Starlink Won’t Be the Broadband Game Changer You Think
It’s unlikely that Elon Musk’s Starlink, a next-generation satellite broadband service, is the silver bullet for the country’s broadband access woes.
September 2021
Verizon Announces New Digital Inclusion Program in Eight States and DC
With support from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Verizon announced a new program to provide access to wireless broadband data and voice services to underserved communities in Massachusetts and eight neighboring states plus the District of Columbia. Verizon will provide turnkey connectivity, devices and other solutions available to eligible families who lack access to the internet.
Verizon Hires Senate Commerce Staffer Shawn Bone to Handle Broadband
Shawn Bone, a senior telecommunications counsel for Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA), is joining Verizon on October 11 as its director of federal regulatory public policy. Bone, who has worked for Senate Commerce Democrats for more than nine years, will focus on broadband at Verizon.
Delaware Lawmakers Announce $110 Million Universal Broadband Investment
Delaware state and federal lawmakers announced a $110 million investment to cover every “last mile” of Delaware with high-speed, wireline broadband internet service.
Governments around the world are increasingly regulating tech companies
Governments are limiting or banning applications, content and connectivity itself — and Big Tech companies, rich and powerful as they are, can't or won't fight back. From the Arab Spring to the Black Lives Matter protests, the internet has helped organizers build popular movements and even, on occasion, overthrow governments.
A dizzying number of new federal funding programs have created exciting opportunities to address broadband inequities in US communities. New state initiatives are also cropping up, geared towards increasing digital equity. And there may be more to come. For local digital inclusion organizations and coalitions, navigating these programs to match the right resources with community needs is the new challenge.
Nokia and DigitalC to provide Private LTE internet connectivity in Cleveland, Ohio
Nokia is working with non-profit DigitalC to deliver much-needed high-speed internet connectivity to underserved homes in Cleveland (OH) using its Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) end-to-end private wireless solution. The deployment of Nokia DAC will allow DigitalC to leverage private LTE technology to provide affordable, reliable and high-speed internet access to thousands of people around Cleveland.
How California’s Broadband Infrastructure Law Promotes Local Choice
California's legislative session has ended and Governor Newsom is expected to sign into law S.B.4 and A.B.14, the final pieces of the state’s new broadband infrastructure program. With a now-estimated $7.5 billion assembled between federal and state funds, the state has the resources it needs to largely close its digital divide in the coming years.
Bristol, New Hampshire, launches high-speed internet service
The town of Bristol (NH) launched its new high-speed internet service on September 16. The Bristol Broadband Now network is the result of planning by the Bristol Economic Development Committee, town administrator Nicholas Coates, and a public-private partnership with eX² Technology LLC of Omaha (NE) which built the physical infrastructure for the fiber optic internet. Hub66, based in Acton (MA), will provide the internet service to businesses, residents and municipal buildings in the town of about 3,000 people.