Pai Urges Pennsylvania to Match CAF II Funds to Encourage Auction Bids, Broadband Buildout
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai suggested Pennsylvania provide a match of Connect America Fund Phase II reverse auction of subsidies for fixed broadband and voice services beginning July 24. "If your state did this, such funds would increase the incentive for…
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providers to invest in Pennsylvania and bring new service to those without -- likely increasing the quality of service as well as the federal funding for rural parts of the state," he said, in an exchange posted Friday in docket 18-5 with Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., and other members of the state's congressional delegation. The lawmakers asked the FCC Jan. 25 to reverse a then-pending denial of a Pennsylvania petition for CAF II funding help. "Because the petition before the Commission did not explain why such matching efforts were insufficient to accomplish the Commonwealth's goals given our interest in maximizing the effectiveness of our universal service dollars for all Americans, the Commission denied the request in January," Pai wrote March 14. He noted the FCC also is looking at a subsequent "Remote Areas Fund" auction for areas still without high-speed broadband, giving Pennsylvania another opportunity.