Frontier accepts $283 million in Connect America funding

Frontier Communications hasaccepted $283.4 million from the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Connect America Fund (CAF). The money will help the carrier expand broadband service to more than 1.3 million rural customers across 28 states.

“This is a major step forward in the FCC’s efforts to ensure that all Americans have access to modern broadband and the opportunities it provides, no matter where they live,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.

The Connect America Fund subsidizes the expansion of high-speed Internet to rural areas, “where market forces alone can’t support expansion.” Carriers receiving CAF funding must expand broadband to 100% in funded locations by the end of 2020.

The Connect America Fund offered CenturyLink $514.3 million, offered AT&T $484 million, Windstream $178.8 million, and offered Verizon $143.9 million. Carriers must decide by August 27 whether to accept the CAF subsidies with obligations for rural broadband build-out on a statewide basis.

Speed Matters hopes all carriers will participate fully in the CAF program to expand broadband access in rural areas.

Frontier Communications Accepts Over $283 Million Connect America Fund Offer to Expand and Support Broadband for 1.3 Million Rural Americans (FCC, June 16, 2015)

FCC’s Connect America II offers $1.7B to expand rural broadband service (Speed Matters, Apr. 30, 2015)