Mobility Fund Phase II (MF-II) would have made up to $4.53 billion in support available over 10 years to primarily rural areas that lacked unsubsidized 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) service.  Recognizing the changed mobile wireless landscape, in April 2020 the Commission proposed to replace MF-II with the 5G Fund for Rural America, which would make up to $9 billion available to bring 5G mobile broadband service to rural areas.
 

Challenge Process

Under the challenge process framework established by the Commission in the MF-II Challenge Process Order, mobile providers were required to submit current, standardized coverage data on qualified 4G LTE service.  These data were used, in conjunction with subsidy data from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), to establish the map of areas presumptively eligible for MF-II support (initial eligible areas map).  Interested parties had an opportunity to challenge the initial determination that an area was ineligible for MF-II support during the MF-II challenge process.

Responsive to evidence submitted in the record, in late 2018 the Commission suspended the challenge process and launched an investigation into the accuracy of some providers' submitted coverage data.  In December 2019, staff released the MF-II Coverage Maps Investigation Staff Report, which found that the coverage data submitted by three providers likely overstated actual coverage in many instances and recommended the Commission terminate the challenge process.  The Commission proposed to both terminate the MF-II challenge process and replace MF-II with the 5G Fund for Rural America in April 2020.

To allow for the public to better understand the issues faced during the MF-II proceeding, staff has released the provider-specific 4G LTE coverage data submitted by mobile providers.  These data, alongside the initial eligible areas, complete set of speed tests certified by challengers during the challenge process, and speed tests conducted by staff for the coverage maps investigation, are available under the Data tab above.

For further information on MF-II and the challenge process, please see the documents linked to below and the tabs above (Data, Documents, Education & Outreach).

Data

 

Documents

Education & Outreach

  • Challenge Process Webinar for State, Local, and Tribal Governments (May 3, 2018)

Bureau/Office: 
Economics and Analytics
Tags: 
Connect America Fund Progress Portal - Data - Data, Maps, Reports

Updated: 
Monday, May 18, 2020

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