Today the FCC announced it is spending $89.2 million to bring broadband to rural Americans in 21 states. The goal is that this money will help expand broadband to 123,000 unserved rural homes and business.
“Across the nation, we’re continuing to close the digital divide so that all Americans—no matter where they live—have access to affordable broadband connectivity and the digital opportunity it brings,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “And as this eighth round of funding demonstrates, the Connect America Fund Phase II Auction is doing so in a cost-effective way: Because providers competed for Connect America Fund Auction support, finite universal service dollars reached many more homes and businesses at a much lower cost.”
This is part of the FCC’s plan to spend $1.488 billion with the goal of bringing high-speed internet to 700,000 homes over the next 10 years. Funding for this initiative comes from the Universal Service Fund. This fund was made to promote access to phone services in underserved areas and is now being used to bring Internet access to those same areas.
Here is how the FCC breaks out how the money will be spent:
| State | Company | Minimum Speed | Support/10 Years | Locations |
| Alabama | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $3,692,935 | 9,075 |
| Arizona | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $129,559 | 354 |
| California | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $13,918,362 | 18,795 |
| Colorado | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $7,231,181 | 6,517 |
| Florida | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $5,032,841 | 9,859 |
| Georgia | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $6,264,362 | 13,815 |
| Idaho | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $4,402,040 | 3,607 |
| Illinois | LTD Broadband | 25/3 Mbps | $19,462 | 145 |
| Iowa | LTD Broadband | 25/3 Mbps | $69,516 | 33 |
| Kentucky | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $1,673,145 | 4,169 |
| Louisiana | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $2,873,230 | 4,427 |
| Maine | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $4,713,986 | 4,098 |
| Minnesota | LTD Broadband | 25/3 Mbps | $1,104,441 | 840 |
| Montana | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $5,180,536 | 5,342 |
| New Mexico | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $3,132,667 | 3,268 |
| South Carolina | Horry Telephone Cooperative | 25/3 Mbps | $233,490 | 80 |
| Utah | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $3,119,687 | 2,995 |
| Washington | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $7,031,864 | 10,982 |
| West Virginia | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $5,432,056 | 7,057 |
| Wisconsin | Bruce Telephone Company | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $177,933 | 34 |
| Wisconsin | JCWIFI.com | 25/3 Mbps | $486,424 | 175 |
| Wisconsin | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $3,963,228 | 7,565 |
| Wyoming | Viasat | 25/3 Mbps | $9,301,915 | 9,805 |
| Total | $89,184,858 | 123,037 |
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