FCC Waives USF Budget Control Mechanism Through 2023

The FCC waived the budget control mechanism for rural cost-based Connect America Fund broadband loop support and high-cost loop support recipients until June 2023, said an order Tuesday in docket 10-90. "Absent a waiver, the projected budget control reduction factor would exceed 14%," the order said. The order "makes eminent sense," said Commissioner Brendan Carr: "Now is not the time to cut back on the support for these rural providers." Other commissioners didn't release a statement. Several groups sought an extension of the waiver, including NTCA, USTelecom and WTA (see 2204110062). WTA "strongly supports the FCC's actions to spare small broadband providers serving rural areas the worst effects of the [budget control mechanism] for another year," said Senior Vice President-Government and Industry Affairs Derrick Owens.