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Broadband Breakfast Live Online Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 23: Innovations of 2020

Published

3 years ago

December 18, 2020

Our Broadband Breakfast Live Online events take place every Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. You can watch the December 23, 2020, event on this page. You can also PARTICIPATE in the current Broadband Breakfast Live Online event. REGISTER HERE.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020, 12 Noon ET — “Broadband Breakfast Live Online Holiday Party: Innovations of 2020”

For December 23, 2020, and December 30, 2020, Broadband Breakfast Live Online is looking back, and projecting forward. What has the year 2020 taught us about Better Broadband, Better Lives? What predictions and hopes do you have for broadband in the year 2021? We are looking to showcase broadband innovation from 2020, as well as projects and activities from across the country (and around the globe). We are looking to educate, analyze and inspire! Please reach out to Drew Clark at drew@breakfast.media. Be prepared to speak for three to five minutes about your innovation from 2020!

WATCH HERE, or on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Panelists include:

If you have a broadband innovation from 2020 that you would like to share, please email Drew Clark at drew@breakfast.media. Be prepared to speak for three to five minutes about your experiment, project or innovative activity from 2020!
Matthew Snider, Managing Director, Business Development, Centri Tech
Brett Glass, Lariat.net
Chris Mitchell, Director, Community Broadband Networks, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Sean Gonsalves, Senior Reporter, Editor and Researcher, Community Broadband Networks, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Brian Rathbone, Co-founder and Partner, Broadband Catalysts
Kimberly McKinley, Chief Marketing Officer, UTOPIA Fiber
David Gilford, Principal, HR&A Advisors
Craig Settles, Gigabit Now
Drew Clark (Moderator), Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Presenter resources

HR&A Advisors and CTC Technology & Energy – together as the Broadband Equity Partnership – are conducting a survey for government and non-profit broadband leaders to shape priorities for broadband investment and equity in the Biden-Harris administration. They will be working with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society to publish the results of this survey and plan to communicate to the new administration and communities about these issues. Findings will be analyzed in aggregate, with all individual responses kept confidential.
The Broadband Equity Partnership is seeking responses from State and local government leaders – including CTOs, CIOs, Economic Development heads, and other decision-makers – and non-profit leaders working with the public sector. They would be most grateful if you would share the link widely with your networks. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and will be open through midnight on January 8, 2021: https://broadbandequity.org/survey
If you have any questions, the survey administrators can be reached at survey@broadbandequity.org. The survey has the potential to impact translating federal policy to locally-based solutions.

As with all Broadband Breakfast Live Online events, the FREE webcast will take place at 12 Noon ET on Wednesday.

SUBSCRIBE to the Broadband Breakfast YouTube channel. That way, you will be notified when events go live. Watch on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

See a complete list of upcoming and past Broadband Breakfast Live Online events.

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Broadband Breakfast Live Online New Year’s Party on Wednesday, December 30: Predictions for 2021

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Broadband Breakfast Staff

Broadband Breakfast is a decade-old news organization based in Washington that is building a community of interest around broadband policy and internet technology, with a particular focus on better broadband infrastructure, the politics of privacy and the regulation of social media. Learn more about Broadband Breakfast.

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Broadband Breakfast on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 – Recap of the Digital Infrastructure Investment Summit

This session of Broadband Breakfast Live Online will recap the full-day conference on Tuesday, December 5.

Published

13 hours ago

December 6, 2023

Broadband Breakfast Staff

Our Broadband Breakfast Live Online events take place on Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. Watch the event on Broadband Breakfast, or REGISTER HERE to join the conversation.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023 – Recap of the Digital Infrastructure Investment Summit

With the annual Digital Infrastructure Investment Summit behind us, we’ll review some of the high points of the event, including the keynote by COS Systems CEO Mikael Philipsson, the panel on open access, and the panel on BEAD Deployment. Broadband Breakfast CEO Drew Clark will recap the core insights. (Please note: The Space Wars Broadband Breakfast Live Online has been rescheduled for a future date.)

State Broadband Officials Gear Up for Map Challenges as Some Still Concerned About Resources

PANEL 1: INVESTMENT IN AND BEYOND BEAD

Broadband infrastructure expansion hinges on the availability of sufficient funding, be it from federal, state, local, or private channels. Beyond the hundreds of millions (and frequently billions) of dollars earmarked for each state under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, internet service providers must also obtain at least 25% of the project’s cost in matching funds. Where will this funding come from? What implications does this requirement hold for smaller and municipal providers? And, for those ISPs not interested in BEAD, what financing opportunities are available now that weren’t there previously?

PANEL 2: SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE FUTURE OF VERTICAL REAL ESTATE

Urbanization and smart city deployments are among the trends driving the transformation of shared infrastructure. The post-pandemic surge in remote work and the nationwide push for universal and affordable high-speed internet access, generally through fiber, raises an important question: What’s next for “vertical infrastructure”? How is wireless infrastructure being capitalized? How is wireless infrastructure connected to fiber builds? Are small-cell deployments proceeding vigorously? And what role will “managed services” within multiple dwelling units, commercial and enterprise environments play in driving smart and hybrid networks?

PANEL 3: DEVELOPMENTS IN OPEN ACCESS: IS CHANGE IN THE OFFING?

The United States is still early in its experimentation with open access networks. But countries including Sweden have seen widespread success in implementing this model. Open access networks aim to deliver affordable and high-speed internet even to remote, low-return areas. But various policy and operational challenges are often needed before this model can see the fullest adoption. With an array of new market developments in the United States from both incumbents, scrappy equity-based investors and municipalities, does the future for open access on these shores look brighter?

PANEL 4: INTERNET EXCHANGE POINTS AND THE NEXT STEP FOR DATA CENTERS

Substantial investments are directed by the BEAD program toward last-mile fiber infrastructure. Middle mile, backhaul access and data centers almost seem left out of the current conversation. Despite this lower profile, ISPs seeking to deploy better broadband understand all too well the significance of internet exchange points that facilitate the exchange of data between various networks. They are vital to reducing latency and lowering costs. Notably, 14 U.S. states and 3 territories currently lack IXPs. What obstacles do IXPs face? How will more IXPs facilitate the data center and cloud computing revolutions? What’s next for IXPs and data centers?

PRIOR DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT SUMMITS

Digital Infrastructure Investment 2023

Digital Infrastructure Investment 2022–Washington

Digital Infrastructure Investment 2022–Houston

Digital Infrastructure Investment 2021

Digital Infrastructure Investment 2020

Breakfast Media LLC CEO Drew Clark has led the Broadband Breakfast community since 2008. An early proponent of better broadband, better lives, he initially founded the Broadband Census crowdsourcing campaign for broadband data. As Editor and Publisher, Clark presides over the leading media company advocating for higher-capacity internet everywhere through topical, timely and intelligent coverage. Clark also served as head of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois, a state broadband initiative.

WATCH HERE, or on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

As with all Broadband Breakfast Live Online events, the FREE webcasts will take place at 12 Noon ET on Wednesday.

SUBSCRIBE to the Broadband Breakfast YouTube channel. That way, you will be notified when events go live. Watch on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

See a complete list of upcoming and past Broadband Breakfast Live Online events.

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Experts Still Disagree on FCC’s New Digital Discrimination Rules

The FCC rules have drawn strong pushback from industry groups and praise from Democratic leadership.

Published

1 week ago

November 29, 2023

Jake Neenan

Screenshot of the panel.

WASHINGTON, November 29, 2023 – Experts disagreed on Wednesday on the potential impacts of the Federal Communications Commission’s new digital discrimination rules.

The 2021 Infrastructure Act mandated that the FCC develop rules to address gaps in broadband access based on race, income level, and other characteristics, known as digital discrimination. The commission approved such rules on November 15, adopting a “disparate impact” standard for identifying digital discrimination. That means it will scrutinize practices that result in disparate broadband access for protected groups, regardless of whether that result was intended by providers.

Harold Feld, senior vice president at public interest group Public Knowledge, said at a Broadband Breakfast Live Online event that the rules would remedy the “worst and most visible disparities” in broadband access.

“The situation where you have an ISP offering fiber in the suburbs and 25-year-old DSL in the urban core, I think that is the sort of situation that will be addressed,” he said.

The commission will have its full suite of enforcement actions available to sanction companies it finds to be in violation of the rules. Those investigations will be initiated through an informal complaint process.

Randy May, founder of the conservative Free State Foundation, said he thought the rules would result in the FCC “micromanaging” broadband providers and discouraging investment at a time when the government is making a historic effort to expand internet access.

That’s an argument that AT&T, Verizon, and multiple industry groups made to commission staff in a lobbying push throughout the rulemaking process. They said a disparate impact analysis would result in companies being sanctioned for routine business practices and disincentivize broadband deployments.

Feld said fears about the rules impacting the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, the Biden administration’s $42.5 billion broadband expansion effort, were unfounded. The rules exempt companies receiving money from BEAD or the Universal Service Fund, an FCC subsidy, under the assumption that the terms of those programs already prevent disparate deployments.

“If anything, the order has created an incentive to participate in these federal programs,” he said. “If you think you’re going to be stuck in some kind of rate proceeding, then take BEAD money and provide service to these communities.”

Our Broadband Breakfast Live Online events take place on Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. Watch the event on Broadband Breakfast, or REGISTER HERE to join the conversation.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 – FCC’s Digital Discrimination Order

The FCC just struck the gavel on a set of rules aimed at holding telecom companies accountable for business practices that result in digital discrimination, whether intentional or not. This decision has intensified an ongoing debate that began when the rule proposal was initially released for public comment in December 2022. Congressional Democrats, civil rights groups, and internet advocacy organizations support the Democrat-led agency, emphasizing the “disparate impact” standard of the rules to ensure universal access to broadband. On the other hand, telecom companies, trade groups, and their allies express concerns about the potential chilling effect these rules might have on broadband investment nationwide. What are the practical impacts of digital discrimination rules on broadband rollouts? Will the rules ensure equitable internet access for all Americans?

Panelists

Harold Feld, Senior Vice President, Public Knowledge
Nicol Turner-Lee, Director of the Center for Technology Innovation, Brookings Institution
Randy May, Founder and President, the Free State Foundation
Drew Clark (moderator), Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Panelist resources

FCC Approves Strong Digital Discrimination Rules, Broadband Breakfast, November 15, 2023
Sen. Schumer, Democrats, FCC Chairwoman Tout Anti-Discrimination Rules, Broadband Breakfast, November 15, 2023
The FCC’s Digital Discrimination Order: An Overreach in Pursuit of a Worthy Goal, Free State Foundation
FSF Comments Explain Why the FCC Is About to Commit to Conducting Utility-Style Rate Cases
FCC Comments Explain How the FCC Should Interpret Economic Feasibility, Free State Foundation

WATCH HERE, or on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

As with all Broadband Breakfast Live Online events, the FREE webcasts will take place at 12 Noon ET on Wednesday.

SUBSCRIBE to the Broadband Breakfast YouTube channel. That way, you will be notified when events go live. Watch on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

See a complete list of upcoming and past Broadband Breakfast Live Online events.

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Broadband Breakfast on December 20, 2023 – Space Wars: What to Expect from Satellite Broadband

SpaceX and Amazon are poised to blanket the skies with thousands more satellites.

Published

1 week ago

November 26, 2023

Broadband Breakfast Staff

Our Broadband Breakfast Live Online events take place on Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. Watch the event on Broadband Breakfast, or REGISTER HERE to join the conversation.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 – Space Wars: What to Expect from Satellite Broadband

As satellite internet providers like SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper continue expanding, the race for space-based broadband is heating up. With the FCC approving SpaceX’s Gen2 satellite deployment and Amazon testing prototype launches, these companies are poised to blanket the skies with thousands more satellites. What are the implications of this new phase, particularly the potential for interference issues, orbital debris concerns and 5G backhaul capabilities? What about the regulatory and policy questions surrounding mega-constellations and space commercialization? Will satellite broadband address the current digital divide, potentially on a global scale? Join the discussion for informed perspectives on the path forward amid the space broadband boom.

Panelists

Kelly Martin, Account Director, Eutelsat OneWeb
Drew Clark (moderator), Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Kelly Martin is Director for OneWeb servicing government segments including government grant programs, federal government, state & local, and international defense. OneWeb’s go-to-market strategy is through distribution partners. In her director role, Kelly interfaces with AT&T, Hughes and X2nSat in bringing LEO satellite services to the end-user.