WTA Opposes RDOF Amnesty in Comments to FCC

Yesterday, WTA filed comments with the FCC expressing opposition to a request to waive all penalties for RDOF awardees who do not fulfill their build-out commitments so that those locations could be included in BEAD. The FCC asked for input on this proposal in a Public Notice.

In its comments, WTA sympathized with the broadband service needs of residents of the affected areas. However, it believes that BEAD can address and meet these needs “without setting a disruptive and destructive precedent that would bail out entities that gamed or otherwise bid recklessly or irresponsibly to ‘win’ reverse auctions by waiving the default penalties that they were informed would apply and/or by waiving recovery of the reverse auction support that they already have received.” WTA suggested two alternatives the FCC could use to a complete amnesty.