Across six Internet for All grant programs, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is already funding hundreds of individual projects, with hundreds more to come. A new type of data dashboard shows how the public can monitor the progress of construction and implementation related to projects in their area. Careful monitoring and oversight of grantees is key for ensuring timely execution of funded projects and minimizing the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse. NTIA has built regular reporting requirements into its grant programs, and these new dashboards will give the public increased transparency into those reports. The Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program is the subject of the first dashboard to launch. NTIA requires that recipients report on progress and milestones twice a year, and through the NTIA Middle Mile Tracking Dashboard, we are publishing that data in a digestible, accessible, and easy-to-use format.

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. This strategic move significantly bolsters AccessPlus’ market presence throughout Western Massachusetts. Upon FCC approval, AccessPlus will swiftly integrate Crocker Communications’ customers into its Fiber broadband network.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has entered into a Consent Decree with Charter Communications to resolve the investigation into whether Charter violated the FCC’s rules related to network outages, including those impacting 911 service. The failure to notify affected public safety answering points (PSAPs) of an outage impedes the ability of public safety officials to mediate the effects of an outage by notifying the public of alternate ways to contact emergency services. The failure to provide required outage notifications to the FCC through the Network Outage Reporting System impairs the FCC’s ability to assess the magnitude of major outages, identify trends, and promote network reliability best practices that can prevent or mitigate future disruptions. To settle this matter, Charter admits that it: (1) failed to timely notify more than 1,000 PSAPs of an outage on February 19, 2023; (2) failed to meet reporting deadlines for reports associated with the Outage, and separate outages on March 31 and April 26, 2023; and (3) failed to meet other reporting deadlines associated with hundreds of planned maintenance outages, all in violation of the FCC’s rules. Charter has agreed to implement a robust compliance plan, including cybersecurity provisions related to compliance with the FCC’s 911 rules, and will pay a $15,000,000 civil penalty.