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  2. September 2024

September 2024

A BEAD Program Progress Report

On September 10, 2024, the House Commerce Committee's Communications and Technology Subcommittee held an oversight hearing focused on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. BEAD was established with $42.5 billion by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Congress charged the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with implementing BEAD which provides grants to states to deploy broadband in unserved and underserved areas.

Lessons from California: How a divided news industry paved the way for Google’s deal

The dust has yet to settle after August’s surprising deal between Google and California lawmakers, sidestepping two major legislative efforts to force tech giants to pay local newsrooms for their content.

Strikes

There has been a strike by 17,000 union members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) against AT&T that started on August 16. Like most strikes that last for more than a week, there is some rhetoric flying from both parties accusing the other side of negotiating in bad faith. Telecommunications strikes have been part of the history of the industry.

Mayor Bowser Announces $61.3 Million Federal Investment in District Facilities

Mayor Muriel Bowser (D-DC) announced the U.S. Treasury Department has awarded $61.3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund to support the construction of community facilities across the District of Columbia.

Wisconsin GOP Cuts $750 Million from State Broadband Budget

Efforts to expand high-speed internet access in Wisconsin have hit a political roadblock, stalled by partisan infighting, according to Democratic Assembly members. A budget proposal made by Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI)) seeking $750 million in state funding to supplement federal broadband dollars was removed during the final stages from the state’s 2023-25 budget by Republican lawmakers on the Joint Finance Committee. Rep.

How tiny McKee, Kentucky, became a national innovator in fiber broadband internet

McKee (KY) is a small town that sits mostly within the Daniel Boone National Forest and is about a one-hour, 20-minute drive from Lexington (KY), the nearest big city.

Lumen should be Verizon's next target, says New Street Research

Speculation is swirling that Verizon's $20 billion bid for Frontier Communications will spur more fiber-focused mergers & acquisitions among the nation's top mobile operators.

FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel Remarks to Consortium of State School Boards Association

On September 9, Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel spoke at the Consortium of State School Boards Association about the Learn Without Limits initiative. "Six weeks ago, the FCC voted to modernize the E-Rate program to support Wi-Fi hotspots for loan in libraries—and school libraries—nationwide," she said. "For the student without a connection at home or with housing that is inconsistent, having a teacher loan out a hotspot helps make sure they have a stable way to access to the internet. And keeping that kid connected is about more than one child.

NTIA Fact Sheet: Bridging the Digital Divide

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative is delivering on its promise to connect everyone in America to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service by 2030. Since the President took office, more than 2.4 million previously unserved homes and small businesses have been connected to high-speed Internet service. Below are highlights of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) achievements under the Biden-Harris Administration. 

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