WTA Supports BCM Waiver Circulating at FCC
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2023) – WTA – Advocates for Rural Broadband supports the Order circulated by Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to waive the Budget Control Mechanism for the budget year starting in June.
The following statement can be attributed to Derrick Owens, Senior Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs:
“Without a BCM waiver for the rapidly approaching 2023-2024 support year, WTA member companies and other small providers will lose approximately 18 percent of their otherwise applicable high-cost support. This would constitute a crippling loss of the funds needed to continue deploying, upgrading and operating their broadband networks and services. It not only will render the affected high-cost support insufficient and unpredictable, but also will be inequitable because the lost support is predominately reimbursement for dollars that were previously spent in reliance thereof to extend and upgrade broadband networks during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantines to meet the work-from-home, distance learning, remote medical care and other critical needs of their rural customers. We thank the Chairwoman for circulating the Order and encourages the Commissioners to swiftly approve it.”
