FCC proposes USD20.4bn Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unveiled plans to establish a Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, which will commit at least USD20.4 billion over the next decade to support high speed broadband networks in rural America. The programme will be two-pronged: Phase I will target those areas that current data confirms are wholly unserved, while Phase II will target those areas that are partially served as well as any areas not won in the first phase. The watchdog believes that at least four million rural homes and small businesses lack a modern broadband service.