Federal

The growth in mobile data traffic makes our world better informed, more fulfilled, and of course, better connected. It means consumers are taking advantage of the powerful service our networks are delivering. But it also means those networks are being tested like never before. As we know, this network strain will only continue as IoT devices, intelligent infrastructure, and AI-enabled applications proliferate.

Let’s discuss the current Broadband Policy State of Play and how the election may affect it. There are four fundamental goals of broadband policy:

In 2022, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) joined the nationwide celebration of Digital Inclusion Week, recognizing its critical role in fostering equitable Internet access and digital literacy. While Digital Inclusion Week remains a week-long event, NTIA expanded its observance into a month-long celebration in 2023, reflecting the pressing need to address digital disparities in depth. This extension underscores NTIA's commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of location, background, or circumstance, can fully participate in the digital world.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration's mission is to build a better-connected world. That work includes connecting everyone in America to reliable, affordable high-speed Internet service. The Internet for All initiative is historic. As such, we would be remiss if we failed to learn lessons from the recent history of other federal broadband programs. Top of mind are the failings of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, or RDOF.

Cable execs have been adamant that their broadband businesses will return to subscriber growth eventually. But they haven't pinpointed exactly when they expect to turn that corner as they grapple with the demise of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and a one-two punch of fiber and fixed wireless access (FWA) competition.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is one of several US federal and state government programs that seek to bridge the so-called “digital divide” through targeted consumer subsidies and support for infrastructure rollout. Though these subsidy programs aim to improve vital broadband and telecommunications access to low-income households, their uptake has varied across US states and counties. This fits the pattern of low participation rates in other means-tested broadband subsidy programs such as Lifeline and Linkup.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced hat it received more than 700 applications requesting more than $6.5 billion in funding to support digital equity projects across the country.

It's easier to look past a slow internet connection when you can see Narragansett Bay sparkling outside your living room and hear the clink of sailboat rigging in the distance. Maybe that's why some residents of Rhode Island's East Bay and Newport County have put up with broadband infrastructure the state says doesn't stack up to what's available in the more dense areas north and west. And it's not just internet.

SpaceX has used its position as the world’s primary rocket launcher to push rival satellite operators to share wireless airwaves, showing how the company can flex its power in one area to benefit another part of its business.

In 2022, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) launched the Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) to bridge the connectivity gap in unserved communities, including rural communities, in America.