House Commerce Leaders Press FCC for Additional 5G Fund Details
House Commerce Committee leaders raised concerns about lack of detail on the FCC’s recently announced plan to ditch Mobility Fund Phase II and repurpose $9 billion in USF funds for that program and others over the next 10 years for…
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a new 5G Fund (see 1912040027). Several lawmakers raised concerns about the proposal at a House Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight hearing earlier this month (see 1912050043). The “5G Fund must be allocated responsibly,” said House Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., and others in Thursday's letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “The way that this fund is structured can make the difference between connecting unserved and underserved Americans or deepening the digital divide.” House Communications Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, also signed. “Goals of [MF-II] remain unmet” so it “is critical that areas that lack 4G LTE coverage -- or any connectivity -- are not left behind in a rush to advance well intended efforts to deploy 5G,” the lawmakers said. “The design and execution of any new fund must be carefully constructed to succeed where [MF-II] failed.” They sought information on what “safeguards” the agency will “put in place to ensure that areas eligible for support are based on reliable coverage data,” along with how the commission will determine which services qualify for 5G Fund support and potential performance benchmarks. The FCC is "pleased" House Commerce leaders are "‘encouraged that the FCC plans to dedicate $9 billion in Universal Service Fund support’ to expand mobile broadband in rural areas as well as the wide range of support for the creation of the 5G Fund," a spokesperson emailed. "The questions they raise are important ones that the Commission will resolve through a notice-and-comment rulemaking to be launched early next year."