Aug. 22, 2014
In 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced plans to conduct rural broadband experiments to explore how robust broadband can be expanded at lower cost in rural America. The experiments are designed for the Commission to discover if non-traditional broadband providers, such as rural electric cooperatives, will apply for available funds to build out broadband networks in unserved and underserved areas. Additionally, this effort will inform the FCC's efforts to ensure that consumers everywhere can benefit from the sweeping technological advances occurring now in the communications industry, while preserving consumer protection, competition, universal service and access to emergency services during these transitions.
This webinar features Jonathan Chambers, a senior staff member of the FCC and the architect of the rural broadband experiments approved by the commission, and Carol Mattey, acting chief of the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, discussing the following:
Details of what is required to successfully compete for the $100 million available for the experiments
How to communicate and work with the FCC
What is involved in becoming an eligible telecommunications carriers – a condition to receiving funding
