Unless Congress acts now, America will lose a key element in the effort to close the digital divide.

Landlords, broadband contractors, and housing sector groups may have their arguments considered in a supplement submitted Monday.

The event will be in person at Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library, located at 1630 7th St NW in Washington, and live online.

Participants consider broadband internet an integral part of expanding telehealth accessibility.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Penn., said it may be the only viable way to fund the ACP Extension Act.

The bill to codify in state law the federal definition of digital discrimination advanced along partisan lines.

The measure would force a House vote without the blessing of Speaker Mike Johnson.

A Pennsylvania bill seeks to emulate the federal Affordable Connectivity Program by providing a $30 per month subsidy for internet costs.

States are now free to apply for funding to address barriers to broadband adoption.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks urged trade group members to engage lawmakers on extending the program.

The author argues that Virginia’s firm stand on BEAD funding serves as a beacon for the states.

A majority of the House would need to sign on to the discharge petition.

Benefits will fall to $14 for low-income households and $30 for those on Tribal lands in the last month of funding.

Low-income communities are only marginally less likely to have access to high-speed broadband compared to their wealthier counterparts.

Trial Ready announces partnership with OSS/BSS software company.

EducationSuperHighway told FCC staff the practice can benefit low-income residents.

Smith Bagley, Inc., is asking the FCC to provide more money to the Tribal Lifeline benefit.

The document is intended to help states and territories carry out their IIJA digital equity plans.

The program will be fully exhausted at the end of May.

Advocates propose merging digital discrimination reporting requirements with existing Broadband Data Collection.

NCTA urged the commission to seek input before concluding the practice should be blocked.

Roughly 35 million Americans lack home broadband internet.

This special NCTA-Broadband Breakfast hybrid event will shed light on broadband availability data across demographics.

Their Republican counterparts and conservative groups have opposed the agency's low-cost policies.

The RDOF winners point to unexpected surges in broadband construction costs occurring after the auction.

If providers opt to provide ACP benefits in May they may need to absorb some unexpected costs themselves.

An advocacy group on behalf of landlords and lenders argued the FCC should not ban bulking billing practices

Two experts discussed the roadblocks standing in the way of an ACP extension

Starks hailed the ACP as the most effective program to date in helping low-income Americans maintain online connectivity.

Continuing the ACP program can be justified, but only if it is meaningfully reformed to render it more fiscally responsible.

ACA Connects, the Rural Broadband Association NTCA, and WISPA issued a joint statement against them.

Bipartisan legislation aimed at extending the program remains at a standstill in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The suit filed Tuesday marks the third legal case to target the FCC’s digital discrimination rules since adopted in November.

According those responding to a December survey, 80 percent claimed affordability as the main barrier.

Even hardline conservatives should rally behind the ACP and the additional funding needed to keep the program alive.

Pallone was instrumental in securing funding to establish the COVID-era broadband subsidy initiative, commonly known as the Emergency Broadband Benefit.

When available, fewer eligible rural households took advantage of it than eligible urban households.

The digital inclusion program manager of KC Digital Drive made the comments on Wednesday.

The ACP’s expiration could slash access to quality news sources for low-income Americans, Anna Gomez argued.

Adoption of the disparate impact standard exceeds the FCC’s statutory authority, NCTA says.

In the city of brotherly love, the annual event builds on the theme 'I love digital equity.'

The survey highlighted concerns of 81 percent of households with schoolchildren about potential loss of the ACP.

Anna Gomez outlines why ending the ACP will be disastrous for low-income and rural families.

It is downright shocking that millions of low-income older adults will lose their broadband connection due to uncertainty of funding.

A Massachusetts city starts new program to help disadvantaged residents access Internet low-cost internet.

The company needs to be designed as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier to promote the Lifeline option, it said.

The FCC chairwoman reminded lawmakers the fund will freeze enrollments next Thursday, on February 8.

The mostly ceremonial move drew industry support.

Including broadband providers in the USF would likely cost consumers more, Rosenworcel said.

The city council unanimously voted to address concerns about digital discrimination and formulate new anti-discriminatory policies.

The first of a series of deadlines on Thursday signaled the onset of cutoff notices.

Or will it cut the cord for millions of Americans?

Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel used USAC data to highlight the high rate of new ACP signups.

Without action by Congress, the Affordable Connectivity Program is likely to run out of funds by April 2024.

The state is gearing up to receive money from the NTIA's digital equity capacity grant program.

What will happen to the agency’s rules that legally require ISPs to display broadband 'nutrition' labels that promote the ACP?

After February 7, the FCC is not going to require ISPs to accept ACP transfers.

The FCC order came a day after bipartisan legislation was introduced to extend ACP.

The remaining funds are anticipated to be depleted by May 2024, according to the ACP Dashboard tracker.

The internet subsidy for low-income households is set to dry up without Congressional action.

It is crucial to prioritize community solutions where service is offered in partnership with trusted community institutions.

Digital skills are a necessary foundation for workforce development, said panelists at the Nov. 14 event.

Officials from broadband funding programs emphasized the important of non-deployment projects at the Connect20 Summit in Washington.

A core component of Americans — about 20 percent — are not connected to the benefits of better broadband.

The program sets aside $14 million in ARPA funds for digital literacy and affordability efforts.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AT&T, Verizon, and industry trade groups met last week with commission staff to voice concerns.

The event is organized by NetworkOn, National Digital Inclusion Alliance and Broadband Breakfast, and sponsored by Comcast.

The internet subsidy dubbed the Affordable Connectivity Program is set to dry up as early as April 2024.

The rules would aim to prevent unequal broadband access along racial and class lines.

Disparate impacts, rather than discriminatory intent, should be the commission’s focus, the agency said.

A broadband connection opens a universe of opportunities and benefits for older adults that grows exponentially.

The nonprofit Connect and Literacy Fund is planning to increase ACP adoption in Mississippi.

Trade group says telecoms are not discriminating when they don’t build in financially difficult areas.

The effort is aimed at raising awareness about federal internet subsidies among housing assistance recipients.

Data reveal the program’s benefit is reaching the lowest income households

Digital Equity projects will be an ongoing effort for many states.

The benefit would go beyond tribes to other high cost locations.

Eligible Americans are not getting through the entire ACP application process, event hears.

Largest beneficiaries of ACP do not participate financially in federal programs designed to promote broadband adoption.

The ACP has connected millions of families and communities to high-speed internet, and it needs to be extended.

More than just access, new technology users also need help navigating software applications.

The USF needs to first be reformed for its own sustainability.

How many communities are leveraging their teen populations in the pursuit of broadband and digital equity?

Programs like the ACP and technologies like fixed wireless can play a key role in connecting older adults.

Speaking simply will improve community engagement in digital inclusion efforts.

There can be no standardization of digital equity approaches, agree panelists.

Engaging local communities can build trust, which is an important factor in increasing adoption.

What progress has been made toward universal broadband access?

NDIA Executive Director Angela Siefer zeroed in on the need for good data.

National Telecommunications and Information Administration is seeking comment on how to structure the programs.

FCC laws should not include unintentional acts of discrimination, say industry voices.

By working with existing entities like utilities, states can establish more effective state offices.

Digital Equity provisions are central to state broadband offices’ plans to implement the bipartisan infrastructure law.

BEAD requirements a unique opportunity for underrepresented communities to be involved in broadband builds.

Sen. Lujan once again voiced concern that the FCC’s national broadband map contains major inaccuracies.

The program is helping low-income households afford internet access, but some experts warn that the fund will soon be depleted.

Without efforts to drive adoption, federal investment in connectivity will fall short, agreed Brookings panelists.

The FCC requested input on allowing economic and technical feasibility exceptions to the definition.

According to analysis, the middle class spends on average $69 per month on internet service.

In 2021, the FCC charged the council in its mission to prevent digital discrimination.

‘The percentage of households in major metro areas…using the program is smaller than the percentage of households enrolled.’

55 percent of people surveyed were not confident in their ability to use the internet, a study found.

White House officials urged schools and other local institutions to engage in text-message and social media campaigns for the ACP.

Discussion on the “data gap” comes as the nation tries to connect the unserved and underserved.

Libraries can act as gateways to ensure community members know about their broadband subsidy options.

There are government programs created to shrink the digital divide, but not many Americans know what’s out there.

One of the biggest problems with getting broadband access to all Americans is not just deployment but adoption.

‘It’s about making sure wireless connections are available in 100 percent of rural America,’ said the chairwoman.

‘While the federal government’s infrastructure funding creates unique opportunities, it also exposes challenges that states and tribes must get in front of to ensure that funding is sustainable and implementation is effective.’

One of the primary responsibilities of being a faith leader is to listen to your community and understand its problems.

Digital literacy gap and lack of outreach are part of the digital divide.

Some lawyers say their clients are having a difficult time getting access to the legal system without connectivity.

The commission’s rules would prevent service providers from discriminating against customers.

ILSR and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance team up for two-hour livestream event on March 16 from 2-4 p.m. ET

The Equity and Diversity Council will study broadening anchor institution to include LGBT organizations.

The Affordable Connectivity Program, like its predecessor, has a challenge with outreach, a conference heard Thursday.

The grant will identify and fund rural and tribal community orgs.

The luminary emphasized literacy on cybersecurity and accessibility features for disabled individuals.

Getting to know cryptocurrencies and understanding social media among suggestions from the representative.

Older adults continue at a rapid pace to adopt tech that assists the aging process.

The National League of Cities said government leaders need to have ‘multiple points of engagement’ with communities.

Gary Bolton and Nicol Turner Lee debated technology use to tackle the digital divide.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes billions for states to expand digital inclusion efforts.

Tribal community leaders are concerned over the effectiveness of outreach methods the FCC uses to fund broadband in tribal libraries.

Rosenworcel also emphasized spectrum policy and getting connectivity to low-income Americans.

To work toward equal access, more affordable options must be created, including community-based solutions.

Most Americans benefitting from federal spending on rural broadband are white non-Hispanic Americans, says NDIA.

Panelists argued that lack of equitable digital access is deadly and driven by lack of competition.

FCC Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel said EBB will benefit tremendously from local outreach efforts.

Republicans threaten companies that comply with Democrats records request, Pew highlights the good in infrastructure bill, Connected Britain in person.

The $3.2 billion program provides broadband and device subsidies to eligible low-income households.

Webinar hears how critical mapping is to bridging the digital divide.

FTC mounts another complaint against Facebook, Amazon warns third-party sellers about antitrust, Tesla autopilot investigated.

Join Sunne Wright McPeak at 12 Noon ET on Wednesday for a discussion about the push for digital equity.

Mountain Connect looks to determine if the industry still has the stomach for in-person interactions as infections rise.

The Anti-Digital Redlining Act hopes to ensure low-income areas get equal broadband access.

Company head says scalable, gigabit future is a priority now to deal with future broadband challenges.

Craig Settles describes the important role that community institutions have played in promoting connectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leaked infra proposal has base 100 Mbps speeds, Apple’s phones getting 5G, Newsom signs broadband bill, FTC money recovery bill.

Libraries are a crucial “third space” between work and home and connective tissue in a democratic and egalitarian society.

Friday’s Gigabit Libraries Network conversation will feature Drew Clark of Broadband Breakfast and John Busby of BroadbandNow.

Huawei scoffs at FCC rip and replace, rural broadband bill moves in committee, franchise fees appeal, Calif. broadband bill integral.

Executive order would kickoff new antitrust and net neutrality regulations.

Without further word on what to expect in the bipartisan infrastructure framework, Doug Dawson examines what direction it could take.

Though the FCC has claimed that broadband figures are improving, BroadbandNow’s data paints a less favorable picture.

Black churches are more than spiritual gathering places: They are power centers within the Black community.

Sen. Murray re-introduces bi-partisan that would provide grants to states pushing for digital equity.

The report on new technologies and data lays out importance of data security and satellite communications.

The FCC’s May 10 order said schools and libraries could not use connectivity funds to build self-provisioned networks.

Libraries can do for telehealth what they did for broadband: Provide low-income folks with access to digital and healthcare literacy.

Biden willing to go $65B on broadband, Republican infrastructure plan, gigabit opportunity zone bill, David Ige’s telecom past.

In the wake of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, a new group emerges.

Experts argued for clearer communications and training for Americans not used to connectivity.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is designed to help economically disadvantaged households get reliable broadband at a subsidized rate.

Ivey announces $17 million to deploy broadband, Microsoft data for broadband map, and “Robin Hood” group involved in pipeline attack.

The House Energy and Commerce committee heard arguments that open access to networks is crucial for competition and affordability.

The speed of the broadband service used was only one component of the issues students faced.

Chairwoman Rosenworcel has been a longtime supporter of spectrum sharing, and these actions advance that aspect of her agenda.

Verizon is selling Yahoo and AOL, Florida going after social platforms, and Starry is getting in on EBB.

FCC acting chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said she hopes state legislatures change stance on muni builds.

Critics are unhappy about President Joe Biden’s $2.3-billion plan that includes prioritizing local builds.

A survey released earlier this month illustrates opportunities for remote work and care.

Digital liaisons who speak multiple languages can help guide multilingual communities for the digital future.

Launched last week, virt.com hopes to take advantage of the rise in virtual events by crowdsourcing them in one place.

April 5, 2021—The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Google on Monday morning in a copyright dispute that has spanned more than a decade, setting precedent for the fair use of programming. In a 6-2 decision (the case was heard before Justice Amy Coney Barrett had been confirmed), the Supreme Court agre

Over the past year, COVID-19 has upended lives and livelihoods and revealed the troubling breadth and scope of the digital divide. Despite the positive turn the pandemic is taking, millions remain unemployed and struggle to pay rent and put food on the table. They cannot afford basic broadband to ap

March 19, 2021—Broadband provider Starry Inc. and the non-profit group PCs for People launched a joint effort aimed at deploying affordable, robust, broadband coverage alongside discounted computer hardware to families living in public housing in Denver, Colorado. Starry, a fixed wireless broadband

March 8, 2021 – The California Emerging Technology Fund, a nonprofit foundation focused on digital equity in the state, called on internet service providers and business leaders to form public-private partnerships to close the digital divide under President Joe Biden. “America can close the Digital

“Everybody ought to have access to a computer; everybody ought to have access to the internet; everybody ought to know how to use it.” President Bill Clinton said this more than 20 years ago to an auditorium full of students at Frank W. Ballou Senior High School in Washington, D.C. Much of the speec

February 23, 2021 – Texas education commissioner Mike Morath declared in January that the state “basically completely closed” the digital divide in students’ access to take-home computers. This was largely due to the massive state and local purchases amid the pandemic. Texas’ public school districts

February 23, 2021 – AT&T CEO John Stankey said on Tuesday afternoon that the E-Rate program that subsidizes internet for libraries and schools should be extended to homes, following a call by other leaders who say the pandemic has made this an obvious move. Stankey said the pandemic should be an opp

February 22, 2021 – Jessica Rosenworcel, acting chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission, on Monday released proposed rules governing the implementation of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. If adopted by the agency, the program would unleash $3.2 billion of federal initiative for q

February 22, 2021 – Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said the federal government’s emergency program that subsidizes internet service for low-income households has been a major benefit for the Black community. Starks said the program, which provides $3.2 billion over six months to

February 16, 2021 – Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program is currently a top priority for the regulatory agency. The FCC has 60 days to determine how best to allocate the money from the program intended to reach “more disconnect

February 12, 2021— The Biden administration has the opportunity to do what his predecessors failed to: Take a different tack on broadband that will include considering it critical infrastructure, experts say. “We have to look at [broadband] adoption and digital literacy and affordability,” said Anna

February 10, 2021— House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said the committee he heads will be focusing on broadband expansion, affordability and adoption. He said that the committee will focus on three primary goals: Universal broadband, particularly insofar that inner-c

February 8, 2021—The former head of the National Telecommunications Infrastructure Administration is recommending the government expand the E-Rate subsidy program, which provides discounts to access the internet, to households. The current version of the legislation only allows for the E-Rate progra

February 8, 2021—On the 25th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said that Congress should revisit the law to address modern demands for broadband and bringing service to underserved communities. The Telecom Act had many

January 29, 2021—FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced Thursday that she will convene a virtual roundtable discussion on February 12, 2021 to gather public input on how to structure the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. The $3.2 billion initiative, funded through Congressional appro

While the bulk of the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All (AAIA) Act proposes to invest $100 billion to expand broadband access in unserved and underserved parts of the country, the legislation also looks to build an essential bridge across the digital divide that goes beyond new infrastructure.

If you have been following our series on the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, you already know the proposed legislation calls for a $100 billion investment in expanding broadband access and affordability in unserved and underserved parts of the country. In this fourth installment of the

December 18, 2020 — During the most recent meeting of the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, on Thursday, volunteer members of the Increasing Broadband Investment in Low-Income Communities Working Group proposed revisions to a recommendations report, after t

December 11, 2020 – Last week we began our broad overview of the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, sweeping legislation that calls for a $100 billion investment in broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved parts of the country, as well as federal funding and coordinated support

December 2, 2020 – As House GOP leaders ask the Government Accountability Office to audit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect program because of concerns federal funds are being used to “overbuild,” Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have filed legislation that aims to build

Facial recognition technology has malfunctioned more frequently for people of color, Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said at the Multicultural Media Telecom and Internet Council event on Wednesday. “Dirty data is a big problem,” he said, and defined that term as missing or wrong

November 17, 2020 — A group of broadband enthusiasts on Friday urged a new national broadband plan and that the nation act on addressing issues of digital equity. “The time for action is now,” said Sunne Wright McPeak, CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund, which co-hosted the virtual forum

November 10, 2020 – Broadband needs to be central to efforts to improve education in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, educators and experts said Monday as they dispensed advice to the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. “’No child left of

November 6, 2020 — Members of the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee voted on October 29-30 on reports and recommendations from committee’s three working groups. The body approved reports completed by the staff of the working groups on Disaster Response and R

November 3, 2020 – The digital divides of language and gender are too often overlooked in considering matters associated with the digital divide, particularly globally, said panelists at a Wilson Center event on Friday. “The biggest internet barrier to entry is translation,” said University of Calif

October 27, 2020 – Prepaid broadband might be a good alternative for those who need connectivity but aren’t in a position to commit to a full broadband plan, panelists said at the Technology Policy Institute virtual summit on Thursday. Ceri Howes, regulatory head at mobile analytics company Opensign

October 13, 2020 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Thursday recognized Karen Peltz Strauss, Claude Stout, Tom Wlodkowski at an awards ceremony on the tenth anniversary of the Communications and Video Accessibility Act. “Democracy is not a state–it is an act,” declared Pai, sta

October 9, 2020 – The United States Distance Learning Association will be hosting the 2020 Annual Legislative Policy Forum as a virtual event on Friday, October 9, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. The theme for the discussion is “Broadband Inequity.” Registration is free and open to the public.

October 6, 2020 — The National Digital Inclusion Alliance and the Communications Workers of America put AT&T under the microscope during a webinar on Monday as they examined millions of Americans left without affordable broadband. Specifically, the panelists targeted what they described as “digital

October 4, 2020 – Access to technology is the biggest thing preventing Congress from making progress on COVID-19 relief, said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. Rodgers, speaking at a Washington Post livestream event on Wednesday, said that Rodgers said that constituents in her district were excit

October 1, 2020 — On Thursday, as part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 50th annual Legislative Conference, a panel of experts on the intersection of technology, race, and structural inequity, gathered virtually to discuss the future of inclusivity and diversity in the tech industry. “

September 24, 2020 – The pandemic is not a pause, but a reset on the future of work, agreed panelists Gary Bolles, a chair at Singularity University, and Matt Dunne, founder and executive director of the Center on Rural Innovation. “Many are talking about this pandemic as a pause, but I see this as

September 4, 2020 – Government support will be needed to bridge the digital divide, said US Telecom  CEO Jonathan Spalter and Amy Hinojosa, CEO of the national Latina organization MANA speaking on Tuesday at an AT&T policy forum. Ed Gillespie, senior executive vice president of AT&T, further request

August 6, 2020 — The Federal Communications Commission established bidding procedures for a coming C-Band auction and moved to reform rates for inmate calling services during its August open meeting on Thursday. Auction 107 will open additional C-Band spectrum in the 3.7-3.98 GHz band. The motion in

August 6, 2020 – Former Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said that the FCC does not have the authority to clarify Section 230, speaking in a wide-ranging Broadband Breakfast Live Online interview on Wednesday. The event, part of Broadband Breakfast’s “Champions of Broadband” series

August 3, 2020 — Libraries are important tools for increasing internet access during the coronavirus pandemic, said participants in an Federal Communications Commission workshop Monday. Rudy Brioché, vice president for global public policy at Comcast, said that conversations about current legislativ

July 23, 2020 — The COVID-19 pandemic brought Washington D.C. together in many respects, including technology and health, according to Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., ranking member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In a virtual town hall, Walden and former Federal Communications Commissioner

July 15, 2020 — The November election will be extremely vulnerable to widespread voter suppression, making it increasingly important for states to have robust plans for both absentee and in-person voting, said Brookings Institution panelists Wednesday. On what was formerly scheduled to be the third

July 14, 2020 — Libraries have a unique opportunity to respond to the coronavirus and are well equipped to assist vulnerable populations, said participants in a Route Fifty webinar Tuesday. Felton Thomas, executive director and CEO of the Cleveland Public Library, said that his library played an imp

July 7, 2020 — “The digital divide is just one of many systematic changes we need to make,” said Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks on a Tuesday webinar centered on achieving nationwide digital equity and inclusion. The “digital divide” is not a new phenomenon, but one termed almost

June 30, 2020 — When internet historians look back on the present day, Tuesday may end up being known as “Disconnection Day.” That’s because thousands, and perhaps millions, of people across the country will lose broadband access with the sunsetting of the Federal Communications Commission’s “Keep A

June 25, 2020 — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Thursday reiterated how important it is to the agency to close the digital divide. Closing the divide has been at the top of his list of priorities since he first joined the agency, Pai said during a speech at Carnegie Mellon Uni

June 11, 2020 — A survey from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, conducted in November 2019, is a crucial snapshot of internet usage in America prior to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, revealing a continued gap in bandwidth access.  The report is the 15th edition

June 5, 2020 — Tri-Co Connections, a subsidiary of Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, has taken the rural digital divide in Pennsylvania into its own hands through not only fiber broadband buildout but community collaboration and a hands-on class for senior citizens. According to Bill Gerski, se

June 4, 2020 — Cities must continuously adapt their strategies to provide technology services to the disadvantaged segments of their populations, said participants in an Urban Institute webinar Thursday. The coronavirus has thrown a wrench in the career aspirations of millions across the United Stat

April 29, 2020— Members of the Federal Communication Commission’s working group on digital empowerment and inclusion highlighted the role that libraries can play in closing the so-called “homework gap” on a webinar hosted by the agency on Tuesday. The homework gap, a term often used by fiery FCC Com

April 22, 2020—In order to curb the homework gap in the age of coronavirus, Congress must not focus on providing one particular broadband technology but instead should employ “whatever works,” Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said Tuesday. Speaking in a webinar hosted by the I

April 10, 2020 – Participants in a Brookings Institution meeting on Zoom expressed interest in an off-hand comment FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel made about deploying Wi-Fi-enabled buses to provide hot-spots for rural students. Nicol Turner Lee, a fellow at Brookings’ Center for Technology Inn

April 2, 2020 – “It’s really unfortunate that it has taken a national emergency, a worldwide pandemic, for people to realize how many people don’t have access to broadband internet,” said Georgetown Law Distinguished Fellow Gigi Sohn on a Broadband Breakfast Live Online event Tuesday. When she testi

April 1, 2020 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced on Thursday an effort to open the 6 GigaHertz (GHz) band to unlicensed sharing of radiofrequency spectrum by Wi-Fi devices. The goal of the effort is to accommodate a dramatic increase in internet use. The proposed rules w

March 31, 2020 – Private-public partnerships are coming to the rescue in the fight against the digital divide and homework gap, writes Kim Hart and Margaret Harding McGill for Axios. Internet Service Providers, non-profits, and companies across the United States are donating devices, providing broad

March 26, 2020 – Broadband access is both an affordability and availability issue, and it is one that undeniably affects school-age children during the coronavirus school closures, said Virginia Department of Education Learning Infrastructure Coordinator Susan Clair during the Broadband Breakfast Li

March 25, 2020 – Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., along with several other colleagues, announced the Keeping Critical Connections Act to help rural America connect to broadband during the coronavirus crisis. “The Keeping Critical Connections Act would help small broadband providers continue offering fre

March 23, 2020 – Ramping up the pressure to ensure that the stimulus measure in Congress has a broadband component, Free Press released a statement Monday urging Congress to dedicate $100 billion in broadband connectivity during the coronavirus pandemic. Some have criticized the relief bill in Congr

March 23, 2020 – As Americans shoulder on in self-quarantine, one thing is painfully clear — America needs a quick and stable solution to connecting the millions who do not have broadband access. That was the conclusion that emerged from a panel of experts and practitioners working in broadband and

March 23, 2020 – Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld takes issue with the Federal Communications Commission’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge—it does not help Americans who do not have broadband and 60 days of no late fees might not be long enough. Feld argues that broadband access is

Broadband Breakfast Live Online on Monday, March 23, 12 Noon ET – “Free and Low Cost Internet Plans During the Coronavirus Crisis” – What should ISPs do to ensure connectivity for all? Follow upcoming Live Online events, see Broadband Breakfast Live Online Will Stream Daily in March on ‘Broadband an

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2020 – Panelists at the INCOMPAS policy summit Tuesday looked back with fondness on the Federal Communication Commission’s National Broadband Plan that was released 10 years ago this month. They agreed that if the plan is refreshed, the FCC should not be the lone agency to lead

Apple consented to a settlement of $500 million for not disclosing “that iOS artificially limited processor speeds as phone batteries aged,” reports Adi Robertson for The Verge. Because Apple users did not know about the feature that “was meant to stop real problems with performance,” they purchased

A report published by tech.co on Wednesday ranks and categorizes the countries with the highest internet censorship. Among the reports most salient findings: Turkmenistan, North Korea, and China earned the top three spots, in decreasing order of censorship. Many popular vacation destinations like Vi

“The future of our economy is dependent upon how we treat our most vulnerable communities, including those most susceptible to job displacement/job disruption,” Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said at a Tuesday roundtable on the future of work. Highlighting the job-loss concerns

WASHINGTON, February 10, 2020 – Advocates for technology accessibility for the disabled communities boasted of new technologies like Xfinity X1 Eye Control devices and augmented reality while considering the varying needs across the disabled demographic on Monday. The panel convened at an event host

WASHINGTON, February 5, 2020 – The chancellor of a key land-grant university system on Wednesday proposed a way to modernize these universities through a system of digital inclusion aimed at revitalizing the heartland. Speaking at the New American think tank, Chancellor of the North Dakota Universit

U.S. infrastructure hasn’t been able to keep up with the country’s demand to connect, according to a new report surveying the past decade and future 10 years by BroadbandNow. Despite promising gains in metrics like wired broadband connectivity and high-speed coverage, the report highlights the exten

WASHINGTON, January 30, 2020 –Advocates for digital inclusion on Wednesday encouraged Congress to pass the Digital Equity Act and fund state and local efforts to close the digital divide. The Digital Equity Act would allocate funding at the state and local level to bolster digital literacy. At a hea

WASHINGTON, January 23, 2020 – The digital divide is a real division in the country, affects more than just rural areas and keeps Americans from crucial access to 21st Century skills, a diverse panel of digital inclusion experts said Thursday at an event here hosted by Next Century Cities. The digit

Most attempts to close the digital divide through smart city digital inclusion fall short of their overpromising corporate rhetoric, argues Burcu Baykurt for the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society. Digital inclusion is “the idea that nobody in the city should be deprived of digital technolog

House Energy Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., sent a letter Monday to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai regarding the lack of transparency in the FCC’s approval of the T-Mobile-Sprint merger. Pallone and Nad

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday that his office reached a settlement with T-Mobile, resolving the state’s antitrust claims against the proposed merger of mobile wireless telecommunications service providers Sprint and T-Mobile. The terms of the agreement commit the new T-Mobile to

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, November 1, 2019 – High-speed broadband has the potential to be the “great equalizer,” said Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks at a regional Broadband Communities event Thursday. However, more work needs to be done in connecting and empowering underserved commu

WASHINGTON, November 1, 2019 – Strategies that include and support historically underserved groups are necessary to address America’s digital divide, broadband experts said at Thursday’s Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council conference. In a keynote question and answer session, former Fe

ARLINGTON, Virginia, October 17, 2019 – Federal Communication Commissioner Geoffrey Starks summarized his keynote message to the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition’s #AnchorNets2019 with a simple scoreboard: FCC’s broadband maps-0, Libraries as anchor institutions serving communities-

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday announced that it had authorized $112.2 million in funding over ten years to expand broadband to nearly 48,000 unserved rural homes and businesses in nine states. This is the fifth wave of support from last year’s Connect America Fund Phase II auctio

Gene Crick, a longtime broadband evangelist, died of a heart attack at home in Bastrop, Texas, on August 15. Gene spent more than four decades advocating for broadband in the United States and around the world. He set up the first free public internet facilities in Texas, designed grant programs for

Ten cities have been recognized this year as Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, Tyler Cooper from BroadbandNow reports. 21 million Americans still lack access to a broadband-level internet connection, and roughly 146 million people do not have access to a low-priced plan for residential wired broadband

Income is the most significant factor contributing to low broadband adoption rates, according to an analysis (PDF) released this month by the California Public Utilities Commission. Only about half of households in census tracts with a median annual income level of less than $20,000 have in-home bro

ARLINGTON, Virginia – June 18, 2019 – Comprehensive legislation addressing accessibility is necessary to ensure that information technology is available to a wider group of people, particularly to people with disabilities, said panelists speaking at the M-Enabling Summit here on Tuesday. Innovations

Currently, 1.45 million residents of rural Texas lack high-speed internet connections, but a program launched on Wednesday by Connected Texas, a subsidiary of the national nonprofit Connected Nation, will attempt to change that. Connected Texas is taking a three-step approach over the next two years

“The lack of adequate broadband has become a crisis in rural areas,” Isanti County Broadband Task Force Member Greg Carlson said at a field hearing in the rural Minnesota town of Scania on Thursday. The hearing, entitled “Small Businesses and Their Limitations Without Reliable Access to Rural Broadb

Approximately 1.6 million residents of rural Georgia currently lack high-speed internet access, but this could change under a new state broadband plan (PDF) released this month, AJC reported. According to Georgia officials, this will have a major impact on schools, hospitals, farmers, and more. The

WASHINGTON, August 7, 2018 – Many in the broadband industry commenting on broadband availability data exposed the weaknesses of current Federal Communications Commission data – and not only in the data itself but in the process by which it is collected. The Commerce Department’s National Telecommuni

PITTSBURGH, July 30, 2018 – Many broadband experts speaking at the Next Century Cities regional summit here said last week that city jurisdiction should take precedence over federal rules in ensuring impactful broadband deployment. The conference highlighted some of these local voices, eager for bro

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2018 – After months of seemingly-unending scandal over his company’s role in the 2018 election, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg began his first of two days of testimony on Capitol Hill Tuesday by making it clear he was well aware of the laundry list of problems with the company he

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2018 – Local government officials seeking to offer a corrective tonic on broadband deployment to the Federal Communications Commission may consider applying for the expanded Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. Nominations for the more-than-10-year-old group are due on Monday,

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: Telemedicine is one of the most immediately needed high-bandwidth broadband applications, and it promises concrete and easy-to-see benefits. Yet its usage had limited by occupational licensing. In this policy report, CATO Institute Adjunct Scholar Shirley Svorny lays out

WASHINGTON, November 21, 2017 — The White House on Friday defended the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to prevent telecommunications service resellers like TracPhone and Simply Wireless from participating in the Universal Service Fund Lifeline program, and to restrict participation in t

WASHINGTON, November 16, 2017 — In a move harshly condemned by Democrats and consumer advocates, the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted along party lines to significantly restrict the Universal Service Fund’s Lifeline program, which provides subsidies to enable lower-income consumer

WASHINGTON, June 18, 2017 – Internet freedom has declined worldwide for six consecutive years, said Stuart Brotman, a nonresident fellow at the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution, citing Freedom House at a panel Wednesday. The panel about global internet freedom under the

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2017 — Despite myriad public events and a soundbyte-friendly title of “Infrastructure Week,” last week the White House was light on infrastructure and nearly empty of plans to build out 21st century digital infrastructure of fiber or wireless broadband. “There’s not going to be

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2017 – Champions, partnerships and flexibility are necessary to bring fiber-optic networks to less-populated communities, said participants involved in launching such a network in Kent County, Maryland. Speaking at a Friday panel was hosted at the Schools Health and Libraries Bro

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2017 – Providing broadband service to schools, libraries and other nonprofit organizations is more difficult than commercial customers because of the way they struggle with funding, said Katherine Messier of Mobile Beacon at a Friday panel at the 2017 conference of the Schools, H

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

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: A new report from the Haas Institute raises the question that’s been lurking behind the important-to-significant fiber rollouts over the past decade by Verizon, Google and AT&T: Are these providers cherry-picking their neighborhoods? This report drills deeply into AT&T’s

DALLAS, April 25, 2017 – What kind of workplaces and economic environment are rural areas likely to experience in the future? At the Rural Telecommunications Congress program here at the 2017 Broadband Communities Summit next week, two of the sessions on Wednesday, May 3, will feature address that q

You are invited to join NTIA’s BroadbandUSA team today for a webinar discussing: Strategies for Broadband Adoption and Digital Inclusion in Rural Communities Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2017 Time: 2:00pm ET Overview:  This webinar will focus on strategies to promote broadband adoption and digital inc

DALLAS, April 6, 2017 – The Rural Telecommunications Congress program at the 2017 Broadband Communities Summit here on May 1-4, 2017, will feature panelists on the Universal Service Administrative Corporation’s role in bringing broadband to underserved and unserved communities, the role of broadband

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2017 – Despite high hopes that President Trump’s campaign promise for a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill would lead to additional investment in high-speed internet access, it appears that broadband deployment and accessibility is taking a back seat in Congress to brick-and mo

WASHINGTON, January 26, 2017 – In his first substantive action since being named to his position on Tuesday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced approval of the petition by New York State’s broadband program to access the Connect America Fund. The agency’s full press releas

WASHINGTON, September 16, 2015 – State broadband entities and commissions continue to plan an important role in fostering economic development and digital learning, according to a recent report from the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy. The report, “State-Level Broadband Po

Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition Conference [https://broadbandbreakfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/shlb_2015_masthead_print-1024x256.jpg]https://broadbandbreakfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/shlb_2015_masthead_print.jpg WASHINGTON, May 18, 2015 – More than five years after

WASHINGTON, November 19, 2014 – Although some believe that the digital divide is not a problem, there are Americans who have not adopted broadband due to the cost or lack of access. Some states have played an active role in getting their citizens online, and one such organization is the California E

WASHINGTON, October 13, 2014 – As technology permeates society, students are growing more comfortable with learning in the technology medium. Whether it’s organizing tables in Microsoft’s Excel, learning design software, or computer programming, there are increasingly fewer excuses to avoid technolo

A panel of experts discussed the causes and possible solutions of the wealth gap that exists between whites and minorities at the Minority Media and Telecom Council’s eleventh annual Access to Capital and Telecom Policy Conference on Tuesday. Maureen Lewis, Director of the Minority Telecommunication

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2013 – The Minority Media and Telecom Council began its eleventh annual Access to Capital and Telecom Policy Conference with a lunch panel of legislators discussing efforts to increase minority access on Tuesday. In his keynote speech, Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-NC, discussed effo

WASHINGTON, June 20 2012 – Celebrating the fifth presidential cycle that the internet has played a role in the political campaign process, political pundits, strategists and communications experts came together Tuesday morning to analyze the next phase of the internet on the campaign trail.  After 2

Last year, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recognized the role of technology in strengthening this country’s economy by investing 7.2 million in funding into technology and broadband adoption initiatives through the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP

WASHINGTON June 14, 2011- The One Economy Corporation, in conjunction with AT&T, announced the winners of the “Applications for Good” contest on Tuesday. “Technology is important, but today’s event shows that what really matters is how people, families and communities use technology to make their l

DALLAS, April 28, 2011 – One Economy CEO, Kelley Dunne, and representatives from AT&T delivered a joint keynote address at the Broadband Properties Summit on Tuesday, touting the power of broadband to facilitate the innovation economy and empower minority populations. “I believe [broadband] is chan

BOSTON, April 11, 2011 – Speaking to a standing-room only crowd on Friday afternoon, Federal Communications Commissioners Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn addressed media consolidation and broadband deployment before fielding questions at a town hall meeting during Free Press’s National Conference f

WASHINGTON March 2, 2011 – Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies held a panel on Wednesday on how the federal government should promote broadband adoption and access to underserved communities. The panel served as an update the National Broadband Plan, which came out one year ago.

WASHINGTON, November 9, 2010 – After a year of data crunching and analysis, the Commerce Department has released a report titled “Exploring the Digital Nation Home Broadband Internet Adoption in the United States,” concluding that a digital divide still exists but is decreasing.

WASHINGTON, October 6, 2010 – The final day of the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference looked at broadband adoption and universality. The problems addressed are key in helping the government determine how broadband is being adopted and where intervention is necessary.

WASHINGTON, September 7, 2010 – The Federal Communications Commission late last week laid out part of its plan to reform the universal service fund, including pushing Sprint and Nextel to live up to their commitments to surrender their high-cost universal support over five years.

WASHINGTON, September 2, 2010 – The Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights has offered its suggestions to the government on how to improve the access of low-income, minority and other underserved communities to important communications services like broadband.

WASHINGTON, August 24, 2010 – The Federal Communications Commission is headed out to Los Angeles next week to host a forum, a consumer awareness Fair and release translations of the National Broadband Plan’s executive summary in six Asian languages.

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2010- Market barriers to minority and small business owners must be removed so that they can compete in the global marketplace says Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski.

WASHINGTON, July 19, 2010- Three Federal Communications Commissioners Robert McDowell, Meredith Baker, and Mignon Clyburn encouraged use of the internet and new media applications to assist minorities and women entrepreneurs and connect them to financial resources.

Ensuring that all Americans have access to broadband is about more than ensuring high-speed Internet connectivity, said a non-profit organization promoting a philosophy of “digital inclusion.”