Rural internet providers can keep getting federal subsidies for three more years

The US government has approved a three-year extension for how it collects information from companies that provide internet in rural areas. This means these companies can continue receiving federal subsidies under the Connect America Fund without new reporting hurdles.

The Connect America Fund is a major source of funding for bringing internet access to parts of the US where it is not profitable for private companies to build. This extension means that the existing subsidy programs will continue without interruption, allowing providers to plan their investments for the next three years. It avoids a potential disruption that could have slowed down rural broadband deployment.