Expanding the Benefits of Broadband in Mississippi February 11, 2015 by NTIA The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s BroadbandUSA team convened a productive workshop in Jackson, Miss., last week to explore ways to close the digital divide in a state that continues to expand broadband connectivity and adoption. The event was the second in a… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, Thursday, July 26, 2012 – Last week, the fourth year of the Broadband Breakfast Club Series came to an end with a timely panel on “Bringing Broadband Adoption to the Nation’s Underserved Population.” Panelists from the private, nonprofit and state government sectors came together to discuss what can be done to promote broadband usage in… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, Thursday July 19, 2012. As part of its July Open Commission meeting, the Federal Communications Commission gave an update of its Measuring Broadband America report. This follow-up was the result of further collection of data from the over 7,000 measurement devices given to volunteers around the United States, and to show how the initial… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON February 17, 2011- The National Telecommunications and Information Administration in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission unveiled the National Broadband Map along with an update to the Digital Nation report this morning. The map is available at http://www.broadbandmap.gov/. The map is the result of over 2 years of work and $350 million government funding. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and 5 territories provided the NTIA with data. The map brings together 25 million pieces of data to provide consumers, policy makers and business with an accurate picture of broadband deployment and availability. Over 1600 unique internet service providers were identified. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2010 – Connected Texas, a subsidiary of the national group Connected Nation, held a web conference today to give a demonstration of its new broadband mapping technology. The conference was hosted by Connected Texas Staff Member Wes Kerr, who walked the audience through the demonstration, and fielded questions once it had concluded. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 – Using funds from the Broadband Data Improvement grant North Carolina’s e-NC Authority has undertaken an online survey to determine present usage of high speed broadband internet in the state. The survey has been emailed to over 100,000 potential respondents with a special focus on rural areas and small towns. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 - Early last year, Hawaii’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs was given a $1.9 million grant for its mapping initative. Rather than conduct all of the mapping internally, the DCA has chosen to partner with the New America Foundation, the University of Hawaii and BroadMap. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, January 13, 2010 – The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Tuesday announced that it has awarded grants to fund broadband mapping and planning activities in Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas under NTIA’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. With the grants, the NTIA has awarded 51 of the 56 applications: one for every state, plus the district of Columbia and five territories. The NTIA has spent approximately $97 million on the applications, the agency said. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, January 7, 2009 – The head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Monday urged the Federal Communications Commission to take steps designed to encourage greater competition in the market for high-speed internet access. In a Monday letter to the FCC as part of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce Lawrence Strickling urged that “the Internet’s innovation ecosystem is built on, and thus depends upon, a communications infrastructure operating at broadband speeds, with robust bi-directional service.” The current level of competition is not enough to spur innovation or cause increased investment in broadband, Strickling said. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 31, 2009 – The Commerce Department agency responsible for the mapping component of the broadband stimulus program announced, on the last day of the year, that it had funded five more states’ broadband data programs. With the announcement – of funding for broadband data and mapping in Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, Utah and the U.S. Virgin Islands – the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has awarded 41 grants totaling $78 million. There remain 15 awards still to be made – rounding out the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories that submitted applications and are eligible for grant funding. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 29, 2009 – Rick Rotondo, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Spectrum Bridge, advises technology policy enthusiasts to keep an eye on wireless broadband legislation from Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 29, 2009 – Dan Hays, director of the telecommunications practice at the management consulting firm PRTM, told Broadband Census News Monday that his company has some serious concerns about the overall direction of a government program to distribute funds to spur broadband penetration across the nation. Hays added that the division of grants and programs by state to gather information that will be used for a national broadband map “is driving unnecessary fragmentation.” Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 28, 2009 - Broadband Census News Reporter Winter Casey touched base with broadband business strategist Craig Settles this week on what to expect might happen on key technology issues in 2010. Settles addresses government broadband stimulus grants, legislation, and mapping in the interview. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 24, 2009 – Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-RI, said Tuesday he is thrilled that the government has allocated approximately $1.5 million to his state to lay the groundwork for enhanced internet services. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 22, 2009 – Connected Nation, which bills itself as a national non-profit organization that seeks to expand access to broadband internet, hit the jackpot Tuesday when the government announced it will be receiving more than nine million in funding for broadband mapping work. “Congress rightly recognized that increasing broadband access and adoption in communities being left behind in the 21st Century economy depends on better data collection and broadband planning,” said Lawrence Strickling, Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, in a statement. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, December 10, 2009 – Senators John McCain, R-Ariz., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., are claiming that a number of stimulus funds allocated to technology-related projects have been wasted, mismanaged, or directed toward shortsighted projects. Keep Reading
The Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration is seeking public and agency feedback on proposed information collection for the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program, according to a Federal Register notice dated December 3. The notice states that written comments must be submitted on or before February 1, 2010. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, October 12, 2009 – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration last week awarded the first four broadband data and mapping grants to organizations that are not Connected Nation. Keep Reading
NEW ORLEANS, October 1, 2009 – Top officials from Connected Nation, BroadbandCensus.com and One Economy will discuss key issues in broadband data and mapping – including controversial questions about public disclosure of carrier information on broadband maps – here on Thursday. Keep Reading
The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) have embarked upon a 30-day period of accepting responses from existing service providers in their reviews of service area classifications, which will includes defining the unserved and the underserved areas for the BIP/BTOP infrastructure applications. The Public Notices can be viewed at: http://broadbandsearch.sc.egov.usda.gov/DefaultARRA.aspx. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 11, 2009 – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration late Wednesday released the names of all 2,200 applicants for broadband stimulus grants through an interactive and searchable database at the broadbandusa.gov web portal during the first round of the broadband stimulus applications. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 3, 2009 - The Federal Communications Commission broadband workshop on Thursday addressed “big ideas” with the “potential to substantially change the Internet,” in which a range of prominent thinkers attempted to peer into the future of connectivity. Keep Reading
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., July 27, 2009 –National Telecommunications and Information Administration Administrator Larry Strickling said Monday that that now is “a new era” for broadband data, including public data about carriers that provide high-speed internet service. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 27, 2009 – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration held a workshop, via webinar, on Friday, July 24, from 1 p.m. ET to 2:45 p.m. The two NTIA officials on the call, Edward "Smitty" Smith, Program Director, State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program, and Anne Neville, focused on the nuts and bolts of the $240 available for broadband data and mapping. And they answered dozens of questions about the program. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2009 – Reading through the Federal Communications Commission’s 90-page report, “Bringing Broadband to Rural America,” it is clear that questions of broadband data loom large over the pending national broadband strategy. Keep Reading
NEW SALEM, MASS., May 26, 2009 – Governor Deval Patrick (D) on Tuesday designated the Massachusetts Broadband Institute as the “eligible entity” for receiving broadband data funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 10, 2009 – Broadband data collection needs to be more thorough and more transparent than currently existing models, a range of academic experts, builders of telecommunications infrastructure, and a key senator said last week. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2009 - According to a research report released Monday by BroadbandCensus.com, the broadband mapping provisions associated with the fiscal stimulus act should be (1) Narrowly scoped; (2) Ideally suited to visually depict unserved areas; (3) Related directly and exclusively to expanding the scope the Broadband Data Improvement Act; (4) Potentially misleading and harmful if allowed to drive and dominate the broader need for good-quality broadband data. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, March 18, 2009 - A White Paper released Tuesday by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association recommends broadband stimulus grants prioritize built-out to remote, unserved areas. Remaining monies should be used to fund programs to promote and encourage use of broadband services. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, February 13, 2009 – Advocates for federal promotion of broadband access breathed easier after a congressional conference committee reported a final version of the economic stimulus bill with $7.2 billion for broadband – more than either chamber had allocated individually. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, February 11, 2009 - Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Copps said he had "no idea" how long he will hold the gavel, but he has no intention of being a mere seat-warmer. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, October 22 - Stan Fendley, the director of legislative and regulatory policy for Corning, Inc., has joined the roster of speakers for BroadbandCensus.com’s next big event: the Tuesday, November 18 meeting of the Broadband Breakfast Club.
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WASHINGTON, October 7 – Congress last week passed legislation, the “Broadband Data Improvement Act,” that seeks better information about high-speed internet connections but cuts all authorization of funds – an amount that had totaled $40 million for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 in the Senate Commerce Committee version of the legislation. Keep Reading
September 21 - The South Carolina Educational Broadband Service Commission is under pressure to develop an innovative solution for state-wide broadband access, but the clock is ticking. Keep Reading
September 21 – When it comes to broadband, the state of Maine is doing a lot with a little in order to keep a big promise. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 16 - Senators on the Commerce Committee on Tuesday promoted the benefits of high-speed internet access and called for the passage of measures designed to provide more public information about broadband, and more broadband connectivity. Keep Reading
August 22 – In taking an inventory of North Carolina’s broadband assets, and in its push to stimulate high-speed internet investment and adoption, the e-NC Authority is arguably the most advanced effort of its kind in the nation. Long before the current wave of interest in broadband data, North Carolina state officials were at the forefront of broadband mapping and data. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, August 12 - At the Heritage Foundation, Republican Federal Communications Commissioner Robert McDowell presented an overview of the FCC's recent work concerning broadband internet services, including network management, cable franchising, spectrum auctions and management, deregulation of broadband services, and the debate over the United States' broadband performance. Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 28 – By combining better public information, market mechanisms and smarter systems of subsidization, the government can play a positive role in funding infrastructure investments in telecommunications, according to three reports released Friday by the Brookings Institution. Keep Reading
July 21 - The United States government needs to expand its broadband mapping efforts and collect information about internet speed tiers, Federal Communications Chairman Kevin Martin said in Pittsburgh on Monday. Keep Reading