Broadband has gone from being a luxury to a necessity for full participation in our economy and society – for all Americans. For that reason, the FCC has adopted comprehensive reforms of its Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation (ICC) systems to accelerate broadband build-out to the 18 million Americans living in rural areas who currently have no access to robust broadband infrastructure. This reform will expand the benefits of high-speed Internet to millions of consumers in every part of the country by transforming the existing USF into a new Connect America Fund (CAF) focused on broadband.
Consumers everywhere – both urban and rural – will benefit. Reform will not only drive economic growth in rural America, but will expand the online marketplace nationwide, creating jobs and businesses opportunities across the country.
What's New
Cost Model Virtual Workshop
The public is invited to participate in an ongoing, online workshop to assist the Commission as it formulates the cost model for Connect America Phase II. This model will be used to determine the support amounts required to extend and sustain robust, scalable broadband and voice networks in certain eligible high-cost areas.
Contents
- Read the Executive Summary to the USF/ICC Transformation Order
- FCC Releases
- Rate of Return Carrier Resources
- Price Cap Carrier Resources
- Mobility Fund I Resources (Auction 901)
- Maps
- Blogs
- Commission Meeting Adopting Reform
- Consumer Benefits by the Numbers
- Annual Universal Service Monitoring Report
Other Resources
- Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
- Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service Contact List (PDF)
FCC Releases
General Actions
- FCC Releases New, Interactive Map Illustrating States Set to Receive 'Connect America Fund' Support to Bring 400,000 Americans High-Speed Broadband. (7/26/12)
- FCC Kicks-Off Connect America Fund (7/25/12)
- USF/ICC Transformation Order
- Sua Sponte Order on Reconsideration
- USF/ICC Second Order on Reconsideration (4/25/12)
- USF/ICC Third Order on Reconsideration (5/14/12)
- USF/ICC Fourth Order on Reconsideration (7/18/12)
- Erratum
- Clarifying Aspects of USF/ICC Order I (2/3/12)
- Clarifying Aspects of USF/ICC Order II (2/27/12)
- Clarifying Aspects of USF/ICC Order III (6/5/12)
- Clarifying Aspects of USF/ICC Order IV (7/18/12)
- ONAP, WTB, and WCB Issue Further Guidance on Tribal Engagement
- Urban Rates Survey Public Notice (7/26/12)
Connect America Fund
- Access to CAF II Models
- Public Notice Announcing Phase II Virtual Workshop (9/12/12)
- Public Notice Announcing Start of Phase II Virtual Workshop (10/9/12)
- Phase II Virtual Workshop
Connect America Fund – Mobility Fund I
Maps
- Broadband Availability Across the US
- Mobility Fund Phase 1 Potentially Eligible Areas
- Regulatory Type at the Holding Company Level by Study Area
- Connect America Phase I
Blogs
- FCC Launches Connect America Fund(4/25/12)
- Data the Way You Want It – New GIS Data Formats for Mobility Fund Phase I (3/8/12)
- Expanding Broadband and Protecting Voice Service in Rural America (2/8/12)
- Understanding Maps at the Federal Communications Commission (2/3/12)
- Connect America Fund: Putting Consumers First (10/2/11)
Consumer Benefits by the Numbers
- Americans living in unserved rural areas who will receive access to broadband over the next decade: 18 million
- Consumers who will get mobile broadband coverage where they live, work, and travel: millions
- Jobs created related to new deployment in rural areas over five years: 500,000
- Annual economic benefits in rural areas from new deployment: $700 million
- Annual increase in economic growth, creating jobs: $50 billion
- Benefit to cost ratio for consumers: $3 to $1
- Percentage of FORTUNE 500 companies that post job openings online only – and require online applications: over 80 percent
- Graduation rates for students with broadband at home compared to similar students with no broadband access: 6% to 8% higher