February 2021

North Carolina's new broadband dashboards strive for data accuracy

Roughly 5% of North Carolina households surveyed in 2020 lack access to the internet, according to a pair of new dashboards published by the state’s technology agency. The new dashboards reflect data about broadband adoption, coverage and quality on a county-by-county and address-by-address basis, informed largely by a state broadband survey created last July in partnership with the Friday Institute at North Carolina State University.

Why federal grants may set rural broadband in some areas of Minnesota back for years

Minnesota officials announced the winners of $20.6 million in grants to develop high-speed internet across Minnesota, the latest infusion of money approved by lawmakers to fully connect the state. Many celebrated the cash, which Steve Grove, commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, called a “vital” push to correct disparities in internet service that were highlighted during the pandemic. Yet the grants also drew frustration from some broadband developers. That’s because Gov.

Broadband Providers Show Solidarity on Emergency Broadband Funds

Executives from ACA Connects, NCTA-the Internet & Television Association, INCOMPAS, and WISPA (the wireless internet service providers association) met with staffers in the Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau to present a unified front on some key elements of the proposed Emergency Broadband Benefit Program recently created by Congress. The executives want the FCC to allow providers who are new to participating in federal support programs to be eligible for the new funds and get the training to be able to participate in the applications process from "day one.

US Ignite launches $4 million military-funded 5G pilot program (RCR Wireless News)

Submitted by benton on Mon, 02/01/2021 - 16:17

Sponsor

California Department of Education

Date

Tue, 02/02/2021 - 10:00

I. Welcome
a. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond
b. Senator Connie Leyva

II. Opening Comments
a. Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry
b. Assemblymember Burke
c. Assemblymember Garcia
d. Assemblymember Santiago

III. Bill Proposal Ideas
a. Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry (5-minutes)
b. Senator Lena Gonzalez (5-minutes)
c. Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (5-minutes)

IV. Questions and Answers

Read more about Creating Solutions for Closing the Digital Divide

Sponsor

Chi Hack Night

Date

Tue, 02/02/2021 - 19:00

As part of his historic $45 billion Rebuild Illinois investment strategy, in 2019 Governor Pritzker included $420 million to expand access to high-speed broadband internet across the state. A critical commitment to closing gaps and expanding opportunity, the Connect Illinois program is central to the Governor’s Five-Year Economic Plan to revitalize and grow the Illinois economy with an emphasis on equitable growth.

Read more about Connect Illinois: Eliminating the Digital Divide through an Equity Lens

With FCC Support, Charter Commits $3.8 Billion for Rural Broadband Expansion

Charter offered some details about its $1.2 billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) win. Perhaps the most interesting detail is that Charter plans to spend $5 billion in total on the RDOF rural broadband buildout, which means the company will be investing $3.8 billion of its own money on RDOF projects.

FCC Seeks Comment on Using E-Rate Funding to Support Remote Learning

The Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on several petitions requesting permission to use E-Rate program funds to support remote learning during the pandemic. The E-Rate program provides universal service fund discounts on broadband services for eligible schools and libraries. Multiple petitions filed with the agency have sought emergency relief so schools and libraries that were shut down because of the pandemic can assist students who need to learn remotely, but who lack internet access at home.

Chairman Response Regarding Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

On Jan 15, 2021, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai responded to several Members of Congress regarding the implementation of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Lawmakers advocated for stringent oversight of the auction and encouraged the FCC to require detailed deployment schedules for review to ensure submissions can meet the time frame outlined by the auction.

Why Fiber?

If you’re going to build broadband and have a choice of technologies, why is fiber the best choice?

Benton

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