The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) has announced that certain census block groups (CBG) which were limited to exclusive support from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) are now eligible for other funding programs. The RDOF program promotes the efficient use of funding by making CBGs ineligible for alternative programs when a service provider makes an enforceable commitment to serve that area. If a service provider defaults on their commitment, the CBG regains eligibility for other programs. The WCB has announced the partial default of Charter Fiberlink on CBGs in Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, and Wisconsin and the default of Co-Mo Connect on CBGs in Missouri. WCB also announced the default of Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc. on all of its commitments in Texas.
By limited waiver, Charter Fiberlink and Co-Mo Connect have not withdrawn entirely from the RDOF program and will not be subject to default penalties beyond the termination of support for the defaulted areas. Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc. will be subject to support recovery and non-compliance measures.
