The Federal Communications Commission adopted and released an order granting the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s request to participate in the FCC Mobility Fund Phase II challenge process.
In February 2018, the FCC released a map showing areas across the United States presumed eligible to receive support for the deployment of 4G LTE service as part of its Mobility Fund Phase II (MF-II) auction.
The MF-II auction will make up to $4.53 billion in support available over 10 years to primarily rural areas lacking unsubsidized 4G LTE service. MF-II is critically important to supporting mobile voice and broadband coverage, incentivizing the deployment of mobile wireless service through a reverse auction, and ensuring that 4G LTE service is preserved and advanced in areas of the country lacking unsubsidized service.
This federal funding is vital for providing rural telecom carriers support to bring about service to rural and undeserved areas. The map shows Mississippi is 98 percent covered, which Sen. Roger Wicker and the Federation dispute.