Better Broadband Better Lives

Monthly archive

May 2017

Broadband News/Infrastructure

Trump Infrastructure Plan Articulates Four Core Principles for Public-Private Investment

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: There is an important linkage between the growing discussion about public-private partnerships in broadband, and the call for greater infrastructure investment by the Trump administration. The four key principles discussed by Trump are (1) targeted federal investments, encourage self-help by local government, re-align agencies providing infrastructure investment, and (4) leveraging the private… Keep Reading

Broadband News/Fiber/Infrastructure/Press Releases

Wharton School Presents Research and Policy Discussion Critical of Municipal Fiber

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: We’ll be looking for some alternative analysis of this material. Interesting to see that this is becoming such a focus of certain industry observers and interests. || Municipal Fiber in the U.S.: An Empirical Assessment of the Financial Performance, from Wharton’s Public Policy Initiative: Many municipalities have already built municipal-owned fiber networks… Keep Reading

Broadband News/Broadband's Impact/Infrastructure

Trump Budget Proposal To Include $200 Billion for Infrastructure Spending

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: Mixed signals emerging from Office of Management Budget about the role of infrastructure in the Trump administration plan. Trump Budget Said to Include $200 Billion for Infrastructure, from Bloomberg: President Donald Trump will propose spending $200 billion in federal funds over 10 years to spur investment in the nation’s infrastructure, a senior… Keep Reading

Broadband News/Education/Health/Public Safety

Budget Cuts by President Trump Take $1.4 Trillion in Non-Defense Agencies

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: The best time to release a budget? When the president is away on a foreign trip! Trump to Propose $1.4 Trillion in Cuts to Non-Defense Agencies, from GovExec President Trump, in budget documents to be released on Tuesday, will propose shrinking spending at non-defense agencies by $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years, with… Keep Reading

Broadband and Democratization/Broadband's Impact

The Need for Digital Inclusion in the Silicon Slopes Area of Utah

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: Even in areas where information technology is booming, like Utah, it’s important to consider the impact that the adoption of broadband technology will have on those who are “less connected.” A look at how Digital Inclusion applies in Utah. || Increasing Digital Inclusion In Utah: ‘The more the tech community understands digital inclusion… Keep Reading

Education/Fiber/Open Access/Rural Telecom/WISP

Spotlight on Advantages of Open Access Networks at Broadband Communities Summit

DALLAS, May 5, 2017 – Open access networks are becoming more real for gigabit connectivity in the United States, according to panelists attending the Broadband Communities Summit here this week. The conference was notable in having numerous, positive discussions of the “three-tiered” model: One entity owns the fiber infrastructure, a second entity operates the gigabit… Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact/Expert Opinion/Rural Telecom/Rural Utilities Service

Craig Settles: It’s Time for Co-ops To Stand Up and Embrace Broadband

In the battle to deploy broadband, cooperatives (co-ops) can be a decisive force to cover the rural flanks in states with aggressive broadband adoption goals such as California, New York, and Minnesota. In the more rural states, or ones without stated commitments to broadband, co-ops may have to carry the lion’s share of responsibility if… Keep Reading

Broadband's Impact/Fiber/Open Access/Public Safety/Rural Telecom/Smart Cities

Innovative Fiber Financing Through a ‘Broadband Improvement District’ in Ammon, Idaho

DALLAS, May 1, 2017 – One of the biggest puzzles in broadband today is a financial conundrum: Our nation needs next-generation networks everywhere, but advanced internet capacity is spotty at best. One solution to the problem of financing universal broadband networks — on display in Ammon, Idaho — will be presented at the Rural Telecommunications… Keep Reading

Broadband News/FCC/Net Neutrality

The Net Neutrality Battle Now Continues on Only Two Fronts: At the FCC and in Congress

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai’s take on this may seem inconsistent, but from his perspective, anything that preserves FCC authority will help him preserve his (pending) rule to overturn the reclassification of broadband as a Title II service. Now the contest continues on only two front – the FCC and Congress… Keep Reading

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