Connect America Fund

What is it?

In late 2011, the FCC voted unanimously to reform its Universal Service Fund and inter-carrier compensation systems. These reforms created a new Connect America Fund with an annual budget of $4.5 billion, and a goal to extend broadband infrastructure to the millions of Americans who currently have no access to broadband services.

What are the goals over the next decade?

• Expand residential rural broadband access to over 7 million people and mobile access to tens of thousands more road miles;
• Protect consumers from increasing broadband access fees and demand accountability for carriers to meet certain performance criteria;
• Stimulate broadband service innovation and promote carrier competition.

What does this mean for carriers?

Service providers are in a unique position to leverage the Connect America Fund to build out their infrastructure, expand service offerings and increase revenues; however the challenge providers face will be to remain profitable while adhering to the strict fund guidelines and requirements.

How can BTI help?

BTI offers high capacity, application-aware service infrastructure solutions that help service providers solve these challenges proposed by the Connect America Fund while at the same time enabling their businesses to grow and increase profitability. Learn more about BTI solutions and how they can help.

• Mobile Backhaul
• Carrier Ethernet Business Services
• Data Center and Cloud Connectivity
• Metro Packet Optical Networking
• Internet Content Management

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