Auction 904: The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiative designed to inject billions of taxpayer’s money into the construction and operation of rural broadband networks across America. RDOF is a key part of the FCC’s efforts to close the digital divide and ensure that all Americans have access to high-speed broadband. The intent of the program is to greatly improve the quality of life for communities in rural areas, while also creating a more connected nation as we move into the future. We will continue to provide updates on this significant initiative as more information becomes available.

The RDOF is providing a total of $20.4 Billion (USD) in funding over a ten-year period to help support broadband networks in rural communities across the United States. The RDOF funding was granted from a traditional high-cost Universal Service Funding (USF) vehicle and not dependent on legislative appropriations. This means that the FCC was able to begin disbursing these funds without waiting for Congress to appropriate the RDOF funds.

Distributed in a reverse auction fashion, the RDOF funds are awarded to Internet Service Providers who offer the best combination of price and performance in terms of speed and latency. Winning bidders have to be designated as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETC); a designation that is obtained through state regulatory commissions. This reverse auction process is designed to incentivize broadband providers to build out their networks in rural areas and expand coverage to underserved communities across the United States.

RDOF Award Winners Deployment Obligations

RDOF participants are required to provide stand-alone voice service and broadband internet service at speeds consistent with their winning bids (which must be at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream (25/3 Mbps) at rates reasonably comparable to those available in urban areas to all locations within an awarded area over eight years of the 10-year period. Initial interim deployment milestones are based on those adopted for the Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II Auction program. The eligible telecommunications carriers must complete:

• 40 percent of required deployment by the end of Year 3
• 60 percent of required deployment by the end of Year 4
• 80 percent of required deployment by the end of Year 5
• 100 percent of required deployment by the end of Year 6

Penalties will be assessed for failure to meet these milestones, with a forfeiture of 25 percent of the remaining balance of phase I support for each year or portion thereof that a carrier fails to meet its interim milestone. In addition, carriers that fail to meet their interim milestones will be required to provide service to an additional 10 percent of locations in their winning bid areas in order to complete their required deployment.

This program has accelerated the development of high speed internet networks all across America. The assistance from the U.S. Government along with the hard work and dedication from the Internet Service Providers, the United States is getting closer to becoming the first fully connected country. The initiative to be fully connected is closely followed by a fully 5G capable country.  More on that in a future story…

Major RDOF Phase 1 Auction Winners to receive Funding

The following 10 Internet Service Providers were the largest recipients of RDOF Phase I funding:

Company	Bidding entity	Amount	Locations	States	Technology
LTD Broadband	LTD Broadband LLC	$1,320,920,718.60	528,088	15	fiber, fixed wireless
Charter	CCO Holdings, LLC (Charter Communications)	$1,222,613,870.10	1,057,695	24	fiber, cable
Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium	Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium	$1,104,395,953.00	618,476	22	fiber
SpaceX	Space Exploration Technologies Corp.	$885,509,638.40	642,925	35	low-Earth orbit broadband
Windstream	Windstream Services LLC, Debtor-In-Possession	$522,888,779.80	192,567	18	asymmetric xDSL, fiber, fixed wireless
Nextlink	AMG Technology Investment Group LLC	$429,228,072.90	206,136	12	fiber, fixed wireless
Frontier	Frontier Communications Corporation, DIP	$370,900,832.80	127,188	8	fiber, fixed wireless
Resound Networks	Resound Networks, LLC	$310,681,608.90	219,239	7	fiber, fixed wireless
Starry	Connect Everyone LLC	$268,851,315.90	108,506	9	fiber, fixed wireless
CenturyLink	CenturyLink, Inc.	$262,367,614.20	77,257	20	asymmetric xDSL, fiber

RDOF Electric Coop Consortium Phase 1 Winners

In order to get a slight edge and receive more funding,  several groups banned together to create five electric cooperative consortiums during Phase I of the RDOF. The FCC requirement was for each consortium to divide winnings equally. amongst members by December 22nd, 2020.

All RDOF Phase 1 Auction Winners

Below is a comprehensive list of all network providers and consortiums that were awarded Phase I RDOF funds, the amount they won, and the number of locations they have agreed to build network.

Company	Amount	Locations	States
Etheric Communications LLC	$248,634,963.10	64,463	1
California Internet, L.P. dba GeoLinks	$234,889,665.70	128,297	3
Consortium of AEG and Heron Broadband I	$194,378,552.00	49,599	2
NRTC Phase I RDOF Consortium	$156,714,678.20	125,335	14
Segnem Egere Consortium	$152,854,440.70	57,387	3
NexTier Consortium	$126,287,693.30	80,609	14
RDOF USA Consortium	$112,044,022.70	63,830	5
Prospero Broadband Consortium	$100,366,008.80	61,799	3
Point Broadband Fiber Holding, LLC	$78,414,413.10	34,472	5
Mercury Wireless, Inc.	$68,310,842.00	167,684	6
Co-op Connections Consortium	$61,485,589.50	26,909	8
Consolidated Communications, Inc.	$58,873,337.50	27,021	7
Frontier Communications Northwest, LLC	$57,202,650.80	21,336	4
Talkie Communications, Inc.	$57,065,010.20	39,098	2
Citynet West Virginia, LLC	$53,516,858.30	13,460	1
Consortium 2020	$48,918,960.90	68,092	2
Computer 5, Inc. d/b/a LocalTel Communications	$48,818,171.30	12,530	1
Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation	$46,055,343.40	39,870	2
Bay Springs Telephone Company, Inc.	$41,871,850.10	22,011	3
Continental Divide Electric Cooperative	$38,004,786.20	8,485	1
Cal.net, Inc.	$29,169,982.60	44,153	1
Commnet Wireless, LLC	$28,436,936.10	19,028	10
GigaBeam Networks, LLC	$28,067,881.20	9,072	2
Cincinnati Bell Inc.	$26,887,580.40	11,131	4
Aptitude Internet LLC	$24,655,295.20	13,535	1
Armstrong Telephone Company – Northern Division	$22,009,640.50	10,495	3
Grain Communications Opportunity Fund II, L.P.	$19,172,673.60	5,887	3
Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc.	$18,462,273.10	4,879	1
RHMD, LLC	$18,303,843.20	6,943	1
Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative	$16,307,892.10	5,088	1
Direct Communications Rockland, Inc.	$15,745,252.70	2,120	1
Connecting Rural America	$14,180,599.00	5,076	4
Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc.	$12,703,077.60	2,687	1
Halstad Telephone Company	$12,141,118.40	1,820	2
South Arkansas Telephone Company	$11,387,245.50	5,093	1
Pine Belt Communications, Inc.	$11,126,003.10	4,220	1
Centre WISP Venture Company, LLC	$11,086,348.40	6,607	1
Micrologic Inc.	$10,036,047.70	2,076	1
Emery Telephone dba Emery Telcom	$9,822,853.00	1,602	1
Digital Connections Inc. dba PRODIGI	$8,583,001.40	4,771	1
Rural American Broadband Consortium	$8,471,858.10	3,671	6
Chariton Valley Communications Corporation	$8,070,272.00	5,002	1
Northern Arapaho Tribal Industries	$7,799,035.00	2,408	1
Hamilton County Telephone Co-op	$7,796,825.30	2,351	1
St. John Telco	$7,116,876.00	1,057	1
Cox Communications, Inc.	$6,636,520.50	8,212	9
Reedsburg Utility Commission	$6,439,594.10	4,488	1
Savage Communications	$6,090,479.10	4,541	1
Hawaii Dialogix Telecom LLC	$6,009,953.00	1,395	3
Tennessee Cooperative Group Consortium	$5,981,516.90	7,625	3
Peoples Telecom, LLC	$5,668,121.40	2,431	1
Cherry Capital Connection, LLC	$5,620,840.40	2,791	1
Pioneer Wireless, Inc	$5,543,142.00	1,638	1
Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC	$5,407,684.70	3,876	1
Hotwire Communications, Ltd	$5,150,040.00	3,233	1
Shenandoah Cable Television, LLC	$5,059,616.50	8,642	2
Wisper-CABO 904 Consortium	$4,974,442.30	3,453	13
Midcontinent Communications	$4,960,473.00	6,506	3
Visionary Communications, Inc.	$4,450,264.40	4,184	2
DoCoMo Pacific, Inc.	$3,706,235.00	530	1
Daviess-Martin County Rural Telephone Corporation	$3,565,039.40	1,371	1
Rivers High Group	$3,540,398.10	1,315	1
Great Plains Consortium	$3,427,873.30	1,879	3
Cellular Services LLC.	$3,294,968.60	2,142	1
City of Farmington	$3,179,884.50	1,106	1
4-Corners Consortium	$2,598,030.00	635	1
Pine Cellular Phones, Inc.	$2,303,742.10	2,459	1
Mediacom Communications Corporation	$2,254,655.00	9,752	4
Hankins Information Technology	$2,171,844.50	3,727	1
BEK Communications Cooperative	$2,157,719.00	337	1
TruVista Communications, Inc.	$2,059,050.80	2,778	1
Minnesota Connections c/o Consolidated Tel Company	$2,040,278.70	979	1
Horizon Communications, Inc.	$2,033,292.00	609	1
Custer Telephone Cooperative, Inc.	$1,954,488.00	313	1
American Heartland	$1,821,520.00	1,549	1
FiberLight, LLC	$1,772,705.80	4,665	3
Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc.	$1,689,601.50	534	1
LICT Corporation	$1,675,826.80	635	3
NBVDS Investment, L.L.C.	$1,655,443.40	2,387	1
Central Arkansas Telephone Cooperative, Inc.	$1,629,930.50	1,004	1
ACT	$1,622,136.00	925	1
Siuslaw Broadband, LLC dba Hyak Technologies	$1,611,684.90	554	1
HomeTown Broadband, Inc.	$1,424,229.00	1,295	1
Hughes Network Systems, LLC	$1,273,784.00	3,678	1
Union Telephone Company	$1,264,770.00	157	1
Roseau Electric Cooperative, Inc.	$1,228,494.00	266	1
Safelink Internet LLC	$1,197,661.50	2,728	1
Pembroke Telephone Company, Inc.	$1,053,063.00	601	1
Fond du Lac Communications Inc.	$1,046,123.00	728	1
Wikstrom Telephone Company	$983,637.00	228	1
SLIC Network Solutions, Inc.	$978,722.00	3,660	1
Altice USA, Inc.	$849,880.00	5,220	6
DTC Cable, Inc.	$834,597.00	481	1
Nova Cablevision, Inc.	$785,400.00	155	1
Farmers Mutual Telephone Company	$759,822.00	332	1
Scott County Telephone Cooperative, Inc.	$755,841.60	2,406	2
Horry Telephone Cooperative, Inc.	$729,554.50	2,267	1
Terral Telephone Company	$716,381.20	2,299	1
Worldwide Technologies, Inc.	$700,874.20	496	1
Somerset Telephone Co., Inc.	$669,564.00	1,208	1
AB Indiana LLC	$668,304.10	261	1
Albion Telephone Company, Inc.	$599,795.70	141	1
Palmetto Telephone Communications, LLC	$570,024.00	264	1
Federated Telephone Cooperative	$537,399.00	248	1
Daktel Communications, LLC	$531,894.00	66	1
Redzone Wireless, LLC	$507,752.00	755	1
MEI Telecom, Inc.	$479,789.10	175	1
Zito West Holding, LLC	$457,596.00	279	1
Baraga Telephone Company	$444,490.80	164	1
Lakeland Communications Group, LLC	$408,952.00	550	1
Heart of the Catskills Comm. Inc., dba MTC Cable	$398,574.00	188	1
LigTel Communications, Inc.	$385,924.00	416	1
Citizens Vermont Acquisition Corporation	$373,680.00	316	1
Allen’s T.V. Cable Service, Inc.	$371,348.10	620	1
Plains Internet, LLC	$345,624.00	250	3
Reservation Telephone Cooperative	$337,080.00	73	1
Miles Communications LLC	$316,641.00	106	1
Mountain View Telephone Company	$298,572.00	43	1
RC Technologies	$263,796.00	118	1
QCOL, Inc.	$235,146.00	88	1
Socket Telecom, LLC	$232,768.80	393	1
St Paul Cooperative Telephone Association	$190,908.00	39	1
Easton Utilities Commission	$189,047.60	909	1
Newport Utilities	$159,492.00	59	1
Mountain West Technologies Corporation	$141,801.20	690	1
One Ring Networks, Inc.	$137,715.00	2,061	3
Hamilton Long Distance Company	$128,560.30	167	1
Bruce Telephone Company, Inc.	$113,745.00	32	1
Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association	$104,637.80	248	2
WC Fiber, LLC	$98,189.50	945	1
Net Ops Communications, LLC	$69,676.40	1,586	1
Enduring Internet	$65,690.00	392	2
Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association	$63,903.00	24	1
Northeast Missouri Rural Telephone Company	$60,126.00	7	1
Skywave Wireless, Inc.	$57,660.00	12	1
MARQUETTE-ADAMS TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE, INC.	$55,378.00	66	1
yondoo Broadband LLC	$54,833.80	110	1
Pioneer Long Distance, Inc.	$50,994.00	1,346	1
All West Communications, Inc.	$46,648.00	218	1
XIT Telecommunication & Technology	$43,254.50	464	1
Corn Belt Telephone	$42,237.00	38	1
WTC Communications, Inc.	$40,845.20	174	1
Consortium 904	$40,470.00	120	1
MCC Network Services, LLC	$36,204.00	72	1
Pinpoint Bidding Coalition	$31,254.00	32	1
Wood County Telephone Company d/b/a Solarus	$28,848.00	15	1
NMSURF, Inc.	$26,964.00	212	1
KanOkla Telephone Association	$26,538.00	90	2
Yucca Telecommunications Systems, Inc.	$26,221.00	19	1
IdeaTek Telcom, LLC	$23,590.60	89	1
Home Communications, Inc.	$15,540.00	54	1
Barry Technology Services, LLC	$14,502.00	26	1
LR Communications, Inc.	$13,974.00	24	1
Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company	$12,447.00	25	1
PVT NetWorks, Inc.	$12,039.00	38	1
Baldwin Telecom, Inc.	$11,370.00	15	1
H&B Communication’s, Inc.	$11,301.60	47	1
NTS Communications, LLC	$8,923.00	13	1
W. T. Services, Inc.	$8,785.70	177	1
Computer Techniques, Inc. dba CTI Fiber	$8,509.00	12	1
Sandhill Telephone Cooperative, Inc.	$6,396.00	1	1
Taylor Telephone Coop., Inc. dba Taylor Telecom	$5,466.00	2	1
Comcell Inc.	$4,644.00	8	1
Peoples Communication, LLC.	$4,140.00	4	1
Plateau Telecommunications, Inc.	$3,150.00	2	1
Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc.	$3,142.80	11	1
Bloosurf, LLC	$1,860.50	17	2
Wildstar	$1,790.00	21	1
Unified Communications Inc.	$1,604.00	17	1
Carolina West Wireless, Inc.	$460.00	28	1