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White House, FCC Unveil 5G Push and $20B Fund For Rural Broadband (cnet.com)
The White House on Friday will unveil a new 5G push to position the US ahead of global rivals in the race to deploy the next-generation wireless technology. President Donald Trump and Federal Communications Chairman Ajit Pai will announce new airwaves auctions and plans to spend $20.4 billion over 10 years on rural broadband. From a report: The FCC will auction off three segments of millimeter-wave spectrum -- which can offer insane data speeds but has limited range -- for commercial use. The auction is scheduled for December, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said on a conference call with reporters ahead of the White House event. He said the FCC plans to auction off 3,400 MHz of spectrum in three different high-frequency bands. "This will be the largest spectrum auction in American history," he said. Pai went onto say that this auction, along with others planned for the future, are putting the US on a good path. "The US is well-positioned to take a lead in 5G," he said.
The FCC is also announcing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The agency plans to reallocate $20.4 billion from its Universal Service Fund over the next 10 years to subsidize eligible companies to build out broadband infrastructure in underserved areas. The money will be allocated to internet service providers that can provide a minimum of 25 megabit per second downloads in areas that are currently in need of connectivity, Pai said. He added that the new infrastructure will also help bring 5G to these rural areas. "There are a number of startups that are working on millimeter wave technology to bring 5G to rural America," he said on the call.
The FCC is also announcing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The agency plans to reallocate $20.4 billion from its Universal Service Fund over the next 10 years to subsidize eligible companies to build out broadband infrastructure in underserved areas. The money will be allocated to internet service providers that can provide a minimum of 25 megabit per second downloads in areas that are currently in need of connectivity, Pai said. He added that the new infrastructure will also help bring 5G to these rural areas. "There are a number of startups that are working on millimeter wave technology to bring 5G to rural America," he said on the call.
The fact is, that the USF already exists, and unless the laws change, it's not going away. So why not use it for its intended purpose?
As far as market forces doing it better and cheaper, they haven't. The very fact that even Republicans at this point are advocating use of the fund for helping with some of the costs bears that out.
This is a giveaway, pushed for by some lobby. And it will not be for "poor, rural folks".
I just love watching the Republicans rage on about the looming dangers of "SOCIALISM!!!" and then turn around and do something as classically "SOCIALIST!!!" as subsidising broadband installations. Mind you half the money in that fund will probably end up in the pockets of telco executives as bonuses for using the other half of the money to get people in rural areas 3rd rate broadband for which they will then have to pay 1st rate broadband prices.
>I would only support this kind of deal if there were strong liabilities for failure to deliver. I am talking board and CEO jail time levels of liability here.
I would only support it if the big ISPs -- Comcast, ATT, etc. -- agree to stop suing municipalities who attempt to lay municipal fiber. Either you're capable of rolling our broadband, or you're not. You shouldn't be able to sue a government because you want a monopoly in an area and complain about unfair competition, and then turn around and ask for help in other, less profitable areas.
I'm tired, as a tax payer, of subsidizing your profits.