1. Monthly archive
  2. January 2022

January 2022

FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel Responds to Members of Congress Regarding Small Business Speed Needs

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent letters to 12 members of Congress on December 13, 2021, regarding the July 2021 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on small business broadband speed needs. "I do not believe the FCC’s current speed benchmark for broadband, 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second download, is adequate," said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. "As GAO points out, the FCC’s speed benchmark has remained at 25/3 Mbps since 2015, despite major changes in demand for broadband in the intervening years.

Sponsor 

Rural Utilities Service

Department of Agriculture

 

Date 
Tue, 02/08/2022 - 10:00 to Thu, 02/10/2022 - 17:30

The USDA Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is providing a three-day workshop on applying for ReConnect Funds. Registration is free. The workshop will provide in-depth sessions on all aspects of the Application Intake System, deep dives into each section of the ReConnect application and live demonstrations of Application System functionality. 

The three-day workshops will take place virtually and provide attendees with an understanding of the ReConnect program application system and program requirements for FY2022. Topics will include:


Sponsor 

Rural Utilities Service

Department of Agriculture

Date 
Tue, 01/18/2022 - 10:00 to Thu, 01/20/2022 - 17:30

The USDA Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is providing a three-day workshop on applying for ReConnect Funds. Registration is free. The workshop will provide in-depth sessions on all aspects of the Application Intake System, deep dives into each section of the ReConnect application and live demonstrations of Application System functionality. 

The three-day workshops will take place virtually and provide attendees with an understanding of the ReConnect program application system and program requirements for FY2022. Topics will include:


State of Broadband report

New research shows high-level broadband data for each US state, offering a visual representation of average maximum broadband download speeds available in each county in the state, along with state-wide changes in availability, adoption, and speed time.

FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel Responds to Rep Higgins on Broadband Data Collection

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel responded to Rep Brian Higgins (D-NY)'s letter asking for a progress update on the agency's broadband data collection process. Rosenworcel's response noted the formation of the Broadband Data Task Force, progress on the new Broadband Data Collection systems and processes, work on the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, and the FCC's efforts to encourage people to use its Speed Test app as part of the agency's Measuring Broadband America program.

2021 Fiber Broadband Study

This research, performed by RVA LLC Market Research & Consulting (RVA), shows that fiber broadband now passes over 60.5 million homes in the US alone—a 12 percent growth in 2021. The increase in deployments can be attributed to the fact that fiber continues to score higher than any other broadband technology—such as cable, satellite or wireless—in terms of capacity, reliability, latency and customer satisfaction. The study also revealed that 43 percent of US households and 60 percent of Canadian households now have access to fiber.

FCC Addresses Requests for Waiver of Emergency Connectivity Fund $400/Device Support Cap

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau addressed seven requests for waivers of the $400 maximum reasonable support amount for connected devices reimbursed through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. The bureau found five of the petitioners demonstrated special circumstances that justify a waiver of the $400 support amount cap for connected devices. The bureau denied the remaining two requests, finding the petitioners failed to present special circumstances to justify a waiver.

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