JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to return $177 million in defaulted broadband funding to the state.
The money, originally allocated through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to expand internet access to nearly 85,000 underserved locations, remains unused after providers defaulted on their commitments.
Bailey and Hawkins are calling on the FCC to follow precedent and redirect the funds to the Missouri Broadband Fund, managed by the state’s Office of Broadband Development.
“As Attorney General, I will enforce the laws as written, which includes ensuring the FCC follows precedent and returns the allocated funding to Missouri families who depend daily on internet access,” Bailey said in a statement that was provided. “My office will continue to fight to gain affordable internet service and to save Missourians’ taxpayer money.”
This request follows similar actions by the FCC, such as reallocating unused broadband funds to New York in 2017 and 2020 through the Connect America Fund.
Hawkins noted the importance of government accountability.
“Missourians expect accountability, both from internet service providers who receive incentives and from the government entity that distributes their tax dollars,” he said. “Returning these defaulted funds to Missouri will enable our state to serve people that have been left behind and are still waiting for reliable and affordable broadband.”
In a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Bailey and Hawkins stressed the importance of broadband access for rural communities, citing its role in telemedicine, education, and economic development.
They argued that ensuring state-of-the-art connectivity is vital for attracting and retaining the next generation of rural residents.
“Rural Americans rely on affordable and reliable internet access to run their households, businesses, and farms,” the letter states."We rely on broadband for telemedicine, education, and to access everyday necessities in our increasingly digital world."
The letter wrote that ensuring access to state-of-the-art broadband technology is key to helping rural communities grow and thrive into the future and beyond, and access to this service is key as we seek to bring the next generation home to our communities.
Bailey also underscored that residents shouldn’t suffer due to service provider failures.
“Citizens should not be penalized for these defaults, which reach disproportionately across rural areas,” he said.
The letter calls for a firm appeal for the FCC to return the funds, focusing on the state’s readiness to deploy reliable broadband services and fulfill the original goals of the RDOF program.
Bailey and Hawkins want to make sure Missourians will finally be able to connect to reliable internet services across the state. To help them do so, they need funds to help fund programs.
"We request that action be taken by the FCC to rightfully return previously allocated funding to Missouri so that we can continue to expand needed broadband access in our state," the letter said.
Bailey and Hawkins said they would continue to fight for Missourians and for the funds to be released, noting that rural Americans need affordable and reliable internet.