Internet/Broadband

Broadband & the Future of Tech

Every American should have access to affordable broadband internet services at home, school, and work. That's the topline recommendation in The Future of Tech: A Blueprint for Action. Americans appreciate the importance of broadband that is reliable, safe, modern, trustworthy, and affordable.

Congress and the FCC can save the USF from sinking sand

One glimmer of hope from the pandemic: The Universal Service Fund (USF), the government fund designed to make sure everyone in the United States is digitally connected, finally may get an overdue overhaul. While lawmakers and policymakers long have recognized the need for a rebuild, the pandemic made it clear that reform no longer can wait.

Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force Working Groups Announced

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, in consultation with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, has appointed Working Group members to serve on the Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States. The following working groups will assist the Task Force in carrying out its work: (1) Mapping and Analyzing Connectivity on Agricultural Lands; (2) Examining Current and Future Connectivity Demand for Precision Agriculture; (3) Encouraging Adoption of Precision Agriculture and Availability of High-Quality Job

FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington says lines between tech and telecom companies have blurred

Nathan Simington is the newest commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, but just one year into his role, the former National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) official is bringing his all to the table. The Republican commissioner recently spoke about his reaction to the FCC and NTIA's newly announced Spectrum Coordination Initiative, as well as his views on inter-agency collaboration and social media regulation.

Remarks Of FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks to ATIS' Next G Alliance: The Roadmap To 6G

"As we develop the roadmap to 6G, we must remember several considerations," said Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks at ATIS' "Next G Alliance: The Roadmap to 6G" event. "First, many of the technical characteristics that will contribute to 6G’s performance could also produce security vulnerabilities...Industry and policymakers must ensure that security standards are baked into 6G, rather than bolted on.

Accelerating Broadband Deployment in Colorado

This Executive Order builds upon Executive Order B 2020 009 that directed the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) to oversee and coordinate broadband activities for all Agencies and/or Departments. Through this Executive Order, I direct OIT, through the Colorado Broadband Office, to lead collaboration and coordination between all Agencies and/or Departments for all broadband deployment efforts in Colorado.

Data shows how local governments have used American Rescue Plan funds

A new compilation of projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act shows that, among cities and counties with populations over 250,000, about 12 percent of money received by local governments has gone toward funding infrastructure investments.

Here's what's changed for internet service providers under new FCC rules for apartments

With a 4-0 vote, the Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules banning revenue-sharing agreements for internet service providers (ISPs) and multi-tenant environments (MTEs), requiring disclosure of exclusive marketing arrangements and closing loopholes around indoor cable wiring regulations. The FCC has banned revenue-sharing agreements that it says inhibit competition.

The Challenge of Accepting Rural Digital Opportunity Funds

I’ve been wondering lately if some of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) reverse auction winners are having second thoughts about accepting the RDOF awards. It’s amazing how much the broadband world has changed since the end of that auction in December 2020. It's gotten more expensive to build fiber projects over the last year. The cost of labor is an even bigger concern. New grants and new requirements, that did not exist at the time of the auction, also complicate the situation.

Can Satellite Broadband be Affordable?

When we first heard of the possibility of broadband from low-orbit satellites, there was a lot of speculation that the technology could bring affordable broadband to the masses around the globe. The latest announcement from Starlink shows that affordable broadband is probably not coming in the immediate future. Starlink announced a premium tier of service with a $500 monthly fee for 150-500 Mbps. The receiver has a one-time cost of $2,500. The product offers faster speeds by doubling the size of the receiving area of the receiver.

Benton's Thoughts on the Future of the Universal Service Fund

Acting on instruction from Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Federal Communications Commission has invited comment on the effect of the Infrastructure Act on Universal Service Fund (USF) programs and how the FCC can reach its goals of universal deployment, affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access to broadband throughout the United States.

USDA Extends to March 9 the Application Deadline for ReConnect Program Funding

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending to March 9, 2022, the application deadline for funding to expand access to high-speed internet for millions of rural Americans nationwide.

To Save Universal Service Fund, FCC Must Adopt USForward Report Recommendation Immediately

INCOMPAS is pressing the Federal Communications Commission to make the smart, transparent and expedient choice to save the Universal Service Fund. By evolving USF to include contributions from broadband internet access service providers, which the FCC could do immediately without an act of Congress, INCOMPAS says low-income families, schools and rural hospitals would all benefit from this renewed commitment to ongoing affordability solutions. INCOMPAS warns that the USF program is spiraling toward disaster, with contribution levels set to rise to nearly 40%.

National Economic Council's Tim Wu on President Biden's 'New Direction' on Antitrust

National Economic Councilmember Tim Wu said the Biden administration has adopted a different perspective on how to promote innovation — while previous White Houses might’ve said “trust the giants,” this one believes “small is beautiful.” Wu, Special Assistant to the President for Technology and Competition Policy, pushed back on what he termed the “monopoly innovation” theory that he says has dominated antitrust thinking for several decades. According to that view, he said, the high prices a monopoly can charge encourages it to innovate and develop new technologies.

NTIA head Alan Davidson softens stance on ‘Buy America’ rules

The coming surge of broadband spending fueled by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is already creating headaches for the Commerce Department — particularly around the law’s Buy America provisions. The issue put National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson in a tough position at his first oversight hearing.

Federal and State Entities Should Collaborate, Share Data, and Track Progress on Closing the Digital Divide

Resolution on Ensuring that Federal and State Entities Collaborate, Share Data, and Track Progress on Closing the Digital Divide Utilizing Various Federal Programs including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Altice USA races to blanket Fios, Frontier areas with fiber by 2025

Altice USA laid out a plan to deploy fiber to 6.5 million locations, or two-thirds of its entire footprint, by the end of 2025, planning to focus heavily on areas where it competes with Verizon’s Fios service and Frontier Communications. In 2022, it is targeting 1.1 million fiber passings in its Optimum footprint and 200,000 passings in its Suddenlink territory, for a total of 1.3 million new locations in 2022. It expects to add another 1 million fiber passings in its Optimum footprint in 2023 and 700,000 in 2024.

Provider Associations Urge NTIA to Take a Strong Role in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

Service provider associations are urging the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to take a strong role in implementing the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The $42.5 billion program calls for each of the 50 states to make decisions about awarding rural broadband funding but directs NTIA to oversee the program.

The looming 3G shutdown comes with life-threatening risks

On the morning of Februaru 23, millions who depend on a 3G wireless connected device for medical emergencies, fires, burglaries or carbon monoxide detection will find their lives needlessly at risk. These devices will not work when AT&T shuts down its 3G network on February 22, threatening tens of millions of people relying on them in their homes and businesses. Known as the 3G sunset, those affected include hundreds of thousands of people who have personal emergency response systems (PERS).

Montana selects LightBox for broadband serviceable location fabric and mapping solutions

LightBox, a leading information and technology company, announced that the State of Montana has awarded LightBox a contract for their SmartFabric™ product and GIS technology to create broadband serviceable location analytics and mapping capabilities for Montana. Montana joins the growing list of states that have selected LightBox to ensure they have the most accurate location fabric, analysis, and broadband maps.

How Los Angeles County, California, Is Boosting Affordable Connectivity Program Enrollment

The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) shared the results of an advertising campaign that CETF developed and Los Angeles County (CA) joined as co-branded partner, resulting in outstanding growth in enrollments. CETF launched advertising in the first 3 weeks in December 2021, and saw Emergency Broadband Benefit sign-ups increase by 43 percent month over month.

Senators Urge Biden Administration to Implement Broadband Expansion Funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Sens Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME) and Rob Portman (R-OH) led 16 bipartisan Senators in encouraging the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson to follow Congressional intent in implementing the $65 billion included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for broadband expansion efforts across the United States. "The IIJA provides unprecedented levels of funding for broadband directly to states," said the letter.

NTIA Oversight Hearing

The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held an oversight hearing on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Strategies that make universal broadband access a reality are needed

As the federal government readies $65 billion for broadband adoption, local leaders should make thoughtful, culturally-responsive strategies that connect all of our communities.