2020 RDOF Program Overview
- An FCC reverse auction program to allocate $20.4 billion to providers in exchange for deploying and maintaining voice and broadband service in high-cost areas across the United States
- Only for certain eligible areas and specific locations pre-defined by the FCC, and based on Broadband Speed availability of less than 25Mbps x 3 Mbps
- 10 years of support disbursed in equal monthly installments
- Auction winning providers required to build 40 percent of assigned locations by the end of the third year of support
- Required to have 100% built by the end of the sixth year of support
Chariton Valley’s Participation in RDOF
- Won 5,002 FCC defined “funded” locations in the RDOF Auction in Boone, Carroll, Chariton, Linn, Macon, Marion, Monroe and Randolph Counties
- The FCC defined “funded” locations means support is for those locations only
- $8 Million in support has not been released, but expected to begin prior to year end
- Buildout Obligations: 2000 locations by 12/2024, 3000 by 12/2025, 4000 by 12/2026, 5002 by 12/2027
RDOF FAQs
What is considered unserved?
The purpose of RDOF is to expand high-speed internet service to unserved markets. For the RDOF auction, unserved markets are by census block and whether a location in that census block has access to 25/3 Mbps broadband service. If one person in the census block has access to 25/3 Mbps broadband service, they are considered served and not eligible as a “funded” location for support from the FCC.
Why is RDOF and other funding programs needed to get broadband to rural Americans?
Due to low house density, the cost to build to and maintain rural locations cannot be recouped or supported with reasonable comparable rates charged to customers. As a result, Chariton Valley applies for funding and grants to bring fiber to as many unserved locations as possible. We are appreciative of the funding and grants we have received or will be receiving soon, such as RDOF.
To learn more about the RDOF program, visit: BroadBandNow RDOF Map, Auction and Analysis or FCC RDOF Phase I Results.
