Latest / The Fiscal Policy Podcast with Fexingo: Government Budgets, Stimulus, and Public Spending
How Government Broadband Subsidies Created a Rural Digital Divide
The Federal Communications Commission has spent over $50 billion since 2010 on programs to bring broadband to rural America. Yet millions of Americans still lack reliable internet access. In this episode, Lucas and Luna examine one specific program — the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund — and trace how a flawed auction design led to carriers winning subsidies for areas they never built out. They look at the data: of the $9.2 billion awarded in Phase I, over $800 million went to projects that were later cancelled or defaulted. They also discuss the 2025 audit from the Government Accountability…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.