FCC Sets $16 Billion Rural Broadband Auction to Begin Oct. 29

The Federal Communications Commission Tuesday approved procedures for awarding as much as $16 billion over 10 years to expand broadband in the rural U.S.

Companies that meet FCC requirements and seek to deploy the broadband can bid in an auction starting Oct. 29, under the procedures. The agency is accepting applications starting July 1.

“This auction will allow providers to bring millions of Americans across the digital divide,” FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said before the commission voted to approve the process.

The auction is part of a $20.4 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund plan that succeeds the FCC’s recently expired ...