ARPA

Infrastructure

IIJA Application Webinars, NY Broadband Survey, Chinese LEO Broadband Satellites

The Commerce agency will hold pre-funding technical assistance hearings for infrastructure bill money starting this month.

ARPA

Crowd-Sourced Broadband Maps Often More Useful Than Government Efforts, Panel Says

Community broadband data can be collected by harnessing the power of the individual.

Expert Opinion

Christopher Mitchell: Brendan Carr is Wrong on the Treasury Department’s Broadband Rules

The Federal Communications Commission has no excuse for why the agency finished with the same bad data it started with.

ARPA

Preparing Collaboration Model, Data Collection Suggested Before Infrastructure Money Flows

With infrastructure bill, there is no longer a shortage of funds for states to expand their broadband infrastructure, consultants said.

Expert Opinion

Christopher Mitchell: Treasury Department Rescue Plan Act Rules Improve Broadband Funding

The Treasury Department has resolved all of the concerns that the Institute for Local Self Reliance identified in May.

Infrastructure

Treasury Department’s Final Rule Uses Less Restrictive Language to Qualify for Broadband Funding

Treasury Department departed from its original proposed rule, granting recipients flexibility on broadband download and upload speeds.

Telehealth

Year In Review: Key Developments for Broadband’s Impact in the U.S.

This year saw a growing telehealth trend, federal digital inclusion efforts and greater attention to spectrum sharing.

Defense Department

Year in Review: Key Developments in Digital Infrastructure with Ramifications for Next Year

Broadband Breakfast is kicking off a year-in-review with key developments in digital infrastructure.

ARPA

Sohn Broadcast Ties Questioned, Broadband in Baltimore, Facebook Asked to Sell Giphy in U.K.

The National Association of Broadcasters raised concern about FCC nominee Gigi Sohn’s ties to defunct streaming service Locast.

COVID

Exclusive Drew Clark Column: Treasury Regulations Stir Battle Over Broadband Speeds

Sticking with the current FCC minimum, the proposed rule still leans into Biden administration talk of symmetrical speeds.

Joe Biden

Cox CEO Leaving, ISPs Spent $234M on Lobbying, Fixed-Wireless As Key to Bridge Divide

CEO Esser to step down, ISPs spent $234 million lobbying in two years, fixed-wireless as solution to digital divide.

FCC

Auction Date for 3.45 GigaHertz, Pew on State Role in Digital Divide, Cable Broadband Report

FCC sets 3.45 GigaHertz auction date, Pew research on state role in digital divide, and ACA reports broadband progress.

Joe Biden

Lisa Hone to National Economic Council, EBB Enrolls 3.2 Million Homes, Oregon Network, Data Sharing Request

FCC’s Lisa Hone appointed to NEC, EBB signs up 3.2 million homes, Oregon finishes network, senators request data sharing.

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

Infrastructure

CARES Focused on Learning, States Alone on Privacy Laws, Texas’ Broadband Problem

March 17, 2021 — Officials administering the Coronovirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) prioritized immediate digital learning over long-term broadband deployment to help close the digital divide, according to a study released Monday by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coali