Getting Started

Fixed Locations: Phase I

Price cap carriers may apply for incremental support to reach unserved locations under Phase I of the Connect America Fund above their frozen high cost support.

Carriers accepting Connect America Fund Phase I incremental support are required to deploy broadband and offer service that satisfies the new public interest obligations to an unserved location for every $775 in incremental support. Specifically, carriers that elect to receive this additional support must provide broadband with actual speeds of at least 4 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream, with latency suitable for real-time applications and services such as VoIP, and with monthly usage capacity reasonably comparable to that of residential terrestrial fixed broadband offerings in urban areas.

On April 25, 2012, Public Notice 12-639 was released announcing the support amounts by holding company for Connect America Fund Phase I. Carriers have 90 days from the release date to file notices accepting or declining support and if the former, report the areas by wire center and census block for which it accepts funding using this location file. Carriers accepting support but with incomplete location latitude-longitude information should use this acceptance letter and this location file.

On the same date, FCC Order 12-47 was released, which in Section I discusses proposed rule changes to Connect America Fund Phase I.