NTCA Raises Concerns About CAF Budget Control Mechanism

NTCA raised concerns with the FCC Wireline Bureau about the potential implications of reintroducing the Connect America Fund broadband loop support (BLS) and high-cost loop support (HCLS) budget control mechanism for the 2023-2024 support year. Doing so would "result in substantial cuts" to the CAF-BLS and HCLS "for several hundred small rural providers," NTCA said in an ex parte filing posted Friday in docket 10-90. The FCC "previously recognized the severe negative impacts" of the budget control mechanism, NTCA said, repeating its request for the commission to consider its proposals for updates to the alternative connect America model and CAF-BLS and HCLS mechanisms.