New York Calls Possible Delay of State Broadband Auction 'Unworkable'

officials pressed their case for an FCC waiver to allow the state to use $170 million in CAF II auction funds for Phase III of the state's broadband reverse auction. They said the waiver is the only way to resolve "the timing and funding challenges of the overlapping" auctions, disputing the notion the New York auction could be pushed back until after the FCC auction, which requires further commission action and has yet to be scheduled. "The State already has delayed auctioning these affected communities for almost one year while it diligently discussed various alternatives with Commission staff. Further delays are unworkable given the uncertain timeline of the FCC’s auction and the State’s buildout deadlines, which require winning carriers to substantially complete their deployments by the end of 2018," said an Empire State Development filing posted Wednesday in docket 10-90. The New York officials said their auction would be "technologically neutral and open to wireline, fixed wireless and satellite broadband providers" -- some of which have criticized the state's rules. New York would consider adjusting its rules if necessary to get an FCC waiver but only if consistent with state broadband goals, the filing said.