ISP
Partnerships Likely to Be Deciding Factor in State Distribution of BEAD Funds, Say Experts
State and federal broadband policy experts agreed that partnerships would be instrumental to spending $42.5 billion in broadband funds.
Jericho Casper
Assistant Editor Jericho Casper graduated from University of Virginia studying telecommunications policy. She previously served as a research assistant examining state laws that restrict local governments from owning or operating broadband networks.
IIJA
Demanding Requirements on NTIA’s BEAD Program May Depress Broadband Participation
What are the downsides of having too many grant requirements?
IIJA
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser Takes Aim at Big Tech and Big Telecom
What should state leaders be doing to procure a safer, healthier information environment?
FCC
Community Crowdsourcing Efforts Essential to Accessing Federal Broadband Funding
In the absence of reliable federal broadband mapping data, communities are taking matters into their own hands.
Infrastructure
Sen. Bennet Says Coloradans’ Complaints About Poor Broadband Drove Passage of Infrastructure Act
Expanding access to broadband has been at the top of many of Colorado’s local, state and federal legislators’ agendas.
IIJA
Broadband Notice of Funding Availability Seeks to Balance Requirements with Flexibility
Alan Davidson says NOFO requires that grant recipients offer both low-cost service options and middle-class affordability plans.
Funding
New Treasury Rules on Broadband Funding Give Local Governments Flexibility on Spending
The rules will give Capital Projects Fund applicants authority to decide what’s ‘affordable, reliable, and unserved.’
Infrastructure
With Congress Debating Trillions, a Community Guide to Federal Broadband Funding
Muninetworks.org has put together a handy overview of broadband programs – current and pending.
Infrastructure
Pandemic Possible Inflection Point in States’ Move Away from Restrictions on Community Networks
The number of states restricting municipal broadband networks has dropped during the pandemic.
Infrastructure
Population Center in Chautauqua County May Be First City in New York With Municipal Fiber
Jamestown is hoping an open access network would make internet more affordable.
ARPA
FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Funds Ineligible for School and Library Self-Provisioned Networks
The FCC’s May 10 order said schools and libraries could not use connectivity funds to build self-provisioned networks.
Infrastructure
Vermont House Backs $150 Million Broadband Plan Creating New State Office
A bill dedicating $150 million of anticipated federal funding to create a new state broadband office to coordinate and accelerate the expansion of high-speed Internet access throughout Vermont passed the State House of Representatives last week with overwhelming bipartisan support. On March 24th, th
Open Access
Bills In Washington State Legislature Would Allow Public Utility Districts into Retail Broadband
Though Washington is home to one of the nation’s fastest growing tech hubs, many communities throughout the state lack adequate broadband infrastructure. The stark divide between those Washingtonians with reliable home broadband connections, and those without, became especially salient last year, wh
Biden-Harris Administration
Slaughter Named FTC Chair, Combatting Disinformation with Community Media, Kimmelman Departs Public Knowledge
January 22, 2021—President Joe Biden designated Rebecca Slaughter as acting chair of the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday. Slaughter has served as an FTC Commissioner since May 2018. As a commissioner, Slaughter championed aggressive use of the FTC’s authorities to combat the abuse of consumers’
FCC
Biden Appoints Jessica Rosenworcel as Acting FCC Chair
January 22, 2021—President Joe Biden appointed Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel to be the acting chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission Thursday afternoon, making the lawyer hailing from West Hartford, Connecticut, the second woman to be appointed to that role in the commission’s 96-year hi
Social Media
Trump Blasts Big Tech and Takes No Responsibility For Inciting Deadly U.S. Capitol Insurrection
January 12, 2021 — President Donald Trump on Tuesday reacted to the content moderation practices that digital platforms exercised since the events of January 6 – including banning him from Twitter — before departing Andrews Joint Base in Prince George’s County, Maryland, onboard Air Force One. The P
