USTelecom supported reinvesting the $185 million in unused Connect America...

to neighborhoods to increase broadband speeds is “most likely to advance the goals of the CAF Phase I program,” the group of ILECs said. They estimated the plan would double the number of households for which carriers would be able to receive funding. They said they supported the FCC’s proposal to allow carriers to accept additional funds to target consumers and businesses that are in areas unserved by broadband that meets the 4 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream standard. This approach would more closely align the program with the commission’s broadband, the comments said. “The potential benefits of the modifications presented today by the price cap carrier community are huge,” said ITTA President Genny Morelli. “These benefits, in the form of significantly increased levels of rapid broadband deployment to rural consumers throughout the United States, will pay substantial dividends for years to come.” But the American Cable Association said the FCC should “stay the course” and not expand the Phase I CAF criteria. Phase I was designed “to reach a significant number of relatively low-cost locations with up to $300 million in federal support,” said ACA CEO Matthew Polka in a statement. “With the funding allocated last year, the program’s stated objective is in the process of being achieved. Until that is no longer the case, the FCC need not substantially alter the program.” NCTA encouraged the commission to open up the fund to “any interested provider willing to bring broadband to unserved customers” (http://xrl.us/bodeek). Rather than continuing to give Phase I money to ILECs only, “the Commission should focus on the actual goal of universal service support: providing service to consumers,” NCTA said.