The Rural Wireless Association, Inc. (“RWA”) is pleased that, as announced by Chairman Pai at today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted an item extending the Mobility Fund Phase II challenge process by 90 days. Cumbersome technical requirements and overstated “unsubsidized” 4G LTE coverage have made the process tremendously time consuming and expensive – several RWA members report that they will spend between $1 and 1.5 million to participate in the challenge process. “Our members have been working tirelessly to mount challenges in unserved areas where unsubsidized carriers have claimed coverage in order to ensure that such areas are eligible for support – and they’re spending resources that would be better put toward expanding service into unserved areas in order to do it,” RWA President and CEO Mike Kilgore said. “The additional 90 days is crucial to our members’ ability to complete their testing efforts.”