Localism

Too many Mainers, especially those not living in Portland, Bangor and other cities, are routinely told that a broadband internet connection is just not possible. Or, it’ll cost tens of thousands to simply run a line to where they need it. A modern, fast, internet connection has become a requirement in today’s connected world. Sadly, Maine ranks 44^th out of all US states in connectivity. If our students, businesses, and health services are going to thrive, that needs to change.

At a time when Americans can work and learn remotely from just about anywhere, internet access isn't a luxury it's a necessity. However, a large part of rural Wisconsin has been left behind. According to a report from Forward Analytics, hundreds of thousands of people in Wisconsin do not have access to high-speed internet at all. The report shows 25 percent of Wisconsin's rural population lack access to high-speed internet.

Broadband efforts in Colorado remain a high priority, with Brandy Reitter to serve as the new executive director of the Colorado Broadband Office. Reitter, who has been serving in local government for the last 15 years, will begin her new role at the Colorado Broadband Office in February 2022, replacing Julia Richman, who serves as deputy executive director of the Office of Information Technology (OIT). Reitter will lead the state’s broadband strategy during a time of robust advancement and development of Internet connectivity, particularly for rural areas.

With an influx of federal funding for broadband development, the Kansas governor's office is championing a goal to have the state among the leaders in high-speed internet access by the end of the decade. "We understand how high the stakes are," said Lieutenant Gov and Commerce Secretary David Toland (D-KS).

Congress has made unprecedented federal investments in broadband infrastructure and digital equity. This moment is not just about installing conduit under streets and fiber on poles — it is about achieving and ensuring digital equity for our country as a whole. Conversations with Municipal Leaders: Digital Equity in Cities, a report by the National League of Cities, captures the combined perspectives and experiences of 22 US cities, towns and villages working to achieve digital equity.

The Jasper (TX) City Council voted to go forward with its plans to go into the broadband internet business. The move came following a decision earlier in 2021 to award Kramer Services Group of Weyerhaeuser (WI) $450,000 to study the issue and develop a plan for its implementation within the city. Kramer representative Brandon Wright said plans were for the system to be completely underground from one end of town to the other offering up to 1 gig of upload and download speed at prices between $75 and up depending on the speed the customer required.

A group working to expand broadband internet services across rural Vermont says there will be at least 2,000 miles (over 3,200 kilometers) of fiber optic cable ready for installation during the 2022 construction season. Christine Hallquist, executive director the Vermont Community Broadband Board, announced Monday that three groups were working together to provide 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) of cable. NEK Broadband, the state’s largest communication union district, has arranged to buy another 1,000 miles of cable, Hallquist said.

The last two years have been pivotal ones for the future of high-speed internet access in Minnesota. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated the lack of broadband in many parts of the state as people shifted to remote work and school. Congress poured unprecedented amounts of money into subsidizing construction of new infrastructure like fiber-optic cables in Minnesota and across the country.

Millions of people across the country still lack sufficient access to broadband service, largely because they live in rural communities, which are the most difficult and expensive to serve. The challenges of deploying broadband network infrastructure in rural locations, particularly low population density and difficult terrain, create high costs and low returns on investment that discourage providers from expanding into those areas. As of fall 2021, 44 states had established grant programs to cover the costs of broadband deployment in areas where it would otherwise not be economically feasi

Results of a study and survey commissioned by the Door County Economic Development Corp. (DCEDC) on high-speed broadband internet service in the Wisconsin county confirmed what many have long thought — there isn't much broadband available, some areas have little or no internet access at all, and what there is often doesn't offer adequate service. The results provide a basis for developing a plan to make high-speed internet available across the Peninsula, DCEDC executive director Steve Jenkins said. "Those are the salient points that put some substance to what we suspected," Jenkins said.