The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) has denied the request of RHMD, LLC (RHMD) seeking a waiver of the June 7, 2021 RDOF deadline for applicants to demonstrate appropriate eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation. The Bureau found that RHMD failed to engage in good faith efforts to pursue and obtain the required ETC designation as RHMD appeared to have waited until mid-May 2021 to file its ETC petition, just a few weeks before the ETC deadline. The Bureau’s order did not address a separate waiver request filed by RHMD’s former RDOF joint venture partner, A2D, Inc., to be assigned RHMD’s winning bids instead of allowing such bids to be in default.
