The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) has issued an Order that addresses outstanding challenges regarding the eligibility of census blocks elected by price cap carriers for the second round of Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase I. Specifically, the Order contains final rulings on roughly 17,000 census blocks that have been under review following the Bureau’s December 2013 announcement authorizing $255 million in Phase I support for AT&T, CenturyLink, FairPoint Communications, Frontier Communications, and Windstream Corporation. Challenges were submitted by 82 broadband providers. The Bureau granted 64 challenges, rejected or dismissed 13, and granted in part or denied in part five challenges. Approximately $98 million in CAF Phase I funding was subject to outstanding challenges, and roughly $18.7 million is now authorized for disbursement to price cap carriers to extend broadband-capable infrastructure in 22 states.
