Coalition Asks FCC to Launch Petition on Extending Alternative Connect America Cost Model

The Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) Broadband Coalition asked the FCC Friday to launch an expedited rulemaking on providing six years of additional support at current levels “in return for providing significantly faster broadband speeds to consumers more quickly than consumers otherwise would receive them.” The FCC adopted the A-CAM in 2016 for rate-of-return companies for use in distributing universal service support in high-cost areas. “The proposed enhancements could result in over 600,000 eligible locations being deployed to at speeds of 100/25 Mbps or higher,” said an undocketed petition: “The requirement to deploy broadband to eligible locations at lower speeds (i.e. 25/3 Mbps, 10/1 Mbps, and 4/1 Mbps) would decrease as, overall, new deployment obligations would bump up those locations to higher speed categories.” Telecom consultant Genny Morelli, who's leading efforts, told us the outlook is good for FCC action. “The preliminary, informal feedback from the commission has been very positive,” she said: “They recognize the need to get higher-speed broadband out to rural consumers as quickly as possible. We believe the petition provides a good vehicle to help accomplish that.”