On Dec 7, 2020, the FCC announced the results of a complex auction conducted nationally among potential providers of broadband internet services to unserved and underserved rural areas across America. The $71M+ is Maine's share of $9.2 billion. The funds will be provided to the following 4 internet providers over the next 10 years as they meet commitments to expand broadband service in areas designated as needing it:
Amount Locations
Consolidated Communications 31,067,177 11,513
Pioneer Wireless 3,543,142 1,638
Redzone Wireless 507,752 755
Space-X 34,057,837 13,849
Exactly how this is going to work is still not clear to me. I intend to read the documentation for this important program at
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-auction-bring-broadband-over-10-million-rural-americans
and offer further observations thereafter.
Two preliminary observations:
1. That Space-X was able to demonstrate the adequacy of its emerging service to the satisfaction of the FCC is significant. One would expect that the initial and ongoing costs about which I had substantial reservations in a previous past will be ameliorated for at least the 13,000+ underserved Mainers that are in the crosshairs for Space-X.
2. The meaning of the maps ostensibly portraying unserved and underserved areas in Maine is not at all clear. A cursory glance at my town, Northport, seems to be pretty inaccurate. How these maps are to be used is a really important question, and one that requires at the least a more thorough reading of the program materials than I have had time for to this point.
