October 2018

A Q&A with Margaret Roberts: China is weaponizing online distraction (Washington Post)

Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Mon, 10/01/2018 - 13:15

A Q&A with Hannah Fry: How algorithms are controlling your life (Vox)

Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Mon, 10/01/2018 - 13:09

New Era in Broadband Competition Begins Today with Verizon Fixed 5G Launch

Verizon fixed 5G service officially launched Oct 1 in Houston (TX), Indianapolis (IN), Los Angeles (CA), and Sacramento (CA). The new residential broadband option could open up a new era in broadband competition. Or not. Built on Verizon’s own TF network standard, the fixed 5G service is gigabit capable and starts with an uncapped 300 Mbps tier for $70 per month to non-Verizon wireless customers and a discounted $50 per month to current Verizon wireless customers with a qualifying smartphone plan.

German antitrust watchdog eyes steps against Facebook before end of 2018 (Reuters)

Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Mon, 10/01/2018 - 12:45

Touch, Trust, and Tech

Addressing community challenges – education, a strong economy, race, and social equity – means that every community institution needs to be part of the solution. And mayors and elected county officials are wise to understand one institution – the public library – brings a unique mix of assets to the table:

Touch: Pew Research data shows that 80 percent of Americans have been to a public library at some point in a given year – either in-person or online.

USDA Invests $600 Million In Rural Broadband, But Farmers Still Struggle To Connect

Late in Aug, the US Department of Agriculture announced plans to add $600 million to fund e-Connectivity, a pilot program aimed at bridging the rural digital divide by improving broadband internet access for American farmers. But the rural digital divide is wider than ever, as farmers struggle to run tech-dependent businesses without broadband. On the farm, spotty or limited internet coverage can be a costly problem.

Keeping Up A Fast Pace On Spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission's October agenda will address three issues critical to advancing the 5G FAST Plan—creating more opportunities for unlicensed innovation in the 6 GHz band, expanding spectrum opportunities for 5G in the 3.5 GHz band, and updating our business data services rules for smaller, rural carriers in order to promote fiber deployment.

The FCC Wants Our Public Property. We’re Saying No.

On Sept 26, the Federal Communications Commission may try to dismantle the balanced system [of local control], handing taxpayer-owned assets over to multi-billion dollar telecommunications companies, and encouraging them to run wild on our public rights of way. There are several reasons this move would be deeply damaging for towns and cities, big and small:

What's the Outlook for 5G in Rural States?

As the connectivity versus local control debate rages on, the prospect of 5G infrastructure blanketing the country remains a far-off concept in many areas.

Tennessee Governor candidates want better internet in rural areas

GOP nominee for Gov of TN Bill Lee may run a $225 million-a-year business and live in the wealthiest county in TN, but when he connects to the internet at his cattle farm in Fernvale (TN), he has to use a satellite dish. "Like a lot of rural areas, we still don't have broadband and when there is a storm, we play a lot of Yahtzee at home," Lee said. But Lee said the lack of access to high-speed internet service is no fun and games for many rural residents.

Benton

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