With the goal of ensuring as many locations as possible remain
eligible for future federal/state broadband grant funding, agency
clarifies for RDOF and CAF II support recipients processes and
potential penalties for defaulting on deployment obligations
The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) issued a Public Notice on July 3 providing
guidance to internet service providers (ISPs) that have received
broadband grant funding but may default on deployment obligations
under the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and
Connect America Fund II (CAF II) Programs. Issued in response to
a request from certain fund recipients to
grant a limited "amnesty period" for all ISPs that may
not complete deployment projects within mandated timelines, WCB
denied the recipients' request because "there is no
demonstrated need for widespread relief" from penalties for
potential defaults. However, WCB has committed to consider
ISPs' individual circumstances in reviewing default
