BRUNSWICK, ME – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released an agenda for its February Open Meeting indicating that it will move forward with Phase II of the Universal Service Fund’s Mobility Fund (MFII), which is aimed at providing broadband service in rural areas of the country. The move by the FCC follows pressure from Senator King and his colleagues who wrote to new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai urging him to expand mobile broadband deployment in rural areas.

Senator King released the following statement:

“Mobile broadband access is not only essential for rural America in the 21^st century, but it’s also a necessary ingredient for economic development that enables farmers to practice precision agriculture, entrepreneurs to conduct business on the go, and students to access online resources in areas unserved by fixed broadband connections,” Senator King said. “I am glad that FCC Chairman Pai agrees with me and my colleagues about the necessity of improving cell phone data and voice services in rural America, and I hope that the full Commission will work to move forward quickly with an effective long-term plan for the Mobility Fund program later this month.” 

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