FCC Reimagines High Cost Support in Rural and Remote America and on Tribal Lands

On June 10, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its long-awaited Omnibus Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) articulating its renewed vision of how to structure high cost support in rural and remote areas of the country.[1]  The Omnibus Order is a step in the right direction to restore more sufficient funding in those areas where federal support is required to guarantee universal access to voice and broadband services.

The FCC recognizes that rural areas and Tribal lands face significant infrastructure challenges.[2] “Meeting the infrastructure challenge of the 21^st century will be a multi-year journey.”[3]  The Connect America Fund was created to achieve the goal of bringing high-speed internet and mobile broadband coverage to the eighteen million Americans who lack it.[4]  It remains to be seen if the FCC will dedicate adequate high cost resources to address these challenges, but the reform appears to be moving in a more positive direction.  

Telecommunications carriers serving Tribal lands may receive additional funding to improve telecommunications infrastructure, but it remains unclear whether or not the funding will sufficiently bridge the growing gap in access to broadband on tribal lands.[5]  The FCC proposes dedicating funds to building critical middle mile infrastructure and devoting funds to supporting the extension of telecommunications services on Tribal lands.[6]  The mechanisms for delivery of these funds to the places that need it most will be under consideration over the next months and years. 

The Omnibus Order mentions the yet to be implemented Remote Areas Fund (RAF) first introduced in the Transformation Order in 2011.[7]  Although the FCC intended to implement the RAF in 2013, the highest cost areas are still waiting for access to those funds.[8]  The Omnibus Order suggests that implementation of the RAF ought to be delayed until after the completion of the Phase II competitive bidding process, projected to be sometime in 2016.[9]  Given the depth of need in remote areas of the country, particularly in Alaska, this delay is disappointing.  The funding allocated in the budget to the RAF would be better allocated to the Commission’s middle mile funding proposal advocated by the Alaska Rural Coalition.[10]

Interestingly, the Omnibus Order does not propose any specific rules or make any changes to the rural broadband experiments program.[11] It does propose to exempt areas which receive funding through the program from other high cost support.[12]  The FCC is expected to take further action regarding the broadband experiments, but that will likely be in the form of an additional Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

Much regarding high cost funding in rural and remote areas and on Tribal lands remains unknown.  The Omnibus Order appears to indicate the FCC’s willingness to reevaluate reform and consider a wide variety of options.  The fundamental recognition that there are many areas of the country where a private business case cannot and will never be made to provide robust broadband reassures carriers serving these areas that the FCC understands federal support is critical.  The Omnibus Order appears to signal a new willingness to work with industry to address challenges with expensive infrastructure and gaps in remote areas and tribal lands.  Although no stakeholder is likely to be completely happy with the Omnibus Order, the FCC has successfully recast the conversation as a dialog among all affected parties.

For more information, please contact the author of this alert, Shannon M. Heim, at 612-486-1586 or sheim@dykema.com, or any of the attorneys listed to the left.