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Federal Communications Commission - High Cost Program (including Connect America Fund, Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and 5G Fund)

Federal Agency/Bureau
Federal Communications Commission/Wireline Competition Bureau
Program Name
High Cost Program (including Connect America Fund, Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and 5G Fund)
Authorizing Legislation

47 U.S.C. Sec. 254

Program Overview

The federal universal service high-cost program is designed to ensure that consumers in rural, insular, and high-cost areas have access to modern communications networks capable of providing voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, at rates that are reasonably comparable to those in urban areas. The program fulfills this universal service goal by allowing eligible carriers who serve these areas to recover some of their costs from the federal Universal Service Fund.

CFDA

32.002

Type of Funding

Subsidy

Link to application site, NOFO, FOA, or Grants.gov (if different from program website above)

Not Applicable

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or Federal Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Type

Varies by support mechanism or process.

Important Dates (if applicable)

Not Applicable

FY2023 Appropriations Amount

Total Amount: ~$4.17 billion disbursed in Funding Year 2022 (the FCC High Cost Program is not funded through appropriations; funding instead comes through contributions collected from providers of interstate and international telecommunications).

Matching Requirement

No

Complementary Federal Funding Option

Not Applicable

Broadband-related Program Purpose/Eligible Expenditures
Speed/Technical Requirement for Broadband Infrastructure

Generally, the minimum speed requirements range from 25/3 Mbps to 1 Gbps/500 Mbps, though in certain instances, speed requirements are 10/1 Mbps, 4/1 Mbps or lower. The maximum latency is either 100ms or 750 ms with MOS of 4 or less; and the minimum usage requirement is either based on the U.S. Average or at least 2 TB.

If "Other", Eligible Recipient(s)

Facilities-based providers of voice and broadband services, either fixed or mobile, that have been designated as “eligible telecommunications carriers.”

Criteria for Eligible Recipients

Not Applicable

Grant Beneficiaries (if different from eligible recipients)

Eligible Telecommunications Carriers are eligible to receive High Cost support which is used to provide residences and small businesses in rural, insular, and high cost areas services that are reasonably comparable to those services provided in urban areas and that are available at rates that are reasonably comparable to rates charged for similar services in urban areas.

Contact Information

FCC, Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division: (202) 418-7400
https://www.usac.org/high-cost/contact-us/
Ruralbroadbandauctions@fcc.gov

Updated

March 2023

Funding Guide