Federal Communications Commission DA 25-1061 DA 25-1061 Released: December 16, 2025 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU EXTENDS REPLY COMMENT DEADLINE FOR ALASKA CONNECT FUND ELIGIBLE-AREAS MAP AND PERFORMANCE PLAN TEMPLATE AND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING UPDATED ELIGIBLE AREAS MAP WC Docket No. 23-328 Revised Reply Comment Date: January 7, 2026 Pursuant to the Alaska Connect Fund Order, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), in coordination with the Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), released the first version of the preliminary Eligible-Areas Map (EA Map, version 1.0) for the Alaska Connect Fund on September 30, 2025. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on the Initial Eligible-Areas Map and Performance Plan Template for the Alaska Connect Fund, WC Docket No. 23-328, Public Notice DA 25-916 (WTB rel. Sept. 30, 2025) (EA Map Notice), https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-916A1.pdf. The map is based on mobile providers’ Broadband Data Collection (BDC) mobile availability data as of December 31, 2024. See also Connect America Fund; Alaska Connect Fund et al., WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 23-328, 16-271, 14-58, 09-197, WT Docket No. 10-208, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 39 FCC Rcd 12099, 12148-49, paras. 111-12 (2024) (Alaska Connect Fund Order). Reply comments for the EA Map currently are due on December 19, 2025. Comments and reply comments originally were due October 31, 2025 and November 14, 2025, respectively. EA Map Notice, DA 25-916 (rel. Sept. 30, 2025). These deadlines subsequently were extended to December 4, 2025 and December 19, 2025, respectively, following the partial shutdown of the Commission due to a lapse in appropriations. See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Extends Comment Deadlines for Alaska Connect Fund Eligible-Areas Map And Performance Plan Template, WC Docket No. 23-328, Public Notice, DA 25-959 (WTB rel. Nov. 19, 2025) (EA Map Comment Extension Notice). On December 5, 2025, WTB and OEA released a corrected, updated version of the EA Map (version 1.1), Version 1.1 of the EA map can be found at: https://www.fcc.gov/wireline-competition/alaska-connect-fund#mobile-eligible-areas-map. to address concerns and questions from stakeholders regarding version 1.0 of the EA Map. See, e.g., Letter from John T. Nakahata et al., Counsel, GCI, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 23-328 at 1 (filed Nov. 18, 2025) (encouraging “WTB and OEA to solicit written questions from interested parties, and then to release written guidance or a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document” to “resolve confusion in the record”). By this Public Notice, we announce the availability of resources that provide additional information regarding version 1.1 of the EA Map, and we announce a further extension of the reply comment deadline until January 7, 2026, in light of the new version of and resources about the EA Map. Additional Resources about the EA Map. We announce the creation of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page regarding the EA Map. The FAQ page is intended to address questions and requests for clarification regarding the map and will be updated to address any future questions that staff receive. The FAQ contains instructions and a template for submitting corrections for a classification change to a hex-9. As noted in the FAQs, where a provider’s coverage is not reflected in the EA Map, a provider must request that its current service area be added to the EA Map at this time as its support area. If a provider does not do so, areas classified as “other eligible areas” may be claimed by another provider at a later time through the comparable-areas process. The FAQ page for the mobile portion of the Alaska Connect Fund can be found here: https://www.fcc.gov/wireline-competition/alaska-connect-fund#eligible-areas-map-faq. In addition, details about the version 1.1 corrections and changes from the previous version can be found here: https://www.fcc.gov/wireline-competition/mobile-eligible-areas-map-version-history. Further, a template for submitting hex-9 classification corrections can be found here https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/ACF-Eligible-Map-Corrections-Template.xlsx; instructions and an example for filling out the template are found here https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/ACF-Eligibility-Map-Correction-Submissions.xlsx. Extension of Reply Comment Date. While it is the general policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted, 47 CFR § 1.46(a). under the circumstances presented, we conclude that a limited extension of the reply comment deadline is warranted in light of the release of the updated EA Map on December 5, 2025 and the additional information about the EA Map that we are making available today. Interested parties can use this time to develop complete reply comments responding to this information. Providers may submit new information with their reply comments and are encouraged to submit corrections to the EA Map via the corrections template. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 4(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i). and Section 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR § 1.46. we extend the deadline for filing reply comments until January 7, 2026. Please submit questions for WTB and OEA to answer on the FAQ page—and requests for further information regarding the Alaska Connect Fund proceeding generally—to ACF@fcc.gov. - FCC - 2