Broadband Roundup
Michigan Resident Builds Homemade Fiber, Latest Innovations from LG, 2020 Internet Speeds Declined

January 13, 2021– Jared Mauch works as a senior network architect in rural Michigan and lacked good broadband at home.
When Mauch first moved into his home in 2002, he believed that an internet service provider would eventually wire and connect his house with fiber or cable, but it never happened. At one point, his internet provider Comcast told him it would cost $50,000 to connect his home to the network.
About four years ago, Mauch planned and built his own homemade provider that now offers fiber-to-the-home broadband where he lives. The system has five miles of installed fiber and Mauch has signed up about 70 percent of potential customers since.
The name of Mauch’s company is Washtenaw Fiber Properties LLC, and it’s registered as a competitive access provider with the Michigan state government. Although Mauch’s fiber company is technical a phone company, it solely provides internet service.
Originally, Mauch estimated his fiber project would cost $60,000, but it has since doubled. A stop-work order from the county was also handed down due to a lack of stakes installed along the right of way.
The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted Mauch’s fiber construction plans as there was less road traffic and people stayed at home more. This helped local residents realize the importance of having good broadband access.
Thanks to word of mouth and Facebook pages, Mauch’s fiber service has a long list of anxious customers wanting broadband in their homes. “They’ve got a lake that has about 180 homes around it,” Mauch said. “I’m currently talking with them about basically repeating my project with them at a larger scale.” “I have another about 150 people who have contacted me,” Mauch said.
Mauch realizes the desperation people have to get access to broadband, but still plans to keep his fulltime job as a senior network architect. In the meantime, he hopes to expand his working knowledge of fiber with other contractors and towns to duplicate his knowledge so others may continue his work.
LG’s CTO I.P. Park talks about company’s tech in development
President and CTO of LG Electronics I.P. Park spoke about the latest innovations coming from LG during the Consumer Technology Association’s 54th annual all-digital Consumer Electronics Show.
According to Park, LG is revisiting its LG PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier face mask. This face mask is battery powered and operates dual fans on the inside filtering air for the wearer.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about issues with facial recognition technology, as face masks make identifying individuals difficult. Park said LG is continuing to develop its facial recognition technology so that it still determines a person’s identity while wearing a face mask.
Smart thermo cameras are further being developed for the purpose of being able to automatically scan people and read their body temperature, so a human won’t have to manually check each person’s temperature.
Park also said that LG wants to expand robotic integrations towards fighting COVID-19. This includes Ultraviolet light robots that would automatically drive around rooms and halls to disinfect and kill germs with a UV light.
Park stated that particular areas experiencing explosive growth due to the COVID-19 pandemic are in online retail and delivery transactions. “Unmanned delivery chains are every [person’s] dream,” he said. LG desires to fulfill this dream by eventually rolling out fully automatic door-to-door delivery systems for the indoors and outdoors.
According to Park, enhancing LG’s online ThinQ app using augmented reality and evolving the internet of things to more products than ever, including cars, are major goals for LG.
A recap of internet performance during the 2020 pandemic
The global coronavirus pandemic has caused many to reflect on how well the internet performed in 2020 under the never-ending strain of social distancing, closed schools, and work-from-home circumstances.
In its 2020 internet performance report, Speedtest, a company dedicated to testing the speed and performance of internet connections, measured the median download speed of G20 countries and saw that mobile speeds dipped in many countries in the spring of 2020.
Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain and Turkey experienced declines in speed during the spring, just as the pandemic was gearing into full swing. China started its decline in speed a bit earlier in February while Japan experienced its decline later in June and July.
Speedtest found that Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Russia and the United Kingdom showed only very minor decreases, while surprisingly, speeds in Germany, Mexico, South Africa and the United States remained unchanged and even increased.
The most relieving news is that overall, while mobile speeds decreased in the spring, fixed broadband speeds in every G20 country improved by December 2020 to higher levels than the start of 2020.
Broadband Roundup
Space Bills Get Markup, Cybersecurity Reserve Bills Introduced, Gigabit Center Opens in Crown Heights, NY
The Secure Space Act and the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act are scheduled for mark-up on Thursday.

March 23, 2023 – The House Energy and Commerce Committee will host a mark-up meeting on Thursday to consider pieces of legislation that will “keep America at the forefront of next-generation communications technology,” according to a press release.
The Secure Space Act and the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act introduced by Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., and Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. in December last year will be among those going through the line-by-line process on Thursday.
The Secure Space Act prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from issuing satellite licenses or other related authorizations to untrusted actors, based on the framework adopted in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act.
The Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act clarifies FCC authority with the goal of promoting responsible use of space, incentivizing investment and innovation, and advancing U.S. leadership.
“America is leading the way in next-generation satellite technologies, which are contributing to a revolution in the communications marketplace,” the representatives said in a statement. “To make sure the U.S. – not China – continues to lead this global industry, we must streamline our regulatory processes to unleash innovation while also ensuring our laws fully protect the American public.”
Bills to ensure cybersecurity reserves in government introduced
Two bills introduced Tuesday by Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., would establish pilot programs that would hire civilian cybersecurity personnel in reserve to “ensure the U.S. government has the talent needed to defeat, deter, or respond to malicious cyber activity, especially at times of greatest need.”
The bills, some versions of which were previously introduced but did not pass, would establish the Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve pilot programs within the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.
“Cybersecurity threats targeting the United States continue to grow in scale and scope, demonstrating the urgent need for robust civilian cyber reserves capable of addressing these threats and protecting our nation,” Rosen said in a press release on Tuesday. “Our bipartisan legislation will help ensure the U.S. government can leverage existing cybersecurity talent from the private sector to help our nation deter and swiftly respond to cyberattacks.”
The bills comes at a time when federal agencies are “experiencing a growing shortage of cybersecurity talent,” the release said.
“As the cyber domain continues to expand in size and complexity, so should our cyber workforce,” Blackburn said. “By creating a reserve corps similar to our National Guard or Army Reserve, we can ensure the U.S. has qualified, capable, and service-oriented American talent that is necessary to address cyber vulnerabilities and keep our nation secure.”
Gigabit Center to provide free internet to students in Crown Heights, NY
The Brooklyn Gigabit Center, which will provide free internet resources for students, opened in Crown Heights, New York on Wednesday.
The center will provide free high-speed Wi-Fi, technology, education and school supplies to Crown Height, New York, an area where 36 percent of households lack broadband, according to the press release.
The center opened with a press conference hosted by the administration of Mayor Eric Adams, LinkNYC, the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation, digital infrastructure company ZenFi Networks, and tech education non-profit Digital Girl, according to a ZenFi Networks press release.
ZenFi Networks has previously opened centers in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens to help the local communities to learn and adopt to modern technologies.
Broadband Roundup
DOJ Investigates TikTok, Google’s Generative AI Tool, Charter Counsel Retiring
An internal TikTok investigation found employees had allegedly spied on journalists, the Times reported.

March 21 – Federal authorities are investigating Chinese-owned video sharing app TikTok over allegations its spying over journalists, reported The New York Times on Friday.
Three people familiar with the case told the Times that the Department of Justice has been investigating the company ByteDance after internal emails showed the company had conducted an internal investigation and “found employees gained access to data from two journalists and people associated with them,” the Times said.
According to the Times, a spokesperson said the company “strongly” condemns the actions of the four employees who obtained the data on the journalists and are no longer working for the company.
The investigation comes during a time Washington and state governments are on heightened alert of the app they say is a national security risk. A new memorandum by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget published in February outlines how agencies are to identify and ban problematic software, like TikTok, from government devices and networks.
Senators have also introduced the RESTRICT Act to further strength national cybersecurity by empowering the Department of Commerce to examine critical infrastructure products and ensure “comprehensive actions to address risks of untrusted foreign information communications and technology products.”
Google releases new Bard generative AI tool for trialing
Google has released an artificial intelligence tool intended to assist users in daily tasks, the search engine giant’s attempt to enter the generative AI space shared by the popular ChatGPT application.
Called Bard, the tool allows users to use the generative AI software as a personal assistant to ask the machine to come up with ways to accomplish tasks. The tool presents a chat box that the user inputs questions into, with the “large language model” generating tips automatically.
Google said the machine is in “experiment” mode and is asking users to contribute to its refinement.
Bard comes a week after OpenAI, the company behind generative AI tool ChatGPT, announced the latest version of the tool that has been able to craft novels using basic prompts. In the latest version, the tool has been able to create websites and versions of 2D video games.
Its power has concerned lawmakers and has sparked calls by experts for its regulation.
Aleksander Mądry, professor of Cadence Design Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said in a recent subcommittee hearing that generative AI is a very fast moving technology, meaning the government needs to step in to confirm the objectives of the companies and whether the algorithms match the societal benefits and values.
In January, ChatGPT eclipsed 100 million monthly users.
Charter’s executive vice president is retiring
Richard Dykhouse, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Charter Communications, is set to retire from his position, but will remain until the company picks a successor, the cable company announced Monday.
“Rick has played a significant role in Charter’s transformation and growth story – including its reorganization in 2009, the acquisitions of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, and the largest-ever integration of cable companies,” Chris Winfrey, Charter’s president and chief executive officer, in a press release. “I am grateful for Rick’s leadership, advice and sound judgment over the years and pleased that he will continue to assist us throughout the transition to his successor.”
Once the company finds the right person, Dykhouse will remain as executive counsel to support the transition, the release said.
Dykhouse joined Charter in 2006.
Broadband Roundup
Sohn Speaks After Withdrawal, MasterCard Back Indigenous Connectivity, Liberty-CityFibre in Buy Talks
The former FCC nominee spoke for the first time regarding future plans after withdraw.

March 20, 2023 – Former Federal Communications Commission nominee Gigi Sohn told The Washington Post in an interview published last week that she feels she “got a book to write” about her 16-month-long battle to get the Senate to vote her onto the commission.
Earlier this month, the two-time nominee of President Joe Biden withdrew her candidacy after what she called “dark money political groups” tainting her career. Sohn has been accused by Republicans of being impartial and donating to members of the Commerce committee that had previously pushed her nomination forward but which did not get to Senate votes.
“There’s been a bunch of stuff that’s happened over the past 16 months … that is going to make people’s eyes bug out,” Sohn told the Post.
During Sohn’s confirming process, she said she has been repeatedly subject to “unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attacks” from extremist groups and media.
“That was the first time I felt like ‘Oh my god, this could really rile up some crazies to come to my house … and threaten me and my family,’” the Post said she said. “I owed a duty to me and my family to move on, and this was very, very difficult on me emotionally.”
Sohn said she was “very proud” of the support she received from allies throughout the process, the Post said.
Sohn told the Post she had “several opportunities” lined up, which might be the intent to advocate internet access at the state level. But she also said she could do “something bigger and more,” according to the Post.
Mastercard Foundation partners with indigenous institute for internet access
The Mastercard Foundation announced Monday it is investing $3.7 million CAD, or $2.7 million USD, to help the Indigenous Connectivity Institute expand its current digital equity program.
The funding will “enable the ICI to expand current programs and develop new initiatives to reach 10,000 Indigenous young people over the next three years,” according to the release.
“This support from the Mastercard Foundation has the potential to advance Indigenous digital equity beyond our imaginations and make real the projects and collaboration we’ve been dreaming up for years. I am so excited to see this new partnership in action,” Darrah Blackwater, ICI Advisory Council member, said in a press release.
The indigenous-led organization is focused exclusively on digital equity in Canada and the United States by providing training programs to advance technical and advocacy skills, the release said.
“A fast, reliable internet connection is essential to ensuring that Indigenous young people can access high-quality education and meaningful employment opportunities,” says Jennifer Brennan, Director of Canada Programs at the Mastercard Foundation. “The shared vision for this partnership is a commitment to ensuring Indigenous young people and communities have the capacity, support, knowledge, and financial resources to lead digital equity to advance their aspirations and strengthen their communities.”
State broadband leaders will join Broadband Breakfast’s online event and talk about how their states are approaching the digital equity planning process and what they hope to accomplish with federal funding on Wednesday April 15 at 12 noon ET.
Liberty Global acquisition of Cityfibre and Liberty Global unlikely to be approved
Virgin Media O2 is seeking to acquire fiber competitor CityFibre for £3 billion, according to media reports.
The Telegraph reported Saturday that Virgin is in talks with the competitor, but questions remained about the likelihood of the deal moving past regulators.
Capacity reported Monday that equity analyst Jerry Dellis from Jefferies Equity Research does not believe it will get past the Competition and Markets Authority.
“A VMO2-CityFibre combination would appear to threaten the regulatory objective of network competition providing choice for ISPs, leading to better outcomes for consumers,” a Dellis research note said, according to Capacity.
“With a back-book comprising millions of customers that have been subject to multiple years of retail price increases, we question what incentive VMO2 has to compete down wholesale pricing.”
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