PSC Grants Bright House ETC Status, Helping Bridge Digital Divide
“COVID-19 has made the digital divide even more apparent. Teleworking and remote learning requirements are greatly affecting those without adequate access to high-speed broadband networks,” said PSC Chairman Gary Clark. “With the Commission granting Bright House ETC status, the company can seek federal funding to create public and private investment in Florida to offer more high-speed broadband access in unserved communities.”
On January 30, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the framework for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). The RDOF initiative allocates up to $20.4 billion through a two-phase competitive auction to help connect millions of unserved rural homes and small businesses to high speed broadband. The FCC set aside $16 billion for Phase I of the auction, and $9.2 billion was allocated. The FCC’s aim is to encourage deployment of sustainable networks as new advancements are made to deliver broadband access for the future.
In Florida, 11 bidders were selected to receive approximately $192 million of high-cost support in RDOF Phase I. Bright House will receive $22.5 million in Phase I to be used in specified census blocks in Florida. An ETC designation is required for telecommunications carriers to receive funding for the Lifeline and High-Cost programs to provide service in remote and underserved areas. The RDOF will help qualified companies deploy much needed infrastructure to provide service in parts of the country most in need of connectivity. Bright House is a majority-owned and wholly-controlled subsidiary of Charter Communications, Inc.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
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