Media Contact: 
Mark Wigfield, (202) 418-0253
mark.wigfield@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

OVER 106,000 RURAL HOMES AND BUSINESSES 
TO GET BETTER, FASTER BROADBAND
Because of FCC Reforms, Higher-Speed Broadband Will Reach 
New Homes and Businesses in 43 States 
  -- 
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2019—Over 106,000 rural homes and small businesses in 43 states will get access to improved broadband service due to recent FCC reforms to the Universal Service Fund.

“Today’s announcement means that many more rural Americans will have access to high-speed broadband service that will enable them to fully participate in the digital economy—entrepreneurship, telemedicine, precision agriculture, online education, and more,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “This is yet another example of how the FCC is working hard to close the digital divide.”

Pursuant to new rules adopted by the Commission last December, a total of 186 companies participating in the FCC’s Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) program have accepted $65.7 million in additional annual support over the next decade.  In return, these carriers have committed to deploying 25/3 Mbps service to 106,365 homes and small businesses that would have otherwise only received slower 10/1 Mbps service.

The boost represents a 31.8% increase in the number of locations that will have faster service available through the A-CAM program.  Carriers must deploy 25/3 Mbps service to 40% of locations by end of the 2022, and increase deployment by 10% annually until buildout is complete at the end of 2028.

The chart below details the impact of the additional funding by state: 

State
Previous 25/3 Mbps Obligation
New 25/3 Mbps Obligation
Difference (number of households/
businesses)
Difference %
AK
1,670
3,778
2,108
126.2%
AL
18,816
21,986
3,170
16.8%
AR
9,377
12,018
2,641
28.2%
AZ
1,353
2,903
1,550
114.6%
State
Previous 25/3 Mbps Obligation
New 25/3 Mbps Obligation
Difference
Difference %
CA
1,316
1,937
621
47.2%
CO
1,981
3,225
1,244
62.8%
FL
1,364
1,545
181
13.3%
GA
13,607
15,758
2,151
15.8%
IA
8,886
13,075
4,189
47.1%
ID
3,505
5,444
1,939
55.3%
IL
4,408
6,320
1,912
43.4%
IN
5,532
6,373
841
15.2%
KS
1,410
2,713
1,303
92.4%
KY
3,643
4,233
590
16.2%
LA
1,001
1,357
356
35.6%
MA
11
12
1
9.1%
ME
6,427
7,477
1,050
16.3%
MI
9,471
14,560
5,089
53.7%
MN
43,241
54,599
11,358
26.3%
MO
7,093
11,175
4,082
57.5%
MS
17,894
22,043
4,149
23.2%
MT
5,309
10,907
5,598
105.4%
ND
325
874
549
168.9%
NE
5,582
11,208
5,626
100.8%
NH
1,407
1,595
188
13.4%
NM
1,384
3,087
1,703
123.0%
NV
1,424
2,540
1,116
78.4%
NY
18,544
21,324
2,780
15.0%
OH
4,206
4,834
628
14.9%
OK
20,029
27,753
7,724
38.6%
OR
4,420
6,492
2,072
46.9%
PA
9,863
11,325
1,462
14.8%
SC
3,739
4,260
521
13.9%
SD
1,685
3,423
1,738
103.1%
TN
22,225
25,276
3,051
13.7%
TX
14,306
21,331
7,025
49.1%
UT
2,582
5,596
3,014
116.7%
VA
10,913
12,688
1,775
16.3%
VT
756
856
100
13.2%
WA
3,010
4,095
1,085
36.0%
WI
36,887
43,146
6,259
17.0%
WV
2,975
3,809
834
28.0%
WY
866
1,858
992
114.5%
Total
334,443
440,808
106,365
31.8%


###

Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / TTY: (888) 835-5322 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).