Telecompetitor does a nice job outlining a funding challenge that some providers are having right now…
Small rural carriers have a big decision to make by Sept. 29, now that the FCC has released new broadband funding offers. The new offers are based on a higher broadband speed, as mandated in the enhanced Alternative Connect America Model (E-ACAM) order adopted earlier this summer.
Carriers must advise the FCC by the September deadline, on a state-by-state basis, whether they want to participate in the E-ACAM program and accept the new offers.
The initial program, established several years ago, covers some of the costs of deploying broadband to unserved areas based on a cost model. Traditionally, providers were required to deploy speeds of 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream, and deployment cost estimates were based on deploying that speed.
The FCC E-ACAM program, established earlier this summer, raises the deployment speed required to 100/20 Mbps and gives carriers additional time to deploy service. The offers made this week are based on a new cost model considering the higher deployment speed requirement.
The new offers were made to small rural carriers that serve high-cost areas and receive support through the Universal Service high-cost program. This group includes those carriers that participate in the existing ACAM program, as well as those that receive funding based on embedded costs.
They have posted the offers made are on an FCC spreadsheet.
Here are the offers made in Minnesota…
State | Holding company | Current funding | Total locations |
MN | Ace Telephone Association | BLS | 12,401 |
MN | Albany Mutual Telephone Association | ACAM | 3,918 |
MN | Alliance Communications Cooperative, Inc. | ACAM | 722 |
MN | Arvig Enterprises, Inc. | ACAM | 81,179 |
MN | Benton Cooperative Telephone Company | ACAM | 5,837 |
MN | Rural Communications Holding Corporation | ACAM | 23,388 |
MN | Christensen Communications Company | ACAM | 1,700 |
MN | City of Barnesville Municipal Telephone | BLS | 1,189 |
MN | Consolidated Telephone Company | BLS | 13,684 |
MN | Emily Cooperative Telephone Company | BLS | 2,559 |
MN | Farmers Mutual Telephone Company (MN) | ACAM | 1,418 |
MN | Garden Valley Telephone Company | ACAM | 18,021 |
MN | Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association | ACAM | 3,784 |
MN | Halstad Telephone Company | ACAM | 1,635 |
MN | Harmony Telephone Company | ACAM | 1,124 |
MN | Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. | ACAM | 1,816 |
MN | Johnson Telephone Company | ACAM | 3,267 |
MN | Kasson & Mantorville Telephone Company | ACAM | 5,349 |
MN | Larson Utilities, Inc. | ACAM | 2,377 |
MN | Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company | ACAM | 487 |
MN | Mabel Cooperative Telephone Company | ACAM | 894 |
MN | Manchester-Hartland Telephone Company | BLS | 640 |
MN | Nuvera Communications, Inc. | ACAM | 28,353 |
MN | Nuvera Communications, Inc. | BLS | 23,499 |
MN | Northern Telephone Company/Wilderness Valley Telephone Company | ACAM | 177 |
MN | KCL Enterprises, Inc. | ACAM | 311 |
MN | Park Region Mutual Telephone Company | ACAM | 7,434 |
MN | Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative | ACAM | 15,787 |
MN | Polar Communication Mutual Aid Corporation | ACAM | 239 |
MN | Runestone Telephone Association | ACAM | 5,946 |
MN | Spring Grove Communications | ACAM | 1,365 |
MN | Telephone & Data Systems, incl. UScellular | ACAM | 40,810 |
MN | Upsala Cooperative Telephone Association | ACAM | 1,217 |
MN | West Central Telephone Assn. | ACAM | 5,532 |
MN | Wikstrom Telephone Company, Inc. | ACAM | 9,671 |
MN | Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association | ACAM | 848 |
MN | Woodstock Telephone Company | ACAM | 1,822 |
MN | Hanson Communications, Inc. | ACAM | 6,666 |
MN | Tri-Co Technologies, LLC | BLS | 3,460 |
MN | Federated Telephone Cooperative | ACAM | 3,478 |
The spreadsheet provides more info – but I know it would get lost in formatting on the blog. But for more info, check out the original versions.