Jed Pressgrove

Students, Schools Navigate the Inequity of the Digital Divide

From metropolitan areas in the western US to the rural counties of the Northeast, public school districts that have closed their doors must educate students who have unequal access to digital learning means.  Austin Beutner, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, said his district continues to reach its 700,000-plus students through one of two approaches or a combination of both. The first approach involves the digital learning environment/platform Schoology. This method, while the standard for the district, can’t help certain students.

States Look to Improve Upon Incomplete FCC Broadband Data

Limited federal data on broadband coverage has presented a hurdle for states as they try to do their part in erasing the digital divide in local communities. Despite the common observation that Form 477 data from the Federal Communications Commission doesn’t cut it, states have different approaches and different timelines when it comes to their cartographical solutions.  

Pregnancy-Related Deaths Are Up. Could Broadband Help?

With the introduction of a bill titled Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act in both the Senate and House of Representatives, some legislators believe high-speed Internet could make a difference for pregnant mothers. The bill would require information on maternal health to be included in the Federal Communications Commission’s 

FCC Mapping Rules Draw Fresh Criticism Amid $20.4B Disbursal

Stakeholder reactions to the Federal Communications Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund have been mixed. The new FCC money will be divvied up in two phases, with the first distributing the majority of the funds, $16 billion, to Census blocks where data shows no service is available. What some stakeholders take issue with, however, is that the FCC is using Form 477 data, which has driven its funding in the past but has also been widely criticized.

No-Cost Broadband Program Takes Aim at Digital Divide

Even if broadband coverage isn’t the problem in a local area, the cost of high-speed Internet service may still hold back families who don’t have much money.

Massachusetts Pursues Its Own Route to Broadband Expansion

Conventional wisdom says a town with less than 200 people wouldn’t have the resources to establish and maintain high-speed Internet for its residents. But Mount Washington, located in Berkshire County (MA) contradicted such wisdom in Nov 2017 when it activated its municipal fiber broadband service.  From one angle, the case of Mount Washington is a miracle.

State Leaders, Experts Sort Through Federal Broadband Bills

In recent weeks, members of the U.S. Congress have announced a number of broadband-related bills that aim to ensure that local communities have a better chance of delivering high-speed Internet to their residents. But would these acts, if passed, lead to meaningful results? Government Technology spoke to a number of leaders and experts about the implications of three particular pieces of legislation. Their differing opinions highlight the great complexity of the broadband issue.

Municipal Districts: The Fix for What Ails Rural Internet?

Rural communities must often get creative if they want to bring broadband to their residents, and sometimes their hands are tied due to state restrictions or a lack of favorable legislation. Smaller municipalities in New Hampshire, however, may soon have the option of forming a multi-town district for the purpose of establishing a broadband system. State Sen.

Investing in Digital Equity: The Case for Broadband Expansion

Some public and private stakeholders argue that financial matters such as return on investment (ROI) must be heavily considered when expanding broadband to unserved populations.

Q&A with Delaware CIO James Collins on Digital Inclusion

A Q&A with National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) President and Delaware CIO James Collins.

Ohio Anticipates Statewide Broadband Policy, Plan

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted wasn’t surprised when an OH Department of Transportation report, released in late Sept, indicated that his state has valuable assets that can lead to broadband expansion.  “Actually, it largely confirmed what we believed,” Lt Gov Husted said. “That the public infrastructure, particularly the rights of way, have value, and we need to leverage that value to extend broadband…to places that don’t presently have it.”  Like most states, OH has been aware that a significant portion of its population, mostly in rural areas, has little to no access to high-speed Internet.

The Dos and Don'ts of Community Broadband Network Planning

The essential point at the Nevada Broadband Workshop in Reno was this: Communities that want broadband should produce a plan that’s as comprehensive as possible. Hosted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) BroadbandUSA program, the workshop guided attendees through various aspects of broadband planning for smaller communities. Even if the cost for a project seems exorbitant, a plan can still be made.

How Georgia Made Its Unique Broadband Coverage Map

For some time, it’s been no secret that the Federal Communications Commission’s Form 477 data overestimates broadband coverage in the US. In response, Georgia took matters into its own hands. Recently, the state had completed maps for three counties — Elbert, Lumpkin and Tift — that showed just how off current FCC data is.   The maps were the result of a pilot carried out by the Georgia Broadband Deployment Initiative (GBDI), which is part of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

Broadband's Economic Impact Remains Unclear, Contested

Internet access is a critical concern across the United States. Countless news reports chronicle a trend of states and local areas working to expand broadband Internet for unserved and underserved populations. One assumption driving these efforts is that improved broadband coverage will lead to better economic outcomes. Here’s the complication: Research on broadband doesn’t necessarily confirm that assumption, even though certain pieces of research seem to suggest the case is closed.

Momentum Builds for Maryland’s Rural Broadband Initiative

Kenrick Gordon, director of the Maryland Governor’s Office of Rural Broadband, sees numerous ways that improved broadband access can transform life and work in rural areas. But sometimes framing this issue is as simple as tying it all back to education. “If our children have to go to McDonald’s to do their homework, that’s not a good thing,” he said. Gov. Larry Hogan (R-MD) revealed a five-year, $100 million plan to expand rural broadband.