Overview
The 5G Fund for Rural America (5G Fund) represents the next step in the Commission's efforts to bridge the digital divide. On October 27, 2020, the Commission adopted a Report and Order establishing the 5G Fund, which will utilize a reverse auction to distribute universal service support to bring 5G mobile broadband service to rural areas that would be unlikely to otherwise see deployment of 5G broadband service based upon new mobile coverage data submitted in the Commission's Broadband Data Collection. The 5G Fund will help ensure that rural Americans enjoy the same benefits from our increasingly digital economy as their urban counterparts. On September 21, 2023, the Commission adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on a limited set of critical issues for continuing the implementation of the 5G Fund. Further rules necessary to move forward with the 5G Fund Phase I auction were adopted on August 14, 2024, in a Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
Documents
- FCC Implements Framework for 5G Fund for Rural America (August 29, 2024)
- FCC Seeks Further Comment on 5G Fund for Rural America (September 22, 2023)
- OEA and WCB Adopt Adjustment Factor Values for the 5G Fund (November 16, 2020)
- 5G Fund Report and Order (October 29, 2020)
- Comment Sought on Adjustment Factor Values for the 5G Fund (June 5, 2020)
- Comment Deadline Set for 5G Fund NPRM (May 26, 2020)
- Anonymized NRUF Data Placed into 5G Fund Record Subject to Protective Order (May 1, 2020)
- 5G Fund Adjustment Factor Protective Order (May 1, 2020)
- 5G Fund Notice of Proposed Rulemaking & Order (April 24, 2020)
- 5G Fund Option A Eligibility Analysis Staff Report (April 9, 2020)