, providing access to internet speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) download and 100 Mbps upload.

A-CAM’s previous target speed was 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.

21 MN broadband providers accept Enhanced A-CAM funding

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The FCC has announced providers who have accepted E-ACAM support, which means more time and money to build to broadband at speeds of 100/20 rather than the old A-CAM goal of 25/3…

Today, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces carriers that have accepted offers of model-based Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) support.

Here are the providers that accepted in Minnesota (name followed by current funding mechanism):

  • Albany Mutual Telephone Association      ACAM
  • Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc            ACAM
  • Arvig Enterprises, Inc.     ACAM
  • Benton Cooperative Telephone Company               ACAM
  • Consolidated Telephone Company            BLS
  • Emily Cooperative Telephone Company   BLS
  • Garden Valley Telephone Company           ACAM
  • Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association    ACAM
  • Halstad Telephone Company        ACAM
  • Harmony Telephone Company     ACAM
  • Johnson Telephone Company      ACAM
  • Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company            ACAM
  • Manchester-Hartland Telephone                BLS
  • Park Region Mutual Telephone Company of Minnesota     ACAM
  • Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative             ACAM
  • Spring Grove Communications     ACAM
  • Telephone & Data Systems, incl. UScellular            ACAM
  • Upsala Cooperative Telephone Association            ACAM
  • West Central Telephone Assn.     ACAM
  • Wikstrom Telephone Company, Inc.         ACAM
  • Tri-Co Technologies, LLC BLS

The FCC adds…

Confirmation of receipt of a carrier’s election letter and inclusion on this list does not constitute authorization to receive Enhanced A-CAM support pursuant to the terms of the offer.  Carriers electing Enhanced A-CAM support will not begin receiving such support until the Bureau issues a public notice authorizing the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to disburse the appropriate amounts.  The Commission is publishing this list of carriers that have accepted Enhanced A-CAM “to inform, among other processes, the BEAD Program challenges conducted by states or eligible entities and prevent any duplication of support to a location where it is determined that the Enhanced A-CAM service provider plans to deploy a technology that would satisfy the requirements for being deemed an enforceable commitment for the deployment of qualifying broadband to a location.”

They add…

We note that based on the election letters received, the number of acceptances has exceeded the participation threshold set by the Commission in the Enhanced A-CAM Order.

Here’s more information on Enhanced A-CAM and BEAD from Cost Quest…

The primary purpose of Enhanced A-CAM is to synchronize study areas with the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding initiatives. This alignment is aimed at preventing redundant funding efforts and potential strategic manipulation within the same geographical zones.

There are two ways Enhanced ACAM aligns with the NTIA BEAD funding program:

  • The locations are based on Version 2 (V2) of the National Broadband Map to align with the locations under the BEAD program.
  • The timeline is the same as outlined by the NTIA for BEAD locations – 4 years.

The eligible Enhanced ACAM areas will be excluded from BEAD eligibility due to their receipt of Enhanced A-CAM funding. This alteration is anticipated to enhance the efficacy of BEAD funds in expanding coverage. Telecom analyst Mike Conlow highlights, “If all ISPs accept the Enhanced A-CAM offer and build fiber, cable, or licensed fixed wireless, that takes 582,675 locations off the board for the BEAD program,” (Mike Conlow’s Newsletter).

MinnPost looks deep into Le Sueur’s broadband to see how policies matter

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Turns out I wasn’t the only one driving a long distance for the Le Sueur County Fair over the weekend, Walker Orenstein from MinnPost was there too and he used the opportunity to take a deep dive into the broadband situation in Le Sueur County.

Le Sueur has been working on getting better broadband for many years. They have had some successes and some roadblocks. Walker outlines the current barriers. It demonstrates the importance of good maps and engaged communities.

There is opportunity…

As the federal government prepares to hand out an unprecedented flood of cash in Minnesota for improving access to broadband – including a whopping $652 million from the 2021 infrastructure bill – decisions on how to direct money to connect rural areas might be influenced by small conversations like these.

There are challenges…

The fair is one way to spread information to people in Le Sueur County, like what internet providers serve certain areas. It’s also a way for county officials to gather intel, especially as they prepare to contest the service claims of a controversial telecom company in hopes of getting a share of broadband money.

And now is a good time to look for challenges in your community…

As those programs get up and running – state officials are still devising a plan with the federal government for using the $652 million – it’s too soon to say which providers and what parts of the state could get money.

But maps of existing coverage published by the FCC are a critical starting point, and have sparked jockeying among telecom and broadband advocates for a slice of the pie. A look at those maps shows wide coverage by LTD Broadband in southern Minnesota, at download and upload speeds of 250 megabits per second (mbps).

That is fast enough to exceed state and federal standards, which considers 100/20 mbps service – which also can match or beat typical speeds in big urban areas – to be adequate.

Critics, however, argue the FCC maps aren’t accurate. And they hope to erase at least parts of LTD’s territory from the map. One survey of 120 LTD customers in Le Sueur County found average speeds of 9/1 mbps, according to a letter sent to state regulators by county officials.

(I have been following the situation with LTD Broadband and the MN PUC. Concerns for losing the opportunity to get better broadband in places like Le Sueur fuels the organizations that have filed the original issue with the MN PUC.)

Another issue is the definition of broadband…

The money from the infrastructure bill is a bit more complicated. It appears that federal regulators overseeing that particular pot of cash don’t count technology used by LTD Broadband. That means the LTD coverage area would still be considered “unserved,” opening the door for grants that would subsidize other providers.

LTD mainly offers what’s known as “fixed wireless,” which distributes a signal from a transmitter placed on a tall structure like a water tower. The feds prefer fiber cable to the home for the infrastructure program. Minnesota officials also believe fiber is faster and more reliable. The performance of fiber compared to fixed wireless has long been a source of debate in the industry.

Hauer [LTD Broadband SEO] told MinnPost he doesn’t think their existing services would block anyone from the cash earmarked for broadband in the infrastructure bill. And he hopes to actually compete for grants from the infrastructure money through building fiber.

What can the communities do? Find a local champion, such as Barbara Dröher Kline, and get people engaged…

For a county-wide challenge, Dröher Kline said she hopes to gather more specific information than from the county’s survey. And she needs enough people to make a case.

That means finding residents who have service from LTD Broadband and running speed tests. It also means working with people to sign up for internet and ask the company for speeds advertised to the FCC to see if the company can deliver them.

The fair booth had detailed maps showing what parts of the county have coverage from any broadband provider. Raffle winners got coffee mugs advertising the county’s broadband initiative. Free coffee was available to all. “But I interrogate them about who their broadband provider is,” Dröher Kline said.