FCC Waives Budget Control Mechanism Through June 2024

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 2024, said an order Tuesday in docket 10-90. "Absent a waiver, the projected budget control reduction factor would exceed 18%," the order said. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel confirmed with reporters last week that the item was under circulation as the current waiver is set to expire in June (see 2305180036). The commission "remains committed to re-evaluating the deployment obligations and funding levels for such providers that will apply in 2024," the order said. The order "will allow rural broadband providers to keep their focus on delivering high-quality, reasonably priced voice and broadband services rather than figuring out where to reduce investments, cut back operations, or raise customer rates in the face of a significant budget cut," said NTCA Executive Vice President Mike Romano in a statement.