FCC Acting Chair Clyburn Adds to the Connect America Fund

With the May 17 resignation of Julius Genachowski, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn took over as acting chair of the commission. She’ll stay in that position until the Senate confirms nominee Tom Wheeler, whose hearings are expected to begin no earlier than June. Clyburn, who has been an FCC commissioner since 2009, is the first female chair of the commission since the office was created in 1934.

In the meantime, Clyburn announced the second release of Connect America funds, totaling $485 million, to expand broadband in rural areas. According to the FCC, “The additional investment will leverage millions in additional private investment to quickly serve rural areas currently lacking access to high-speed broadband.”

As the FCC points out, around 15 million Americans – mostly rural – lack broadband access and, therefore, lag behind in jobs, education and other opportunities. The goal of Connect America is “to ensure that every American has access to broadband by the end of the decade.”

Speed Matters supports federal efforts to bring high-speed broadband to every American.

Mignon Clyburn becomes first female FCC head today, but her tenure will be brief (The Verge, May 20, 2013)

FCC Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn Announces Up To $485 Million In New Connect America Fund Investments To Expand Rural Broadband (FCC, May 22, 2013)