WTA Meets with Wireline Bureau on Enhanced ACAM/CAF-BLS Reform Order and Proposals

Yesterday, representatives from WTA met with staff from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau to discuss the circulating Order and proposals to modify the ACAM and CAF-BLS mechanisms for small USF High Cost Program recipients.

WTA hopes that the ultimately adopted order and revised high-cost support mechanisms will provide sufficient funding to encourage and enable RLECs to complete their deployment of 100/20 Mbps and better broadband networks, to permit those RLECs that have already deployed such high-speed networks to repay their construction loans, and to permit all RLECs to maintain and sustain their broadband networks after initial construction is completed. It is of particular importance to WTA that ACAM I recipients are eligible to receive Enhanced ACAM support for those census blocks in their service areas that were denied ACAM I support in 2016 due to the provision therein of 10 Mbps or better broadband service using FTTP or cable technologies.

The full notice of ex parte can be found here.