The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved nearly $800 million in awards from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to support broadband deployment in underserved areas. The funding will be distributed among several providers, including prominent fixed wireless access (FWA) operators such as Nextlink and Starry.
The FCC’s decision reflects a continuing emphasis on FWA technologies to expand high-speed internet in rural communities. Regulators and industry stakeholders view these solutions as a cost-effective way to reach dispersed populations and meet federal broadband access goals.
Nextlink, a rural-focused broadband provider, received a significant portion of the RDOF awards. “We are excited to partner with the FCC to deploy gigabit connectivity to households across rural America,” said Nextlink CEO Bill Baker in a company statement. He emphasized Nextlink’s commitment to delivering world-class internet access to customers regardless of location.
Nextlink’s Chief Strategy Officer Claude Aiken noted the importance of timely action from the FCC, praising Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s leadership on the program. Aiken said the authorization accelerates service for consumers, connecting rural households and businesses years sooner than they might otherwise expect under alternate funding programs.
Nextlink was awarded $429,152,518 from RDOF. The company plans to use these funds to expand beyond its current seven-state footprint, entering new states such as Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Wyoming, and Louisiana. Nextlink also intends to strengthen and expand services in existing markets, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota.
Starry, a provider that uses 5G fixed wireless technology, was another major recipient, receiving approximately $269 million in support. Starry’s leadership highlighted the critical role of reliable broadband for homes and communities. “Having high-speed, reliable home broadband access has never been more important, and programs like RDOF are critical to ensuring that every community in the U.S. has access to this essential service,” said Chet Kanojia, Starry’s co-founder and CEO.
Kanojia expressed gratitude for the FCC’s review and indicated the company will begin deployments to extend service to more households, describing the initiative as part of Starry’s mission to improve internet access and customer experience across additional communities.
Several other RDOF bidders have also received approval to receive funding, including GigaBeam Networks, Anthem Broadband, and GeoLinks. These awards are intended to support a variety of network builds and technology approaches aimed at closing the digital divide in unserved and underserved areas.
“This funding will connect more households throughout the country with high-speed broadband as part of our ongoing work to close the digital divide,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. She reiterated confidence that the approved projects can deliver quality service in areas that currently lack adequate broadband access.
The RDOF awards represent one piece of a broader federal effort to expand broadband infrastructure. While RDOF targets near-term deployment through competitive funding to providers with proven plans, other federal initiatives and grants work in parallel to support long-term buildouts and additional coverage. Together, these programs aim to increase competition, spur technology innovation, and improve affordability for rural residents.
Industry observers say the focus on FWA and fixed wireless providers recognizes recent advancements in spectrum usage, antenna technology, and network design that make delivering reliable, high-capacity service to rural areas more viable than in the past. These technologies can reduce the time and cost associated with traditional wired deployments, enabling faster rollouts across large geographic areas.
Recipients of RDOF funding typically must meet buildout milestones and service requirements set by the FCC, ensuring that awarded funds translate into tangible connectivity improvements. Regulators also monitor performance to safeguard that public funds produce meaningful benefits for the communities they aim to serve.
For rural residents and local leaders, the newly approved awards are a hopeful development. Expanded broadband access can support remote work and education, improve access to telehealth and public services, and strengthen local economies by enabling businesses to operate more effectively in an increasingly digital marketplace.
(Photo by Franck on Unsplash)
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