RDOF and CAF II Amnesty to help BEAD eligibility?

In an open letter to the FCC, a number of broadband advocate groups have posed an interesting question: would a brief amnesty period for recipients of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) or Connect America Fund II (CAF II) to walk-away from projects they haven't completed help make those areas eligible for upcoming BEAD funding?

Under rules of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, areas that received grants under CAF II or RDOF are not eligible to receive BEAD funding. The problem is that because those other programs offered meager support mechanisms for high-cost areas, many of those projects are likely to not get built. 

In a letter addressed to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, a large number of groups are appealing to the FCC to take action so that areas that are likely to be left behind by CAF II or RDOF are opened for BEAD eligibility.

"The undersigned ask that the FCC grant that request (including extending it to CAF II awardees) or otherwise provide a mechanism for relinquishment that ensures that thousands of communities across rural America are not disconnected from the benefits of reliable and affordable broadband Internet." - Letter to FCC dated 2/28/24

Among the organizations co-signing the letter to the FCC are:

• American Association for Public Broadband
• Benton Institute for Broadband and Society
• Center for Rural Studies
• Connect Humanity
• Missippi Broadband Association
• US Ignite