Mapping and Analysis: Connected Nation and the FCC

In August 2015, all price cap telecommunications carriers made public their decisions to accept or decline Connect America Fund Phase II subsidies from the Federal Communications Commission. Over the next six years, $9 billion will fund the upgrade of networks to over 4 million homes and business locations across the United States. The maps on this page demonstrate the areas in price cap service territories in Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas that are targeted for these upgrades.

Connect America Fund Phase II commitments represent the largest single federal effort to expand broadband infrastructure in history. Targeted areas were identified by using data gathered through Connected Nation’s State Broadband Initiative in states where it has had active State Broadband Initiatives. Over the next six years, companies such as AT&T, CenturyLink, Consolidated Communications, Cincinnati Bell, FairPoint, Frontier, and Windstream will be required to build out fixed voice and broadband networks offering speeds of 10 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload to designated locations in these identified areas, using approximately $1.5 billion in annual subsidies. Of the total subsidies offered, carriers only declined a total of $175 million annually.

For more information on CAF Phase II commitments, see the Connected Nation policy brief.  For additional policy briefs outlining the Connect America Fund subsidies, see https://www.connectednation.org/data-center-policy.