FBA Backs Broadband Symmetry, Against LEO for RDOF

The Fiber Broadband Association plans to focus on increasing support for "symmetric gigabit broadband deployment" and opposing low earth-orbiting satellite deployment for rural broadband, CEO Gary Bolton wrote members Wednesday. SpaceX's Starlink, which won 85% of sub-1 Gbps awards in the FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction (see 2102080072), "will not meet the performance requirements specified" and "does not provide a path to fiber," Bolton said. SpaceX didn't respond to a request for comment.