Rural Electric, Telco Groups Propose CAF II Auction Bidding Weights, Safeguards
Rural electric and telco groups made Connect America Fund proposals for the Phase II reverse auction of broadband-oriented subsidies the FCC is planning. "It is time for the Commission to complete its reform effort by adopting the final parameters of…
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the Phase II auction to ensure that 'robust' and 'affordable' broadband is available throughout our nation and that, true to our commitment to universal service, no areas are left behind," said a filing posted Monday in docket 10-90 by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Midwest Energy Cooperative, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association, Great Lakes Energy, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Utilities Technology Council and NTCA. The groups made detailed proposals for the bid "weights" that should be assigned to different broadband performance tiers and to high latency services regardless of data speeds. "The goal is to give each technology a chance to compete while recognizing the trends in consumer usage toward higher speeds," they wrote. The signers urged the FCC to "adopt strict measures to prevent any provider from getting the benefit of a weighting credit and bidding in tiers that they cannot truly deliver."