ACA Connects Supports 5G Fund Auction Following BEAD Awards
The FCC should delay a 5G Fund auction until broadband equity, access, and deployment program funds ae awarded, ACA Connects said in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 20-32. “Though the Commission’s high-cost programs distinguish fixed service from mobile service,…
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5G networks are capable of, and already provide, both,” ACA said: “5G fixed service providers have signed up millions of customers annually in the past few years, capturing the lion’s share of recent fixed broadband growth and providing intense competition to wireline providers.” The association said “where fixed and mobile broadband services were once distinct segments of the marketplace, 5G blurs the line between the two.” The Competitive Carriers Association raised similar timing concerns in a meeting with aides to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. “It is critical that a 5G Fund auction does not occur prematurely to ensure funds are used most efficiently and are targeted to those areas that need it most,” CCA said: “Fiber deployed through the BEAD program will provide a tremendous resource for future 5G mobile deployments as fiber is needed to connect towers across rural America.” CCA said fiber backhaul can comprise up to 20% of the cost of deploying a tower.