NATE Statement on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s Plan to Launch 5G Fund for Rural America
For Immediate Release:
December 4, 2019
NATE Statement on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s Plan to Launch 5G Fund for Rural America
(Washington, D.C.) – NATE today released the following statement on FCC Chairman Pai’s announced plan to launch a $9 billion 5G Fund for rural America.
“NATE applauds FCC Chairman Pai for his leadership and initiative for unveiling a plan to establish a $9 billion fund that will play a critical role in helping close the digital divide and ultimately make 5G wireless services a reality in rural America,” said Executive Director Todd Schlekeway. “This new fund is great news for NATE member contractors who will be playing a major role working alongside the wireless carriers to deploy the infrastructure, equipment and technology essential to enabling next-generation connectivity to all corners of the United States,” added Schlekeway.
Chairman Pai’s plan calls for the 5G Fund that would replace the planned Mobility Fund Phase II, which would have provided federal support for 4G LTE service in unserved areas. The 5G Fund would make up to $9 billion in Universal Service Fund support available to carriers to deploy advanced 5G mobile wireless services in rural America. This major investment in rural America would be allocated through a reverse auction and would target hard-to-serve areas with sparse populations and/or rugged terrain. The $9 billion Fund also would set aside at least $1 billion specifically for deployments facilitating precision agriculture needs.
For more information on today’s announcement by FCC Chairman Pai, visit https://www.fcc.gov/document/pai-announces-plan-launch-9-billion-5g-fund-rural-america. For more information on NATE, visit www.natehome.com.
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About NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association is a non-profit trade association in the wireless infrastructure industry providing a unified voice for tower erection, service and maintenance companies. Today the Association boasts over 860 member companies located throughout the United States, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, China, Ghana, Israel, Jamaica, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Trinidad and the United Kingdom. For additional information on NATE, please visit www.natehome.com.
Contact: Todd Schlekeway
(605) 882-5865
