An $84 million plan to boost internet speeds at Chicago Public Schools has stalled again, officials say, because of red tape in securing construction permits from the city. For several months, crews have been ripping up streets to build a new high-speed fiber network. Around 80 schools were supposed to be connected by Nov. 1 as part of the project’s first phase, but that goal has been pushed to the first quarter of 2022. The latest setback may mean more construction headaches for residents and more internet woes for students, who returned to school buildings for full-time, in-person learning in August and are due back from the winter break Monday. “We’re running over 300 miles of fiber throughout the city, originally slated as a three-year project,” Richard Burnson, CPS director of network services, told the Tribune. “We’re running a bit behind schedule, but continuing to push forward and have it wrapped up by 2023.” The new network is slated to reach about 570 Chicago schools and administrative buildings. Each school would connect to two of 11 hubs spaced across the city. If there’s a problem with one of the connections, officials say high-speed internet would still be available. Schools would have access to download speeds of 20 gigabits per second. 

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Executive Director Adrianne B Furniss announced the appointment of Dr. Colin Rhinesmith as the organization’s new Senior Director of Research and Fellowships. Dr. Rhinesmith will find, secure, and manage a diverse cohort of fellows—researchers, advocates, and practitioners—and their projects supported by the newly created Marjorie & Charles Benton Opportunity Fund. In addition, Dr. Rhinesmith will continue the work of his current Benton fellowship, collecting research on digital equity ecosystems through the Benton Digital Equity Action Research (DEAR) fellows program being implemented in six US cities in partnership with local digital inclusion organizations. All of this work will aid Dr. Rhinesmith in the research and writing. Rhinesmith is affiliated with the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry, as a member of its Scholars Council. Previously, Rhinesmith was an Associate Professor in the School of Library and Information Science and Provost’s Faculty Fellow for Scholarship and Research at Simmons University. He was a Google Policy Fellow and an Adjunct Research Fellow with New America’s Open Technology Institute. He was also a Faculty Associate with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.