FCC Should Increase USF Support to Wireless ETCs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                      Contact: Lucy Tutwiler

August 3, 2012                                                                                                                                              (202) 449-9866

FCC Should Increase USF Support to Wireless ETCs

Washington, DC – Today, in an ex parte filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission), CCA – The Competitive Carriers Association responded to the decision of wireline price cap carriers to forego approximately $185 million of the $300 million allocated for broadband deployment as part of Phase I of the Connect America Fund (CAF).  The decision by wireline price cap carriers unfortunately validates CCA’s longstanding concerns about the CAF Order’s misguided allocation of funding. CCA urged the Commission to adopt a more competitively and technologically neutral strategy for the CAF and Mobility Fund and increase funding to more cost-efficient wireless ETCs.

“It is extremely disappointing that hundreds of thousands of consumers will be prevented from having access to broadband services due to the price cap carriers’ rejection of this Phase I funding,” said CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry.  “However, even more disappointing is the fact that this potentially could have been avoided had the FCC adopted a competitively and technologically neutral high-cost support mechanism in the first place and provided sufficient funding for mobile services.  The FCC must seize this opportunity to change course and allow competitive wireless carriers the opportunity to take advantage of the $185 million refused by price cap carriers to bring broadband services to these much needed areas.”

“The FCC’s USF Order released last year greatly underfunds wireless, the most cost-effective means of bringing broadband services to high-cost areas.  Now is the time for the FCC to make it right for consumers who live in the most difficult to serve areas of our nation, and I look forward to our continued work with the Commission on this very critical issue.”

About CCA

CCA is the nation’s leading association for competitive wireless providers serving rural and regional areas of the United States. The licensed service area of CCA’s more than 100 members covers 95 percent of the nation.

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