The US Commerce Department has made public investments amounting to USD 550 million by CommScope and Corning towards their respective OFC manufacturing capabilities in the country, including Corning’s new site near Hickory, NC. The companies will dedicate a portion of their operations to rural areas’ integration into high-speed internet networks
March 29, 2023
The US Commerce Department announced the combined investment of about USD 550 million by CommScope and Corning in OFC manufacturing facilities in the US. Corning will invest USD 500 million and CommScope will invest USD 47 million in their respective OFC manufacturing capabilities. A portion of both individual investments will be directed to bridge the digital gap between urban and rural areas of the country.
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Corning’s investment will go towards a new manufacturing site near Hickory, NC. The company has signed an agreement with NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association – to reserve a portion of its finished products for NTCA members, that is small, rural providers and co-operatives. The agreement was made public by Ms. Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA, at a recent conference.
Meanwhile, CommScope will be investing to expand its OFC manufacturing capabilities at its various US facilities to manufacture special OFCs for rural region applications. The company has a manufacturing unit in Catawba NC, which is the world’s largest hybrid-fiber-coax facility for broadband networks.
Ms. Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of Commerce, addressed along with the announcement, “We have a tremendous opportunity not just to close the digital divide for millions of Americans, but also to revitalize domestic manufacturing industry, make more products and technologies in America, and create good manufacturing jobs here in Hickory and across the country.”
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The department also shared that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is planning USD 48 billion worth of grants to support the funding planned for high-speed internet infrastructure.
