ViaSat, FCC Discuss CAF Auction Order's Possible Fallout on Satellite Participation

ViaSat staffers met with FCC officials on the recent Connect America Fund Phase II order setting some details for a reverse auction of subsidy support for fixed broadband services (see 1702230019). "The discussion focused on the potential impact on satellite broadband bidders of the adopted reverse-auction bid weighting mechanism, and was based on the analytical framework described in Exhibit A of the ViaSat ex parte submission of February 21, 2017 (as adjusted for adopted bid weighting)," said a company filing posted Wednesday in docket 10-90 on the meeting with International Bureau officials. ViaSat had urged the FCC to encourage broadband deployment in a "baseline" 25/3 Mbps tier (see 1702170048). But Commissioner Mike O'Rielly suggested Feb. 23 the FCC bid weights favor "above baseline" (100/20 Mbps) "gigabit" (1 Gbps/500 Mbps) tiers.