Easton Utilities Withdraws from RDOF over Testing Costs

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2026 – Easton Utilities, a Maryland-based broadband service provider, is withdrawing from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund because the financial costs far exceeded the amount of money it receives from the grant.

In a May 8 letter to the FCC, the ISP explained that after exploring the vendors that would enable testing, truck rolls and manpower, the cost would far exceed the $180,000 in funding it was awarded.  

The company was initially awarded the RDOF funding to provide several hundred communities with broadband internet service. However, the testing process added a large financial burden to overall costs. Easton explained that if it had been granted the ability to submit VFi customers for random sampling, then the financial burden would be much less.

Easton has already provided 400 locations with active service in rural areas and completed mainline construction that makes service readily available. The ~44% of customers that have opted for the managed Wi-Fi service will be tested without further expense. 

The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund was adopted by the FCC to bring high-speed broadband service to small businesses and rural communities. The fund has already supported bringing broadband to over five million homes and businesses in unserved areas.