Yesterday the FCC announced two efforts to expand high-speed internet into rural America. First, the FCC is partnering with New York State’s Broadband Program to spend $39.2 million to bring highspeed internet to 15,442 unserved rural New York Homes. The FCC is also spending $524 million to bring high-speed internet to 205,520 rural American homes in 23 states.
“High-speed Internet provides access to opportunity in the 21st century, and the FCC’s top priority is closing the digital divide so that all Americans can fully participate in our connected society,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “Today’s authorization of funding is the largest yet from the auction, nearly double the amount authorized in the first two rounds nationwide, and serving over twice as many rural homes and businesses. I am pleased that the Commission is moving quickly to authorize these funds to close the digital divide in rural America.”
“Partnering with New York to expand broadband into unserved rural areas of the state was one of my first acts as Chairman,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “Closing the digital divide is the FCC’s top priority, and I’m proud that this partnership will provide many rural New Yorkers with access to the opportunities that high-speed Internet offers.”
According to the FCC, this money will come from the Universal Service Fund. The Universal Service Fund is a system of subsidies intended to promote access to phone services in underserved areas in the US. Now it is being used to promote internet services in rural America.
This is only the start of the FCC plans to push rural internet. According to the FCC, they will continue to push for the rollout of high-speed internet to more than 20 million Americans.
Here are the other states getting FCC funding with this announcement:
| State | Company | Minimum Speed | Support/10 Years | # of Locations |
| Alabama | Tombigbee Communications | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $1,691,879 | 279 |
| Arkansas | Aristotle Unified Communications | 25/3 Mbps | $7,069,003 | 3,191 |
| California | California Internet | 100/20 Mbps | $82,629,018 | 10,922 |
| Colorado | PC Telcorp | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $387,303 | 33 |
| Delaware | Bloosurf | 25/3 Mbps | $1,188,311 | 1,321 |
| Illinois | AMG Technology Investment Group | 100/20 Mbps | $35,329,966 | 10,226 |
| Illinois | AMG Technology Investment Group | 25/3 Mbps | * | 4,796 |
| Indiana | Mercury Wireless Indiana | 25/3 Mbps | $1,400,845 | 7,371 |
| Indiana | Orange County REMC | 100/20 Mbps | $10,200,496 | 2,797 |
| Indiana | Orange County REMC | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | * | 1,249 |
| Indiana | Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $1,182,426 | 359 |
| Iowa | AMG Technology Investment Group | 100/20 Mbps | $50,614,528 | 7,693 |
| Iowa | AMG Technology Investment Group | 25/3 Mbps | * | 7,404 |
| Iowa | Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $179,957 | 101 |
| Kansas | AMG Technology Investment Group | 100/20 Mbps | $37,349,711 | 5,393 |
| Kansas | AMG Technology Investment Group | 25/3 Mbps | * | 4,695 |
| Kansas | Mercury Wireless Kansas | 25/3 Mbps | $1,331,173 | 776 |
| Kentucky | Gibson Connect | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $412,624 | 119 |
| Maryland | Bloosurf | 25/3 Mbps | $4,280,186 | 3,770 |
| Michigan | Crystal Automation Systems | 100/20 Mbps | $27,299,087 | 17,555 |
| Michigan | Crystal Automation Systems | 25/3 Mbps | * | 53 |
| Michigan | Crystal Automation Systems | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | * | 2 |
| Michigan | Mercury Wireless Indiana | 25/3 Mbps | $235,637 | 971 |
| Michigan | Midwest Energy Cooperative | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $5,171,125 | 2,386 |
| Michigan | Tri-County Electric Cooperative | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $117,784 | 106 |
| Minnesota | Federated Telephone Cooperative | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $1,431,039 | 808 |
| Minnesota | Roseau Electric Cooperative | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $2,081,770 | 326 |
| Mississippi | Aristotle Unified Communications | 25/3 Mbps | $277,905 | 80 |
| Missouri | Aristotle Unified Communications | 25/3 Mbps | $3,001,545 | 788 |
| Missouri | Chariton Valley Communications Corporation | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $4,179,666 | 847 |
| Missouri | Mercury Wireless Kansas | 25/3 Mbps | $1,641,845 | 1,954 |
| Missouri | Mid-States Services | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $1,868,060 | 358 |
| Nebraska | AMG Technology Investment Group | 100/20 Mbps | $40,848,390 | 8,768 |
| Nevada | California Internet | 100/20 Mbps | $5,203,386 | 923 |
| Nevada | Valley Communications Association | 25/3 Mbps | $404,754 | 153 |
| North Carolina | RiverStreet Communications of North Carolina | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $679,130 | 368 |
| North Dakota | BEK Communications Cooperative | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $1,182,155 | 534 |
| Ohio | Mercury Wireless Indiana | 25/3 Mbps | $831 | 20 |
| Oklahoma | AMG Technology Investment Group | 100/20 Mbps | $41,285,224 | 12,750 |
| Oklahoma | AMG Technology Investment Group | 25/3 Mbps | * | 5,133 |
| Oklahoma | Aristotle Unified Communications | 25/3 Mbps | $1,803,161 | 3,549 |
| Oklahoma | AtLink Services | 25/3 Mbps | $4,762,674 | 12,491 |
| Oklahoma | Lake Region Technology & Communications | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $4,024,501 | 2,247 |
| Oklahoma | OzarksGo | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $12,129,065 | 5,427 |
| Oklahoma | Pine Cellular Phones | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $4,360,549 | 1,058 |
| Oklahoma | Southern Plains Cable | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $857,095 | 664 |
| Texas | AMG Technology Investment Group | 100/20 Mbps | $75,855,975 | 18,675 |
| Texas | AMG Technology Investment Group | 25/3 Mbps | * | 15,128 |
| Texas | Texhoma Fiber | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $831,018 | 98 |
| Virginia | PGEC Enterprises | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $15,402,703 | 5,287 |
| Virginia | RiverStreet Communications of Virginia | 1 Gbps/500 Mbps | $32,140,887 | 13,518 |
| Total | $524,324,384 | 205,520 | ||
| * Dollar amount included in total for company |
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