Upcoming CAF Phase II Auction Set in Motion

Application Window Begins March 19

Last week, the FCC voted to approve the final Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II reverse auction procedures, the last item in a years-long process necessary to start the bidding. With the final auction procedures in place, the FCC established a timeline for the applications and auction kick-off:

March 19, 2018: Short-form application window opens at 12 p.m. Eastern

March 30, 2018: Short-form application window closes at 6 p.m. Eastern

July 24, 2018: Auction 903 – CAF Phase II begins

Leading up to the auction, the FCC will make available tools, tutorials, and a mock auction to help potential bidders prepare. Additionally, the short-form application (FCC Form 183) has been submitted to OMB for approval. JSI encourages clients interested in participating in the auction to review the draft form to get an idea of what information must be included as there is not a great deal of time left before the application is due.

The CAF Phase II auction will provide $198 million annually in high-cost support for rural voice and broadband over the next 10 years through a multi-round, descending clock “reverse auction.” With so much funding on the table, the auction itself is highly complex and will require interested bidders to develop a strategy, carefully choose their areas of interest, and conduct financial analysis on the opportunities well in advance of the auction start date.

In order to ensure that interested bidders are fully prepared for the short-form application and the start of the auction, JSI is holding a webinar, Counting Down to the CAF Phase II Auction, on Thursday, February 15 at 2 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. Central). Webinar attendees can expect to be able to move forward with completing the short-form application, including narrowing down the area(s) they want to bid on, and walk away with a good understanding of the auction procedures. This is the second in a three-part webinar series on the CAF Phase II auction, and those who attended the first installment are eligible for a $50 discount.

For questions about the CAF Phase II auction or the webinar, please contact Cassandra Heyne in the Maryland office at 301-459-7590.