Billions of federal dollars for broadband came with the stipulation that they benefit underserved populations. New projects that link last-mile access with affordability are paving the way for universal Internet service. The American Rescue Plan (ARP) included hundreds of billions of dollars for which broadband infrastructure was among the allowed uses. Infrastructure is not the only issue for those on the wrong side of the digital divide, however. Many who might have providers in their area cannot afford home service. In the months since ARP funds were approved, jurisdictions have embarked on projects to address both needs. “While state broadband grant programs have historically focused on expanding ‘last mile’ access in unserved areas, recent new federal spending — coupled with the flexibility with which those funds may be spent — have allowed states to address other aspects of the challenge of universal broadband, like making access affordable,” says Anna Read, a senior officer on the Broadband Access Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts. “This opportunity has led to some new and creative projects.” In Virginia, this includes providing free public Wi-Fi and developing municipal broadband networks. In Vermont, state officials have taken their own approach by establishing broadband cooperatives based on electric co-ops. The projects in Virginia and Vermont have been energized by stimulus funds, but they share a recognition that in this age, access is sufficiently important to deserve whatever support might be needed to sustain it over the long run.

The Federal Communications Commission approved an application from Boeing for a license to construct, deploy, and operate a satellite constellation. As detailed in its FCC application, Boeing plans to provide
broadband and communications services for residential, commercial, institutional, governmental, and professional users in the United States and globally. The FCC's Order approves Boeing’s application for a non-geostationary orbit fixed-satellite service system using frequencies in portions of the V-band, and to operate inter-satellite links (ISLs) using frequencies in portions of the V-band. It also dismisses Boeing’s request to operate ISLs in certain frequency bands that are not allocated internationally for operations of the FSS in the space-to-space direction in the ITU Radio Regulations. Boeing’s plan involves placing 132 satellites into low Earth orbit at an altitude of 1,056 kilometers (about 656 miles). Another 15 will be launched to “non-geostationary orbit” at an altitude between 27,355 and 44,221 km (16,998 to 27,478 miles). The company has six years to launch half of its satellite constellation and nine years to deploy the entire network.

BT Group and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite venture OneWeb are taking an earlier agreement to new heights. The partners signed a deal for connectivity services and expect to fire up the first live trials in early 2022. The global distribution partner agreement announced builds on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the partners reached in July. Both companies are headquartered in Britain and BT plans to start with lab tests in its Bristol facility to show how LEO satellite services integrate with existing terrestrial capabilities. It aims for live trials to follow early in 2022, and BT said the deal marks a clear roadmap toward initial satellite services becoming available to customers within a year. OneWeb is still building its LEO constellation and expects to reach global coverage by mid-2022 with 648 satellites. With its current constellation and capacity, BT said early trials will focus on using OneWeb as a supplement for backhaul, providing low latency to sites where the operator needs additional capacity or for added resiliency as a backup solution. Tapping satellites for IoT backhaul and for fixed wireless access to serve rural areas could also come into play once OneWeb increases its own capacity, according to BT.

The Federal Communications Commission adopted an order ending China Telecom (Americas) Corporation’s ability to provide domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the United States. The Order on Revocation and Termination directs China Telecom Americas to discontinue any domestic or international services that it provides pursuant to its section 214 authority within sixty days following the release of the order. Promoting national security is an integral part of the FCC’s responsibility to advance the public interest, and this action carries out that mission to safeguard the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure from potential security threats. Based in part on the recommendation of the Executive Branch agencies, the FCC found that China Telecom Americas failed to rebut the serious concerns of the Executive Branch about its continued presence in the United States. The FCC will issue a consumer guide after the Order is released that explains this action and what other options consumers might consider for mobile services.

On November 1, President Biden joined world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland. Broadband also is a “green strategy” that can help lessen impacts on the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is a key linchpin, as is housing, for a triple bottom-line strategy to promote sustainability: prosperous economy, quality environment, and community equity. A 2021 State Survey on Broadband Adoption by the California Emerging Technology Fund in partnership with the University of Southern California shows post-pandemic, most employed respondents said they expected to continue with a reduced or no commute. The survey showed that this pattern of telecommuting could reduce 55 percent of vehicle trips relative to pre-pandemic levels. Lack of affordable broadband, however, is an impediment for far too many Californians do not have high-speed internet connectivity at home. These findings call out the need for strategic planning and investments. Major new state and federal spending initiatives designed to speed progress, mega-projects such as modernizing power grids and building middle-mile internet connections will not happen overnight. Smarter, future-proofed planning now calls for deploying the most efficient networks, affordable home internet programs, forward-thinking government-private sector collaborations and an evolving willingness by corporations to take on stewardship of environmental and other societal challenges. We must be in this together. If we ignore broadband as a key factor in maintaining environmental, social and economic progress in California and beyond, we do so at the peril of ourselves and our next generations.

[Martha Escutia is vice president of Government Relations and Special Counsel at the University of Southern California and a founding member of the board of the California Emerging Technology Fund. Sunne Wright McPeak is President and CEO of California Emerging Technology Fund.]