Media Contact: Anne Veigle anne.veigle@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC ANNOUNCES OVER $1 BILLION IN RURAL DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND SUPPORT FOR BROADBAND IN 32 STATES AS COMMISSION CONTINUES TO CLEAN UP PROGRAM Grants Limited Waiver for Certain Applicants to Complete Auction Documentation As Other Bidders Announce Plans to Default -- WASHINGTON, December 16, 2021—The FCC today announced that it is ready to authorize $1,041,074,000 over 10 years in its fifth round of funding for new broadband deployments through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. In the largest funding wave to date, 69 broadband providers will bring broadband service to 518,088 locations in 32 states. “This latest round of funding will open up even more opportunities to connect hundreds of thousands of Americans to high-speed, reliable broadband service,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Today’s actions reflect the hard work we’ve put in over the past year to ensure that applicants meet their obligations and follow our rules. With thoughtful oversight, this program can direct funding to areas that need broadband and to providers who are qualified to do the job.” The Commission also continues to take steps to ensure auction applicants meet financial requirements and that funding is directed to areas that need broadband. The FCC denied Hotwire’s waiver request and rejected its long form application because it entered into a transaction in violation of program rules. And the Commission announced a number of defaulted bids, making the census blocks in those defaulted bids potentially eligible for other funding programs. Meanwhile, Commission staff continue to carefully review and process long-form applications on a rolling basis. Over the past year the Commission has taken a number of actions to strengthen its oversight of the program, including: · Sending letters to 197 applicants concerning areas where there was evidence of existing service or questions of waste. Bidders have already chosen not to pursue support in approximately 5,000 census blocks in response to the Commission’s letters. · Denying waivers for winning bidders that have not made appropriate efforts to secure state approvals or prosecute their applications. These bidders would have otherwise received approximately $350 million. · Publishing a list of areas where providers had defaulted, thereby making those places available for other broadband funding opportunities. · Conducting an exhaustive technical, financial, and legal review of all winning bidders. A list of the eligible census blocks covered by defaulted bids is available on the Auction 904 website under the “Results” tab, https://www.fcc.gov/auction/904/round-results. For a list of RDOF providers and funding amounts by state, see https://www.fcc.gov/auction/904. ### Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / 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).