Memo: FCC Defers Next Five-Year Deployment Obligation for CAF BLS

December 29, 2023

Second Report and Order released on December 27, 2023.

On December 27, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Second Report and Order deferring the commencement of the next five-year deployment obligation term for legacy rate-of-return carriers receiving Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS) in 2024 until January 1, 2025.

Legacy carriers will still remain subject to the FCC’s rules, requiring the offering of broadband service at speeds of at least 25 Mbps downstream/3 Mbps upstream to the previously determined number of unserved locations under the current five-year term that ends on December 31, 2023.

Download the Memo for additional information.

For more information on CAF BLS, legacy high-cost support, or ETC obligations in general, contact a member of the Vantage Point team:

Jolyn Doering at (605) 995-1773

Dave Lashua at (503) 612-4442

Jeff Smith at (503) 612-4409

Mike Neeley, JD at (605) 995-1777

Mikaela Burma, JD at (605) 995-1742