January 2020

Why Gov Cuomo shot down a bill to study municipal broadband

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) vetoed a bill which would have directed the state to study whether a state-owned and operated internet service would be feasible in New York. Gov Cuomo said it was “well-intentioned” but that it would be too expensive to complete. Still, Gov Cuomo suggested that he isn’t opposed to the idea of municipal broadband. The governor said in Dec 2019 that he and lawmakers might revisit the idea of a feasibility study on municipal broadband in early 2020.

Connect America Fund boosts municipal broadband networks

Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA) announced that Westfield Gas & Electric, which is managing broadband construction projects in 20 rural towns, has secured $10.2 million as part of a funding authorization from the Federal Communications Commission, through the Connect America Fund Phase II.

Analysis

Top 10 Broadband & Society Stories of 2019

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Monday, January 6, 2020

Podcast: North Carolina's Unique Broadband History and Lessons for Moving Forward (Institute for Local Self-Reliance)

Submitted by benton on Mon, 01/06/2020 - 11:08

Tech's biggest upcoming battles in 2020

The most consequential stories for tech in 2020 pit the industry's corporate colossi against the US government, foreign nations, and the human needs of their own customers. The big battles ahead include: Securing the 2020 U.S. election; Defining the limits of privacy; Coping with the antitrust onslaught; Defending a global industry in an age of "decoupling;" and Flipping tech from harm to "wellness."

Verizon seeks experimental license to test 37 GHz products

Verizon Wireless is asking the Federal Communications Commission for permission to use a portion of the 37.6-40 GHz band in part of northwest Arkansas for testing purposes as it develops different healthcare-related use cases and devices with an unnamed corporate partner. The application seeks a testing schedule of 12 months. Ericsson is noted as supplying three demonstration units and “multiple mobile manufacturers” for supplying 20 demo units.