The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) is seeking comment on whether to extend a limited waiver that was granted last year to recipients of Auction 903 Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF-II) support and Rural Broadband Experiment (RBE) support. The waiver allows such recipients to reduce letter of credit (LOC) amounts in 20% increments, consistent with the FCC’s new LOC processes that the FCC adopted for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I support in Auction 904. Given the ongoing trough improving state of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau is considering whether to extend this waiver beyond December 31, 2021, and it raises several related questions for comment. Comments are due by August 6, 2021 and reply comments by August 23, 2021.
