(Original title: FCC awarding up to $16 billion to address U.S. areas lacking broadband service)

Netease Technology News, June 10, according to foreign media reports, local time on Tuesday, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to pass a proposal to provide up to 16 billion US dollars of funds to areas lacking broadband services through the auction process, including 6 million rural households and businesses without broadband services.

The FCC decided to start the auction on October 29 by voting. Auction applicants need to provide voice and broadband services in areas without broadband services in exchange for monthly payments over the next 10 years.

The FCC’s three Republican members agreed with the proposal, while the two Democrat members opposed it.

Ajit Pai, FCC chairman and Republican, said, "Americans who have not yet used high-speed Internet should connect as soon as possible, they can't wait."

However, FCC's Democrat committee member Jessica Rosenworcel disagrees. He said that the FCC should ensure that it knows the details of broadband coverage to avoid blind decision-making and wasted funds.

FCC Democrat Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said that at the beginning, a small amount of money can be invested for short-term use, and additional funds will be added after the investigation of the specific situation in the United States is clear.

A report released by the FCC in May this year indicated that 18.3 million people in the United States lack broadband access services. Democrats say this number is underestimated. Republicans said that the report found that since 2016, the number of people in the United States without access to broadband services has fallen by 30%. (Tianmen Mountain)

Source: NetEase Technology Report, translated by Google Translate