FCC allocates USD 9.2 bln for rural broadband, including USD 886 million to SpaceX

News Broadband United States 8 DEC 2020
FCC allocates USD 9.2 bln for rural broadband, including USD 886 million to SpaceX
The FCC has awarded USD 9.2 billion to companies who took part in an auction to bring broadband internet to rural areas in the US. A total of 180 bidders won auction support, to be distributed over the coming ten years. The goal is bring broadband with speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps to the areas. 

A medley of companies won the bids, including cable operators, electric cooperatives, telephone companies, satellite companies and fixed wireless providers. Charter brought in the most funds, at USD 1.22 billion, followed by Minnesota and Iowa provider LTD Broadband with USD 1.32 billion and utility collective Rural Electric Cooperate Consortium with USD 1.1 billion. SpaceX was one of the few satellite firms on the list, winning just under USD 886 million for its Starlink internet service.

Among the better-known companies that took part in the auction, Altice USA won USD 849,000, Atlantic Broadband got USD 5.4 million, CenturyLink received USD 262 million and Cincinnati Bell took in almost USD 27 million. About 59 million went to Consolidated Communications, USD 6.6 million to Cox Communications, USD 1.7 million to FiberLight, USD 6 million to Hawaii Dialogix Telecom, USD 1.3 million to Hughes Network Systems and USD 5 million to Shenandoah Cable Television, part of Shentel.

Categories:

Fixed

Companies:

Cincinnati Bell,  Cox Communications,  FCC,  Hughes Network Systems,  Hughes,  CenturyLink,  Starlink,  Consolidated Communications,  Hawaii Dialogix Telecom,  SpaceX,  Atlantic Broadband,  Optimum Mobile

Countries:

United States

Tags:

Production planning & operations, Launch, Product specifications & quality, Financial figures, Internet Access, Government policy

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