What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
Small Maine Towns Say Public Broadband Money Should Go to Public Networks, Not Corporations
A Republican, a Libertarian, and a Democrat meet over a beer in the small town of Liberty, Maine. Bob Kurek, Joe Meadows, and Phil Bloomstein, each a selectman from their respective towns, may disagree on many issues, but they unanimously agree when it comes to broadband funding: Public funds should support publicly owned fiber-optic networks. Kurek, Meadows, and Bloomstein are three of Waldo Broadband Corporation’s (WBC) five volunteer directors.
Cable companies are likely to target out of footprint for BEAD opportunities
New Street Research analyst Jonathan Chaplin says that cable operators will have a lot of opportunity to snag Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funds for locations that are out of—but proximate to—their existing footprints.
How cities can navigate their state’s broadband preemption laws
When state preemption laws on municipal broadband expansion are too restrictive, local leaders should learn how to work around bureaucratic red tape so they can deliver critical internet access to their communities, says Christy Baker-Smith, a director of research and data at the National League of Cities (NLC). State-level legislative restrictions can exacerbate local digital divides and resident burdens, said Baker-Smith.
Tennessee Gets Set to Dish Out $185M for Rural Broadband Deployments
The state of Tennessee will begin accepting applications in September 2023 for $185 million in grant funding for broadband deployments in unserved and underserved areas.
Dish’s Charlie Ergen looks to consolidate his telecom empire
Charlie Ergen is looking to merge the two halves of his telecom empire, Dish and EchoStar, a deal that would tilt Dish away from a satellite TV business in decline. Apparently, both companies have engaged advisers to sort through what a deal might look like.
Presented jointly by Business Oregon and the Northwest Environmental Business Council, the 2023 Oregon Infrastructure Summit will provide a venue for the exchange of ideas focused on understanding and articulating the interconnectedness of basic infrastructure, including:
- Capacity Building
- Resiliency
- Community & Economic Development
- Investment
- Leadership & Planning
Your Voice Matters: State Digital Equity Plans Seek Public Feedback
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will regularly post Digital Equity plans on this website. If you’re unsure about when your state’s digital equity plan will be available for public comment, we recommend bookmarking the link and checking it frequently. The public comment period is a mandatory step in the State Digital Equity Plan process that solicits a public response and comments on the draft plan. To know when to expect your
Agenda includes
- Anna Gomez to be a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (PN673)
- Geoffrey Starks to be a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (PN674)
- Brendan Carr to be a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (PN672)
- Fara Damelin to be Inspector General of the Federal Communications Commission (PN441)
Railroad industry group claims new Virginia law shifts permitting power from railroads to broadband providers
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) seeks to void a Virginia bill streamlining railroad crossing requests for broadband providers, claiming it shifts permitting power from the railroad owners to broadband providers. The law, which took effect on July 1, caps railroad crossing fees at $2,000 per crossing and requires broadband providers to reimburse railroad companies no more than $5,00