Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced a Senate resolution condemning attacks against members of the media and reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press and peaceful assembly to the health of democracy in the US. The resolution comes in the wake of the arrest on May 29 of CNN reporters covering protests in Minnesota. This was just one of dozens of reported instances of journalists and photographers being roughly handled by police officers while covering nationwide protests even after having identified themselves as members of the press. “We cannot protect our democracy if we do not protect our press,” said Sen Markey. “Targeting the media and perpetrating violence against them or protestors is un-American and requires our full and vocal condemnation. This resolution is an unequivocal statement from the Senate that we support our journalists, recognize the critical value of their work, and will promote accountability for anyone interfering with their duties.” The resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition filed by the Connect America Fund Phase II Coalition (Phase II Coalition), a group of 14 carriers authorized to receive support through the CAF Phase II Auction program. Specifically, the Phase II Coalition requests a waiver of the requirement to reduce support on a per location basis (pro rata reduction) in situations where the total number of qualifying locations within the state is within 35% of the carrier’s CAF Phase II Auction defined deployment obligation for that state (35% threshold). In addition, petitioners request that the FCC allow funding recipients to certify at the end of their support term that the actual number of qualifying locations is within this 35% threshold rather than requiring them to participate in the Eligible Locations Adjustment Process (ELAP) to establish the number of total qualifying locations.

[WC Docket No. 10-90. Comment Date: June 29, 2020 Reply Comment Date: July 7, 2020]

After years of hearing from its citizens and business owners that Internet access was one of Fort Morgan’s most pressing problems, the Colorado city of 11,000 decided to do something about it. Like dozens of other communities around Colorado, in 2009 residents approved a ballot measure to opt out of SB 152, the 2005 state law preventing municipalities from offering broadband. (Today, more than 100 local goverments have opted out.) Ten years later, a little forethought, hard work, and a public-private partnership with ALLO Communications has brought gigabit speeds and low prices to everyone in Fort Morgan over the city's dark fiber network.

Fort Morgan financed and owns the network up to the point of demarcation, while ALLO owns everything from the multiport service terminal running into the premises. Today, 50 Megabits per second (Mbps) symmetrical connections cost $45 per month, including all taxes and fees and with no cost to users for installation or equipment. A 500 Mbps connection costs $60, and 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) runs $89. 

The Fort Morgan approach highlights the advantages of a public-private partnership and emphasizes the savings potential of persuing dig-once practices: the city saved a whopping 45% in the placement of the first 7,000 feet of cable by sharing costs with cellphone provider Viaero. Twice more during that initial summer the city shared construction costs, helping the project stay under budget. Fort Morgan's partnership with ALLO also provides a successful template for city councils or municipal leaders who want a fiber network but are anxious about mitigating risk.

Wireless internet service providers (WISPs) have long offered fixed wireless broadband services in rural areas where cable or wireline broadband is lacking. But now fixed wireless is seeing a bit of a revival in some urban markets thanks to Verizon’s 5G Home service and newcomer Starry’s fixed wireless 802.11-based service. But not everyone is convinced that these new attempts at delivering fixed wireless broadband will be a success.

According to Lynnette Luna, principal analyst with GlobalData, Verizon needs to provide some clarity on its strategy. “They don’t want to deploy it in places with a lot of broadband competition so they look for markets where they have an advantage but I don’t understand their formula,” she said. However, she added that she thinks it’s smart for Verizon to bundle the service with other things. Luna also believes because Starry is focusing just on multi-dwelling units, its market is very niche. “They have demonstrated that it can be a business but it’s not competitive with Comcast.” Roger Entner, founder of Recon Analytics, is also skeptical about Starry. “100,000 customers by year-end is a sad statement,” he said. “They should be getting multiples of that every quarter.” Entner added that fixed wireless is a business that requires economies of scale to work. “Connectivity is a high fixed cost,” he said. “You need scale and they aren’t getting to scale.”

Having high-speed access, a functional computer and the requisite tech skills are imperative if we expect equitable learning outcomes. The issue is equally problematic for the worker who cannot work at home because her only device is a phone or the faith leader who cannot reach his congregation because he does not have the tech skills required to do so. There are several reasons for lack of home access. The greatest, by far, is cost.

We need an uprising of local voices who demand additional federal and state interventions to ensure everyone has access to this vital utility. We should empower more local solutions. The Federal Communications Commission should allow e-rate funding to be used to provide home access for students. And federal stimulus dollars should be directed to help us connect those most vulnerable to the impact of a pandemic. Investing in access for all is the right thing to do, and it will create a better future for everyone in our community.

[Deb Socia is the president of The Enterprise Center, a nonprofit economic development partner to the city of Chattanooga (TN). She was awarded the 2018 Charles Benton Digital Equity Champion Award for her leadership in advancing digital equity.]