Manchin Urges Changes to Mobility Fund
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., wants the FCC to make changes to how it runs the Mobility Fund, he told FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in a letter dated Tuesday. “The Commission has the ability to correct earlier problems with the implementation…
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of the Mobility Fund,” Manchin said. “First, the Commission must target the remaining one-time funds to truly unserved areas and stop citing a wireless coverage map that infers the job is done when people in the real world know it is not. Second, although the agency has repeatedly sought public comment on the ongoing support provided by the second phase of the Mobility Fund, it has yet to provide a concrete plan for how that process would work.” Manchin warned the FCC could leave $70 million “on the table” without making changes. Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry issued a statement agreeing with Manchin. “There is still time to restructure USF programs to adequately support wireless broadband nationwide, and CCA will continue to work with the Commission to achieve the important goal,” Berry said.