September 2023

Introducing GFiber Labs

GFiber Labs is a new hub dedicated to innovating internet technology and services with specific attention to boosting broadband speed to the home, focusing on "reliability, service, and access." Google Fiber plans to partner with other companies, strategic vendors, and early adopters in the lab and the field. Additionally, the lab will work on fiber networking within the home and conduct network testing outside of that environment in real markets to augment the products and services it's working on in the lab, said Google Fiber Vice President of Technology, Operations, and Product John Keib

Net Neutrality Rules Face ‘Major Questions’ Buzzsaw at High Court

The Federal Communications Commission appears poised to again consider how broadband internet access service should be regulated to ensure “net neutrality” so all consumers can enjoy free and unimpeded access to lawful internet content. However, the key question is who decides how to translate that goal into law.

BEAD and Buy America

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a clarification of its intentions for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Buy America rules, stating that it still plans to take a strict approach to enforcing Buy America. In practical terms, that means that NTIA intends to only seek minor waivers from the Buy America rules. The NTIA is proposing that 90% of the materials used to construct BEAD projects—especially manufactured products like fiber-optic communic

Majority Staff Memo | Connecting Every American: The Future of Rural Broadband Funding

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 8.3 million households lack access to high-speed broadband. Providing universal access to communications service—initially voice service and now broadband—has always been a challenge in the United States. Although connecting urban, populated areas is relatively easy, serving sparsely populated rural areas is difficult due to differences in terrain and population density.

Treasury Seeks Comment on New Rules for Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds

The Secretary of the Treasury issued an interim final rule to implement the amendments made by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 with respect to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act. Since the launch of the SLFRF program, Treasury has disbursed 99.99 percent of SLFRF funds to approximately 30,000 state, local, and ribal governments, and these recipients have moved swiftly to deploy this funding in their communities.

Illinois launches statewide digital navigator program

The Illinois Broadband Lab launched a statewide cohort of digital navigator fellows to plan and coordinate digital equity programs at the local level.