Today (May 18, 2020), Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced the Commission will vote on June 9th to adopt final procedures for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction.
Phase 1 will provide up to $16 billion in RDOF funds to deliver high speed broadband connectivity to unserved homes and businesses in rural communities. At the Commission’s June 9 open meeting, the FCC will vote on finalizing draft procedures for Auction 904 (RDOF Phase 1).
On May 20, the Commission will host a webinar (https://go.usa.gov/xvexN) to help state, local, Tribal, and territorial government officials understand the auction framework and provide tips for interested service providers that want to participate in the auction.
Pay special attention to the dates below as a couple have shifted with regard to previously discussed RDOF milestones:
- Online auction application tutorial would be available by June 15
- Short-form application (FCC Form 183) filing window would open July 1
- Short-form application (FCC Form 183) filing window would close July 15
- Auction bidding tutorial would be available online by October 14
- Mock auction would begin October 26
- Auction would begin October 29
Those wishing to participate in RDOF auction 904 are required to submit their short-form application (FCC Form 183) electronically prior to 6:00 p.m. EDT, on July 15, 2020, and comply with all applicable Commission rules, including the requirement to abide by the Commission’s National Security Supply Chain proceeding.
The RDOF.com Consortium, led by FiberRise, is ready to help all interested electric utilities submit their short-form applications, explore their unique RDOF opportunity, develop a feasible business plan to serve their members with fiber broadband, and develop the most effective RDOF bidding strategies. Click on Join the Consortium, to learn more and sign up.
A draft of the public notice will be made public tomorrow and available at https://www.fcc.gov/news-event...