Press Release

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced Senator Peter Welch’s (D-VT) amendment to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program with $7 billion, as requested in his bicameral, bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act. The amendment was attached to the PLAN for Broadband Act, legislation to streamline federal broadband program to make it more accessible for underserved areas. The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act’s original Senate cosponsors include Sens Welch (D-VT), JD Vance (R-OH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Sherrod Brown (D-O

Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) announced more than $41 million in grants through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) for 10 broadband construction projects serving 20 localities throughout Virginia. The VATI program provides targeted funding to extend service to areas that are presently unserved by any broadband provider. The goal of VATI is to create strong, competitive communities throughout the Commonwealth by preparing those communities to build, utilize, and capitalize on telecommunications infrastructure.

July marks the 34^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in every aspect of our society, especially in the digital realm. Individuals with disabilities often experience barriers to digital equity, such as obtaining affordable assistive technologies, encountering inaccessible websites and digital content, and struggling to access reliable Internet service.

Reps Mike Carey (R-OH) and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)—a federal program that helped low-income households afford access to high-speed internet.

Sens John Thune (R-SD), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act, bipartisan legislation that would improve federal agencies’ review and processing of broadband permits and allow service to be more quickly deployed to unserved communities.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a reorganization that will streamline and bolster technology, cybersecurity, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) strategy and policy functions. This reorganization will clarify and consolidate these critical functions, as follows:

A definitive agreement has been signed by which AccessPlus will acquire Crocker Communications, a third-generation, renowned telecommunications leader based in Greenfield and Springfield, Massachusetts. The closing of the transaction will follow Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and state regulatory approvals and is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2024. The acquisition includes Crocker Communications’ assets and its robust customer base, encompassing approximately 2,000 government, education, and residential clients.

Charter Communications reported financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. Charter had 29.6 million residential customer relationships, excluding mobile-only relationships.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved New Mexico and Virginia’s Initial Proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This approval enables New Mexico and Virginia to request access to funding and begin implementation of the BEAD program—a major step towards closing the digital divide and meeting the President’s goal of connecting everyone in America with affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service.  The action allows states to request:  

We are proud to celebrate Disability Pride Month and reaffirm our commitment to closing the disability divide through technology and policy. At Microsoft, we believe disability is a strength, and that empowering people with disabilities is essential for creating a more inclusive and accessible world. We are committed to closing the disability divide, which is the gap between the opportunities and outcomes of people with and without disabilities, particularly in the areas of education, employment, and civic participation.