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Ramping Up the BEAD Workforce: 5 Things States, ISPs, and Construction Firms Can Be Doing Now
Every state and territory’s BEAD Initial Proposal includes a workforce readiness plan.
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Broadband Breakfast on November 20, 2024 – What Happens to Homework and Wi-Fi Hot Spots?
Join us as our expert panel explores the potential impacts and challenges of the FCC’s off-premise Wi-Fi funding.
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SHLB: FCC Should Not Cap Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending Periods
Schools and libraries should be able to style their lending practices, coalition says
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FCC Defends Bus Wi-Fi Before 5th Circuit
The court weighed whether a school bus can be considered a classroom under the E-Rate program’s guidelines.
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Wireless Players Want FCC to Expand Wi-Fi Hotspots Approach
Qualcomm, CTIA agreed FCC should support LTE-enabled Chromebooks widely used in schools.
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School Leaders Press FCC for Expanded E-Rate Support Beyond Hotspots
'Embedded cellular devices are less expensive than separate hotspot devices.'
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FCC Secures Court Procedural Win in E-Rate Legal Battle
The court case may be dead for now, but reconsideration petitions at the FCC live on.
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Some Educators Urge FCC to Go Beyond Wi-Fi Hotspots
LTE-enabled devices may be a more cost-effective solution for connecting students at-home.
Molaks Urge Fifth Circuit Not to Dismiss E-Rate Hotspot Case
The FCC moved to throw out the case, involving cyberbullying, earlier this month.
Memphis School District Fears $5 Million Loss on Devices
The district said an administrative error created the reimbursement issue.
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Texas Couple Challenges FCC’s Wi-Fi Hotspots Order in Fifth Circuit
The Molaks also have a petition for reconsideration pending before the FCC.
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T-Mobile Supports FCC’s Rosenworcel on Wi-Fi Hotspots
‘Un-carrier’ says the agency should reject Molaks' petition for reconsideration.
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Molaks Seek Review of FCC’s Wi-Fi Hotspots Order
The Molaks' challenge follows the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright ruling restricting agency deference.
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Why 'Non-deployment' Funds Are Important
I saw the logic of the way Arkansas organized its broadband event into a series on panels on ‘infrastructure’ and ‘non-deployment’.
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Groups Oppose Bill Linking E-Rate Funds to Content Filtering
The bill would also bar kids under 13 from creating social media accounts.
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Jessica Rosenworcel Pushes Congress on Affordable Connectivity Program
The FCC chairwoman reminded lawmakers the fund will freeze enrollments next Thursday, on February 8.
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Fiber Industry Can Build Interest in Broadband Workforce By Catering to Student Interests: Experts
The BEAD program allows providers to use funds to deploy workforce development strategies.
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Students Should Limit Screen Time, Panel Hears
Experts suggest a combination of active activities and group projects.
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Craig Settles: And a Little Child Shall Lead Them — Digitally
How many communities are leveraging their teen populations in the pursuit of broadband and digital equity?
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Anchor Associations Asking for Deadline Extension on Emergency Connectivity Fund Deployment
Associations say delays in getting fund approval and services/equipment means not getting full use of the program.
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Digital Learning is Here to Stay, Necessitating Multi-Sector Collaboration: Connected America Conference
The pandemic heightened the urgency of closing the digital divide, but several barriers remain.
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Subsidies for Hotspot Devices a ‘Great Idea,’ FCC Chairwoman Says
The commission has been exploring the broadening of the E-Rate program, a high-cost program under the Universal Service Fund.
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Workforce Training Gap Next Great Challenge for Broadband, Conference Hears
There is a widespread concern that there is a lack of skills training provided for broadband deployment and maintenance.
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Chart of States Accepting BEAD Grant Applications
Braodband Breakfast is tracking each state's BEAD grant application window.
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Chart of Fixed Wireless Access Subscribers
Braodband Breakfast is tracking fixed wireless access subscriptions.
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Chart of Wireline Broadband Subscribers
Braodband Breakfast is tracking wireline broadband subscriptions.
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Chart of Wireline Broadband Subscribers By Technology
Braodband Breakfast is tracking wireline broadband subscribers by technology.
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Metaverse Can Serve as a Supplement, Not Replacement, For Educators: Experts
The virtual world where avatars can meet as if they were in real life can be a companion for education.
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Fiber Broadband Companies and Consultants Tout Their Work for Social Good
Fiber providers, equipment companies and consultants discussed their work in communities in a session at Fiber Connect
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Education Executives Tout Artificial Intelligence Benefits for Classroom Learning
Artificial intelligence can help fill in gaps when teacher resources are limited, an event heard.
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Closing Digital Divide for Students Requires Community Involvement, Workforce Training, Event Hears
Barriers to closing the divide including awareness of programs, resources and increasing digital literacy.
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FTC Approves Policy Statement on Guiding Review of Children’s Online Protection
The policy statement provides the guiding principles for which the FTC will review the collection and use of children’s data online.
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Justin Reilly: Rising Ransomware Threats on Schools Require Better Approach to Cybersecurity
Ransomeware attacks are a costly lesson for educators.
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American Library Association Concerned With Burdensome Infrastructure Bill Reporting Requirements
The organization is concerned that access to federal money will come with burdensome reporting.
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Coalition Says FCC E-rate Portal Proposal Could Create More Problems
Industry officials say the commission’s approach to E-rate competition would burden applicants.
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FCC Commits Another $603 Million in Emergency Connectivity Fund Money
The agency has now committed $3.8 billion from the $7.17-billion program.
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Texas High School Students Enter the Fight for Better Connectivity
Students in a Houston-area school district hosted a panel on connecting schools and libraries as part of a national event on bridging the digital divide.
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National Non-Profit to Launch Joint Initiative to Close Broadband Affordability and Homework Gap
EducationSuperHighway is signing up partners and will launch November 4.
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Federal Communications Commission Says $5 Billion Requested for Emergency Connectivity Fund — in Just Round One!
The program is designed to help schools, libraries and students.
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Technology Problems Can Be Solved if Policy-Makers Listen to One Another, Says Colorado’s Phil Weiser
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser urges a version of the Golden Rule: ‘What would someone else say?’
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NTIA Releases Details on Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Project
The $285-million program will help connect minority educational institutions.
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Craig Settles: Libraries, Barbershops and Salons Tackle TeleHealthcare Gap
Craig Settles describes the important role that community institutions have played in promoting connectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Broadband Breakfast CEO Drew Clark and BroadbandNow’s John Busby Speak on Libraries and Broadband
Friday’s Gigabit Libraries Network conversation will feature Drew Clark of Broadband Breakfast and John Busby of BroadbandNow.
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FCC’s Rosenworcel Acknowledges Demand for Covid Broadband Program Will ‘Outlast’ Crisis
Acting chairwoman said the need for the Emergency Broadband Benefit will outlive the pandemic.
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FCC Opens Emergency Connectivity Fund for Applications
The FCC is now accepting applications for the historic $7-billion Emergency Connectivity Fund to help get students connected.
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How Gamifying Education is Keeping Students Engaged
Experts sing the praises of gaming in education.
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Libraries Can Be a Resource for Algorithm Governance and Data Technology
June 7, 2021- Librarians and broadband enthusiasts affiliated with the Gigabit Libraries Network discussed the benefits of connectivity from new satellite broadband services. Soon after the beginning of the pandemic, the group has been hosting sessions around the theme of “what is a library when a p
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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.
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AT&T Phasing Out 3G, Iowa Expands Broadband Funding, NY Mayor Drags Kids Back To School
AT&T will no longer support 3G networks by 2022, Iowa’s broadband bill, Mayor de Blasio ending distance learning.
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Broadband Equity for All Coalition Sets Sights On Long-Term Broadband Benefit
In the wake of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, a new group emerges.
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Facebook and Utah Valley University Fund Tech Training Program for Utah Elementary Schools
AMERICAN FORK, Utah, May 13, 2021 – Facebook’s involvement in Utah technology education has grown since it broke ground in 2018 on its data center in Eagle Mountain, a growing community on outskirts of the “Silicon Slopes” community here. “STEM curriculum and hands-on educational opportunities are
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FCC Launches Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is designed to help economically disadvantaged households get reliable broadband at a subsidized rate.
Treasury Announces Summer Deadline For Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund
$10 billion dollars are being made available to communities in need to better connect their communities.
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Surveying Broadband Issues Faced by Students Under COVID-19, CoSN Offers Its Recommendations
The speed of the broadband service used was only one component of the issues students faced.
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Verizon Selling Digital Properties, Florida Aims To Limit Social Media Bans, Starry Participating In EBB
Verizon is selling Yahoo and AOL, Florida going after social platforms, and Starry is getting in on EBB.
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FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Unveils Proposed Rules for Emergency Connectivity Fund
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Friday released rules for the Emergency Connectivity Fund, answering many questions about the program.
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Vice President Kamala Harris Will Oversee Administration’s Broadband Goals
Biden has assigned Vice President Kamala Harris with the broadband portfolio.
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Rosenworcel Says Anti-Muni Network Legislation Unfair, Hopes States Change Their Tune
FCC acting chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said she hopes state legislatures change stance on muni builds.
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Multilingual Digital Navigators Crucial For Inclusion
Digital liaisons who speak multiple languages can help guide multilingual communities for the digital future.
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FCC to Vote On Emergency Connectivity Fund Policies By Mid-May: Rosenworcel
The agency is expected to vote on policies for the new connectivity fund by mid-May, chairwoman says.
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Libraries Must Be Vigilant To Ensure Adequate Broadband, Consultants Say
April 7, 2021 – Libraries should monitor their broadband speeds and ensure they are getting quality connections, according to library consultants. Carson Block from Carson Block Consulting and Stephanie Stenberg of the Internet2 Community Anchor program told a virtual conference hosted by the Americ
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Schools And Libraries Look For Solutions With $7 Billion In Federal Help
April 6, 2021 – In a webinar last week hosted by the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB), panelists discussed opportunities schools and libraries have to better serve their communities with the recent $7 billion provided through the American Rescue Plan, a $1.98 trillion corona
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Lack of Awareness Sees Michigan Schools And Libraries Miss Out on E-Rate Funding: State Coordinator
March 30, 2021 – Despite expanded funding for the E-Rate internet subsidy program for schools and libraries, the Michigan State program coordinator said there’s an awareness problem that is causing those institutions to miss out on money in the state. “I don’t know any school or library that feels t
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Educators Worry About ‘Zoom Fatigue’ In Students, Recommend Innovative Teaching Techniques
March 24, 2021 – Educators must come up with ways to enhance the online learning experience or students will end up suffering from “Zoom fatigue” and falling behind, the Broadband Breakfast live event heard Wednesday. David Weinberger, senior researcher at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet
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Internet Access, Affordability Issues Creating Educational Disparities, Federal Reserve Panelist Say
March 24, 2021 – The lack of available and quality broadband access is worsening the disparity between low- and high-income demographics, educators say. A panel, hosted by the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank and discussing the “new future of work” on Monday, said those who are in an “elite” categ
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Students Should Be Able To Choose Online Learning When In-Person Classes Resume: Principal
March 23, 2021 – Assistant principal William Jeffery has noticed a trend. In an interview with Broadband Breakfast on Monday, the assistant principal at Columbia High School in the Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District in Texas said some of his students don’t do well with virtual learning, w
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Universal Service Contribution Hike, Chinese Threat Classifications, Wireless Access Licenses, Educational Applications
March 15, 2021—The Federal Communications Commission on Friday announced that it would raise the contribution to the universal service fund to 33.4 percent, representing another record amount. This would increase the current fee charged to the telecom companies’ voice services from 31.8 percent, whi
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Praise For E-Rate Expansion in COVID Relief, Tim Wu at White House, Film on Telecom Law
March 8, 2021—Democrat senators praised their chamber’s passing of a massive stimulus bill that includes money to expand the E-Rate broadband subsidy. The Senate passed on March 6 the $1.9-trillion relief bill, which includes $7.6 billion for the Emergency Connectivity Fund that will go toward exten
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SHLB Applauds House Passage of E-Rate Expansion
March 1, 2021 – The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition has applauded the House of Representatives passing a bill that would expand the E-Rate program to households. The expansion is in the $7.6-billion Emergency Connectivity Fund, which is part of the $1.98-trillion stimulus bill. “Fo
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More Emergency Broadband Funding for Homes, Pandemic and Privacy, Facebook and Australian News
March 1, 2021—The House of Representatives on Saturday morning passed a bill that would fund $7.6 billion, out of the $1.9 trillion care package, to prop-up the E-Rate program and extend it to homes. The bill would expand the internet subsidy program for libraries and schools by shuttling the money
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Labor Department Official Addresses Apprenticeships at Wireless Infrastructure Event
February 25, 2021—As the demand for broadband continues to grow during the pandemic, so too must the workforce responsible for deploying it. One avenue for growing this workforce is apprenticeships facilitated by broadband providers, often in conjunction with universities or trade organizations, suc
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Texas Education Commissioner Says State Has Closed Digital Divide Through Access to Computers
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
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Datacasting Helping Bridge Education Gap Where Broadband Is Limited
February 23, 2021—During the COVID-19 pandemic, television broadcasting stations have implemented datacasting technology to assist in the distance learning that many American children now face, though issues persist. Datacasting refers to the practice of using radiofrequency spectrum currently occup
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Privacy Concerns Increase With Ed Technology Boom, Says Acting Chair of Federal Trade Commission
February 16, 2021 – As the educational technology industry sees an explosion of interest as more kids are schooled at home, the Federal Trade Commission’s acting chairwoman said the agency is prioritizing the privacy implications of that. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter said the FTC is taking an all-hands-o
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Biden Administration Should Approach Broadband Considering Adoption and Digital Literacy
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
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Representative Pallone Says Committee Charging Through With Broadband Goals
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
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Broadband Providers Grapple With Higher Than Normal Data Usage
February 10, 2021—While the world continues a work-from-home orientation, broadband providers are searching for new and innovative solutions to keep up with the demands of this new normal. “During the first six months of the last year, 2020, we have seen an increase of 62% in Wi-Fi data usage,” said
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Expand E-Rate Program to Households: Former Head of National Telecommunication and Information Administration
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
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25 Years After Passage, Architects of the Telecom Act Say Congress Should Revisit the Law
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
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Sen. Ed Markey Celebrates Telecom Act as Telecom Lawyers Tell Congress to Be Specific
February 2, 2021 – Democratic Sen. Ed Markey’s communications policy focus this Congress will be on net neutrality, children and climate change, the long-serving Massachusetts lawmaker said at a Federal Communications Bar Association event Tuesday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Telecommuni
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A New Broadband Policy Agenda for Schools, Health and Library ‘Anchor Institutions’
January 22, 2021—The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition released its 2021 Policy Roadmap on Thursday—an agenda to promote open, affordable, high-quality broadband to anchor institutions—as these establishments are key to connecting the estimated 42 million Americans without internet acc
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How Virtual Learning Is Being Reinvigorated Through Tech, From CES 2021
January 19, 2021—Technology is adapting to accelerate students’ potential to learn from home, as teachers and students have been obligated to adapt to virtual learning due to the global coronavirus pandemic, according to panelists who contributed to events airing that were part of the Consumer Techn
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How Educational Institutions and Tech Businesses Are Developing Workforces of the Future
January 14, 2021 — A rising concern in the business world is the lack of emerging professionals with technology-based skills. According to expert panelists speaking at CTA’s 2021 Consumer Electronics Show, the growing need for an emerging workforce equipped with skills to handle the jobs of tomorrow
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Pre-Pandemic Survey of Internet Use by Commerce Department’s NTIA Finds Almost All College Students Online
November 28, 2020 – The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration and its Broadband USA program continues to track data about broadband usage, as well as provide resources surrounding state broadband initiatives. The agency recently released initial results fro
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National Rural Education Association Advocates For Universal Home Broadband Access to Assist Rural Students
October 24, 2020 — Allen Pratt, executive director of the National Rural Education Association, called for delivering universal home broadband access to assist in online learning initiatives during an interview for C-SPAN’s The Communicators series, a weekly series examining the people and events sh
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Children Are Being ‘Locked Out of Their Classrooms’ Without E-Rate Action, Says Jessica Rosenworsel
October 15, 2020 — Millions of Americans remain unconnected today, even as broadband connectivity remains vital to countless aspects of our daily lives, including health, work, and education. At a “fireside chat” hosted by ALLvanza, a Latino advancement group, panelists asserted that tackling the di
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Sens. Ed Markey and Chris Van Hollen Urge Using E-Rate Funds to Close the Homework Gap
September 20, 2020 – Sens. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, and Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, argued that the fastest way to close the homework gap is through Federal Communication Commission funding. “We have a homework gap that is leading to a learning gap that will lead to an opportunity gap for 16 mi
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Shirley Bloomfield: Promoting Home Connectivity for Rural Students Through Broadband
The first day of school has always come with a mix of joy and anxiety as students transition from summer fun to books and bells. But the start to this new school year certainly did not look like the last—even for those headed back into the classroom. By the end of the 2019-20 school year, […]
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Students and Universities Continue on Despite COVID-19 to Make Most of College During Pandemic
September 3, 2020 – With no end in sight to the COVID-19 pandemic, students and academic institutions are cautiously beginning the fall semester either in person, online, or somewhere in-between. Cole Ridgway, a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University, was notified days before his classes began t
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Members of Democratic Caucuses Call to Modernize Broadband for Rural and Tribal Lands
August 19, 2020 — Members of the Rural Caucus and the Native American Caucus of the Democratic Party made calls for modernizing broadband and energy infrastructure during caucus meetings on Tuesday. As part of the Democratic National Convention, members of the Rural Caucus opened their meeting by ob
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Open Radio Access Network Tech is a Pandemic Necessity, Says Open RAN Policy Coalition
August 4, 2020 — Open Radio Access Network technologies have a bright future and a diverse range of applications, said participants in an Open RAN Policy Coalition webinar Tuesday. The webinar, titled “Open RAN 101: Promoting a Diverse and Competitive Market for 5G and Advanced Wireless Technologies
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Pushes to Privatize USPS Threaten the Oldest Universal Communications Network and Efficiency of Mail-in Ballots
August 3, 2020 — The economic fallout resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically worsened the financial condition of the United States Postal Service, necessitating financial relief if it is to continue operating through fiscal year 2020. Analysts predict that the agency will run out of m
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Digital Infrastructure Investment: Preview Video
The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated just how dependent we are, as a world, upon high-quality broadband. Broadband networks are a lifeline — for working, for education, for telemedicine, for dance recitals, for conversations in the public square and simple human connectedness. We can’t solve al
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Air Force Aims to Expand 5G Capabilities to All Bases, According to CTO Frank Konieczny
July 15, 2020 — 5G technologies will eventually revolutionize government, said panelists on a Wednesday webinar sponsored by AT&T. Owen Rodgers, federal government chief architect at AT&T, said he expects to see 5G innovation in the areas of defense, health and education throughout government. The U
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A Mix of Resources and Technologies Are Needed to Close the Homework Gap
June 26, 2020 — Maintaining learning initiatives as the COVID-19 pandemic forced a hasty transition to virtual education was a challenging adjustment for schools, teachers, and students across the country. Even schools that were considered relatively well-connected, with a device to student ratio of
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Maintaining Student Privacy Amid Coronavirus Challenging, Says Center for Democracy and Technology
June 18, 2020 — The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting shift to primarily-online learning have placed students’ privacy in jeopardy, said participants in a Thursday webinar hosted by the Center for Democracy and Technology. The shift to online schooling in the wake of the pandemic has left mil
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Globally, Libraries Are Adapting to the Coronavirus Pandemic and Strategizing for Their Digital Futures
June 2, 2020 — Libraries consistently adapt to serve the essential education needs of surrounding communities, and their reliability and capacity to transform has only been amplified since the spread of COVID-19, said speakers in a panel hosted by Gigabit Libraries Network on Friday. Gigabit Librari
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Current Telework Methods Not Sufficient, Says FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel
May 19, 2020 — The current methods of telework are not sustainable, said Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in a webinar Tuesday. In a conversation with App Association President Morgan Reed, the commissioner highlighted some of the ways that students without high-speed broadban
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Historically Black Colleges Urge Additional Funding to Close Broadband Gap
Panelists at an FCC roundtable on Monday stressed the importance of narrowing the digital divide that makes distance learning difficult for some students from historically black colleges and universities. The roundtable, hosted by FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks and moderated by David Johns of the
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Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Urges Multiple Solutions to the Homework Gap
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
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Boulder, Colorado, School District Describes Trials in Providing Broadband to Students
April 21, 2020— Chief Intelligence Officer of the Boulder Valley School District Andrew Moore oversees 100 miles of private fiber that connects all but two of his district’s schools. He expressed the need for all 100 miles of this fiber to be shared equally at a webinar hosted by the Western Governo
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FCC’s Jessica Rosenworcel Calls for Wi-Fi School Buses, and Brookings Panelists Agree Now is the Time
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
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Online Elementary Education is No Spring Break for Parents Teaching from Home
BOCA RATON, Florida, April 6, 2020 – Remote learning for elementary-aged children is a tall order, and teachers are working harder than ever while parents essentially try to manage a one-roomed schoolhouse. While universities and colleges across the United States promptly responded to coronavirus co
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The FCC Could Do More Now About the Digital Divide, Say Panelists at Broadband Breakfast Live Online Event
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
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Coronavirus Roundup: Fighting Against the Homework Gap, No Fixed Data Caps in U.K., Gigabit Libraries on Role in Pandemic
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
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Restricting Kids’ Online Usage Should Focus on Content Rather Than Screen Time, Say Panelists at Slate Event
March 27, 2020 – Before the coronavirus pandemic, the nation’s dialogue about appropriate screen time was so focused on time instead of substance, said author Lisa Guernsey, speaking during a “Social Distancing Social” hosted by Slate author Dan Kois. Guernsey expressed hope that social distancing a
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Broadband Breakfast Live Online Panelists, and Others in EdTech, Agree that Internet is Not Optional Anymore
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
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Coronavirus Roundup: Senate Passes CARES Act with $200 Million for Telehealth, National Emergency Library, CoSN Webinar
The Senate on Wednesday night officially passed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act—including funding for telehealth. The CARES Act allocates $200 million to the Federal Communications Commission to bolster telehealth and telemedicine. “The CARES Act would support this
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Coronavirus Roundup: Amy Klobuchar Presses Critical Connections, CRS Outlines Broadband Challenges, INCOMPAS Filing
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
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Arizona State University Journalism Dean Says Students Can Still ‘Report From Home’ During Coronavirus
March 24, 2020 – In another “Social Distance Social” held over Zoom on Tuesday, Future Tense Editor Torie Bosch interviewed Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication Dean Chris Callahan, who said students are encouraged to “report from home” as they adapt t
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Universities from New York to Washington State Are Moving Courses Online Because of the Coronavirus
WASHINGTON, March 9, 2020 – As the United States deals with spreading cases of the novel coronavirus, some major universities are turning to online courses in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. Still, university-wide adoptions of online classes are still in the preliminary stages. Columbi
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‘Leave No Child Offline,’ Pleads FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Brendan Carr and Rep. Mike Doyle
WASHINGTON, March 4, 2020 – House Energy and Commerce subcommittee chairman Mike Doyle, D-Penn., Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr all took turns addressing the homework gap and bad broadband maps at the Incompas policy summit Tuesday. “I play
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Chancellor of North Dakota University Proposes a Digital-Cyber Land-Grant Program to Revitalize Rural America
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
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Todd Foje: Can High-Speed Broadband Finally Bridge the Gap Between Rural and Urban Communities?
What makes one community flourish while another one struggles? Lack of jobs and essential amenities are often cited as reasons why people move on from rural and midsized communities. In our connected world today, access to technology is a difference-maker. In 2020 and beyond, high-speed broadband-dr
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Broadband Roundup: Texas Reaches T-Mobile Settlement, Closing the ‘Homework Gap,’ Broadcast Ownership
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
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State Educational Technology Officials Say Better Broadband Necessary for Pedagogy and Equity
WASHINGTON, November 6, 2019 – High-speed internet access is essential for improving pedagogical approaches and broadband equity, and that means access to devices both at school and at home. Technology disruption is “game changing” for the education sector, said SETDA Deputy Executive Director Chris
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FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Aims to Further Deploy 2.5 GHz Band of Spectrum for 5G Wireless Networks
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2019 — The Federal Communications Commission will vote in July on whether or not to auction off unused portions of the 2.5 GigaHertz (GHz) spectrum band to advance the deployment of 5G wireless networks. Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement that the order would “modernize an ou
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Broadband Roundup: Texas Rural Funds Collaborative and Infrastructure Zone in Indiana
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
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Virginia Tobacco Region Awards $8 Million in Grants, and Senate Passes Broadband Research Legislation
On Thursday, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission awarded almost 8 million dollars to fourteen counties across rural Virginia for the development of broadband services, reported The News & Advance. Commission Chairman Kathy Byron highlighted the essential role increased broadband ac
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House Small Business Subcommittee Takes Testimony on Need for Better Broadband in Rural Minnesota
“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
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Press Release: Benton Foundation Opposes Proposal to Cap Fund to Close Digital Divide
On May 31, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes imposing an overall cap on the Universal Service Fund. USF programs provide subsidies that make telecommunications and broadband services more available and affordable for millions of Americ
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M-Lab Celebrates 10 Years of Broadband Speed Tests, Discusses Work with Schools and Libraries
WASHINGTON, August 16, 2018 – New measures to improve broadband education and access in schools and libraries were among the innovations in broadband data touted on the second day of a conference last week on Measurement Lab. The 10 year anniversary conference was hosted on August 7 and 8 by the New
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Rural Broadband Focus Increasingly Necessary in Infrastructure Package, Say Blackburn and Panelists at Brookings
WASHINGTON, July 25, 2017 – Rural areas of Tennessee have lost business because they don’t have access to high-speed internet, Tennessee Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn said Monday at a panel on broadband infrastructure hosted by the Brookings Institution. Trump was aggressively pushing new infrast
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Bringing Fiber-Optics to Maryland’s Eastern Shore Requires Champions and Partners, Say Panelists
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
Budget Cuts by President Trump Take $1.4 Trillion in Non-Defense Agencies
BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: The best time to release a budget? When the president is away on a foreign trip! Trump to Propose $1.4 Trillion in Cuts to Non-Defense Agencies, from GovExec President Trump, in budget documents to be released on Tuesday, will propose shrinking spending at non-defense ag
Spotlight on Advantages of Open Access Networks at Broadband Communities Summit
Open access networks are becoming more real for gigabit connectivity in the United States.
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Universal Service Administrative Corp. Unveils ‘New Look,’ Will Address Programs at Rural Telecom Congress
DALLAS, April 18, 2017 – The Universal Service Administrative Corporation may not grab broadband headlines, but the once-obscure federal agency is central to helping rural America and other stakeholders get Broadband Broadband, Better Lives. USAC’s programs, plus its “new look,” will be the subject
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Ajit Pai Comes to Senate Oversight Hearing, Defends his More Limited Vision of FCC Authority
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2017 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai defended his very vision of the agency’s role, as compared with his predecessor, during the first Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearing this year. The difference in attitude between Pai and former Chairman Tom Whe
Pell Center Report Emphasizes Continuing Role in Broadband for State Entities
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 Conference a Vital Connection for Public Broadband
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
Better Broadband for Rural America Means Looking Beyond Tradition: Join Us at the Rural Telecommunications Congress Today
AUSTIN, April 14, 2015 – The Rural Telecommunications Congress portion of the Broadband Communities Summit opens here Tuesday with a series of conference sessions focused on looking beyond conventional rural telecom. Rural Telecommunications Congress [https://broadbandbreakfast.com/wp-content/uploa
Press Release: Call for Workshops and Panel Proposals for Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Conference
WASHINGTON, January 12, 2015 – The Schools, Health & Libraries (SHLB) Broadband Coalition’s fifth Annual Conference will be held on May 20-22nd at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Crystal City, Virginia (near DC Reagan National Airport). The SHLB Conference is likely to attract 350-450 people
California Emerging Technology Fund Helps Bridge the State’s Digital Divide
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
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Alliance for Education Emphasizes the Need for Next-Generation Network Internet Speeds In Schools
WASHINGTON, October 27, 2014 – An Alliance for Excellent Education webinar on Tuesday highlighted the integral role that high-speed internet access in schools plays in the success for both the institutions and their students. As highlighted in the Pew Research Center’s recent report, next generation
EXCLUSIVE: An Array of FCC Partners on ConnectED Program Strive for Digital Education
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
Internet Researcher John Horrigan on How Digital Illiteracy is Eclipsing Digital Divide
WASHINGTON, July 29, 2014 – The internet equity facing the nation isn’t the digital divide, but is digital readiness, according to a panel last month by internet researcher John Horrigon at an event of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. According to Horrigan, digital literacy is rap
Broadband Roundup: Microsoft on Privacy, 11th Circuit on Warrants, and Wheeler on Community Broadband
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2014 – Microsoft is determined to fight a recent U.S. government demand for a user’s emails on company computers in Ireland, The Wall Street Journal reported. “Congress has not authorized the issuance of warrants that reach outside U.S. territory,” Microsoft wrote in its filing
FCC Announces Awards for Innovations in Accessibility Communications
ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 9, 2014 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler presented the third annual awards for advances in accessibility to innovators of communications technology for disabled people. The awards were presented at the M-Enabling Summit at the Renaissance Arlington C
Cities Need to be Involved in Municipal Broadband Because Their Future Depends Upon Such Networks, Says Panel
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2014 – Four believers in municipal internet access expressed their dismay at the New America Foundation at an increasingly consolidated broadband marketplace – and promoted local government ownership as a remedy. Speaking on a panel of experts on Wednesday at the think tank, they
Broadband Roundup: Data Brokerage Industry in the Hot Seat, Library and Education Group Want More E-Rate Funds
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2014 – The National Journal reported that the Federal Trade Commission released a report charging the data brokerage industry with collecting “troves” of information on nearly all American consumers. The agency urged Congress to push for more transparency. Believing that an invas
Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition to Meet in Washington This Week
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2014 – Efforts to construct Gigabit Networks will be featured prominently at the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition meeting this week in Washington, the fourth annual event for this community of broadband users. The even will run from Wednesday, May 7 through Friday
American Energy
American energy production has increased substantially over the past few years.
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Nuclear
As data centers proliferate, Nuclear Energy is potentially ready for a revival.
Crypto
Cryptographic technologies and blockchain ledgers are driving a new era of decentralized finance.
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Expert Opinion: Technology Policy Institute Study Misunderstands Purpose of Broadband Program
Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition Finds Fault with Study Critiquing Broadband Technology Opportunities Program WASHINGTON, November 18, 2013 – The Technology Policy Institute issued a report on Thursday criticizing the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). Unfortunatel
Connect Nevada Broadband Summit on Nov. 18 to Explore Broadband in Education
November 15, 2013 – Nevada has only two metropolitan areas (Las Vegas and Reno), 80 percent of its land owned by the federal government, and no fiber-optic wires that connect the two cities, said the head of the state’s non-profit broadband initiative. A deeply rural demography and highly remote geo
At July Meeting, FCC Votes to Modernize E-Rate Program with Gigabit Broadband for Schools
WASHINGTON, August 5, 2013 – At its open meeting on July 19, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it would work to modernize the E-Rate program in order to provide greater bandwidth for schools and libraries. Reforms to be implemented to the E-Rate program include the provision of af
Commerce Department’s National Telecommunication and Information Administration Highlights Successes Using Broadband in Education
WASHINGTON, July 3, 2013 – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration described the projects that are already underway that will help achieve the goals laid out in President Barack Obama’s ConnectEd program in a blog post on Monday. Currently, 75 percent of the NTIA’s 116 network
36-Member Public Interest Group Coalition Responds to Sen. McCaskill’s Call to End Lifeline Program
WASHINGTON, July 2, 2013 – On Friday a coalition of 36 interest groups sent a letter to Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., urging her to reconsider her position calling for the eliminating the Lifeline program, one of a handful of programs that currently make up the Universal Service Fund. On June 11, Mc
President Obama Unveils Ultra High Speed Initiative for Broadband in Education at Middle School in North Carolina
WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013 – President Barack Obama announced a new plan – dubbed ConnectEd – to expand ultra high-speed broadband access to nearly all schools in the country during a speech at Mooreville Middle School in North Carolina this afternoon. The initiative, entitled ConnectEd, aims to bring
Not Just Generation Text: Using Mobile Broadband in Education
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 – An infographic released by the Internet Innovation Alliance on Wednesday highlights the benefits from making broadband internet accessible in educational settings. Entitled “Not Just Generation Text,” the infographic aims to dispel the view that young people use Internet t
Mobile
Mobile communication has become a central part internet connectivity.
Democratization
The internet has the potential to impact, and also to enhance, society's democratization.
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Section 230
Section 230 is sometimes called the 26 words that created the internet.
Net Neutrality
Whether broadband providers may prioritize delivery of bits by the entities they own is a divisive topic.
Open Access
Open Access networks separate network operations from internet services. Ownership may also be separate from operations.
Funding
The pandemic has prompted a new era of funding for broadband infrastructure.
Rural
Because Rural America is often the least-connected region in the country, ensuring coverage is central to BEAD.
Wireless
Wireless technologies are critical for mobile communications, and for being able to reach remote locations.
Satellite
Satellite broadband remains an option those areas beyond the reach of fiber, terrestrial or mobile wireless.
Universal Service
The Universal Service Fund, codified in 1996 with the Telecommunications Act, remains the foundation of universal access.
Data Center
Data Centers and Cloud Computing rely upon robust and high-speed upload and download internet speeds.
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Tribal
Tribal leaders say the federal government has failed to uphold its trust responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of Native American tribes.
5G
The 5G wireless standard promises breakthrough in capacity, speed and dynamic spectrum-sharing capabilities.
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WISP
Wireless Internet Service Providers play an important role in delivery of fixed wireless broadband.
Digital Inclusion
We need humans to make digital inclusion work.
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Health
The innovations of telehealth and mobile health care has transformed medicine and health care.
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Public Safety
Ensuring that emergency communications are enabled with broadband is the next frontier in public safety.
Telework
Broadband internet service allows many people to work from almost anywhere.
Cybersecurity
Digital locks and keys are necessary, but not sufficient, to ensure cybersecurity.
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Robocall
The scourge of robocalls is making America's once-vaunted telephone network less trustworthy.
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BEAD
The BEAD program is implemented by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the U.S. Commerce Department.
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Community Broadband
The last three years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of communities building publicly-owned, locally controlled infrastructure.
Privacy
The entire concept of privacy has been transformed by broadband and the internet.
Broadband Mapping and Data
Accurate broadband mapping and data has been central to America's broadband buildout.
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Smart Cities
Cities of the future rely on high-speed internet access and advanced fiber and wireless connectivity.
Advanced Energy
The infrastructure necessary for advanced energy also powers the infrastructure necessary for high-speed internet.
Autonomous Vehicles
Self-driving cars are one of many advances to come for smart cities and communities.
Drones
Drones and airborne transportation are one of many advances to come for smart cities and communities.
Antitrust
Antitrust has been re-invigorated by concern over the power of big technology, media and telecom companies.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is poised to transform humans' relationship with technology, and each other.
Social Media
Social media plays a powerful force in the lives of most adults and teenagers.
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Free Speech
Debates about the role of free speech have been transformed by broadband internet services.
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Chips
Semiconductors are the world’s new oil.
Spectrum
Whether licensed, unlicensed or shared, radio frequency spectrum is the critical resource for wireless communication.
eRate Reform, National Public Safety Network FirstNet, Focus of Senate-FCC Oversight Hearing
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2013 – At Tuesday’s oversight hearing of the Federal Communications Commission, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., on Tuesday put the focus on the portion of the Universal Service Fund designed to provide connectivity to schools and libraries, as well as on the public safety network
Internet Innovation Alliance Strikes Positive Note About Broadband and Apps Economy in 2013
WASHINGTON, January 24, 2013 – Broadband is about more than internet connection speeds, but now is everywhere, and affecting the way that consumers interacting with constantly-connected devices, according to a guide released by the Internet Innovation Alliance. The IIA guide highlights the usage of
Verizon Chief, on Brink of LTE and FiOS Deployment, Calls for ‘Powerful Answers’ on Broadband
LAS VEGAS, January 9, 2013 – Broadband is now so thoroughly integrated within electronic devices, and broadband providers have done so much to advance faster internet connectivity, that now has become the time to apply broadband to solve society’s toughest problems: health care, educational improvem
Broadband Adoption and Usage: If You’re Not Online, You’re Missing What You Need to Know
June 25, 2012 – Having access to broadband technology and other digital tools is a key ingredient to economic, social, and political connectedness. Yet only 69 percent of Americans have broadband internet connections at home. What vital services are the other one-third missing? One example was appar
Igniting US Broadband Through Obama Administration Executive Order
WASHINGTON, June 19, 2012 — Last Thursday President Obama announced the launch of a new initiative, “US Ignite” and signed an Executive Order reducing the cost and barriers to broadband build out and construction along federal roadways and properties. The Order aims to make construction 90 percent
Broadband Poised to Change the Fabric of Higher Education, Say Panelists at The Cable Show
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 – The increasing prevalence on high-speed internet is beginning to have a major effort on universities and they way that they approach the creation and dissemination of the “content” created in higher education, said panelists speaking at a special event of BroadbandBreakfas
BroadbandBreakfast.com Hosts Broadband Breakfast Club Event ‘What Lessons Are We Learning in Getting Older Americans Online” on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 in Washington, DC
WASHINGTON, Monday, May 7th, 2012 – The internet policy news and events service BroadbandBreakfast.com will hold its May 2012 Broadband Breakfast Club event “What Lessons Are We Learning in Getting Older Americans Online” on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 at Clyde’s of Gallery Place, 707 7th St. NW, Washin
Register Now for ‘Will Broadband Succeed in Changing the DNA of Universities?’ BroadbandBreakfast.com’s Program at The Cable Show 2012
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 – The internet policy news and events service BroadbandBreakfast.com will hold a special event at The Cable Show 2012 in Boston, MA entitled “Will Broadband Succeed in Changing the DNA of Universities?” on Monday, May 21st, 2012 from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm at the Bost
Leveraging Funding from Government Programs, Incentives to Share Information and Faster Broadband Speeds are Key to Maximizing Health IT Broadband
WASHINGTON, Friday March 23, 2012 – On Tuesday March 20th federal regulatory administrators, state health and broadband officials and private health IT and technology experts met in Washington to discuss “Maximizing US Health IT and Broadband Investment” at BroadbandBreakfast.com’s monthly breakfas
FCC and Connect to Compete provide solutions for Cost of Broadband Adoption
WASHINGTON, Thursday November 10th 2011, The Federal Communications Commission’s Chairman Julius Genachowski announced what the Commission is touting as the “Biggest effort ever to help close the Digital Divide.” Following up on the launch of the Connect to Compete private and non profit sector p
Expert Opinion: Broadband Adventures in Wunderland: The Myth of the $7 million home
If it were a piece of classical music, the “study” by Navigant Economics’ Jeffrey Eisenach and Kevin Caves could easily be titled “Variations on a False Narrative in the key of F.” They claim, after a review of three (count ‘em, 3) of the hundreds of broadband grants, the broadband stimulus cost too
July Breakfast Club Examines Connect America Fund Transition
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2011 – The July Broadband Breakfast Club gathered key industry experts to discuss how the Universal Service Fund could be transformed to support next generation broadband communications technologies on Tuesday. “The Universal Service Fund (USF) has done a great job in getting p
Expert Opinion: The New Market Frontier in Technology
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
One Economy ‘Application for Good’ Winners Announced
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
Expert Opinion: Building the Gigabit State in Southern Illinois
CARBONDALE, Illinois, June 2, 2011 – Boiled down to its bare essentials, a major research university like Southern Illinois University here needs three things to prosper: good students, great faculty, and world-class internet bandwidth. The only major research university in the southern half of Ill
AT&T And One Economy Team Up At Broadband Properties Summit
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
Broadband Breakfast Panel Zooms In On Broadband Adoption
WASHINGTON April 20, 2011- National Telecommunications and Information Administration Deputy Administrator, Anna Gomez offered the keynote address Tuesday at this month’s Broadband Breakfast panel, opening an event where panelists explored how to best to expand broadband adoption and maximize access
Google To Launch Ultra High-Speed Broadband Pilot Program in Kansas City, Kansas
WASHINGTON, March 30, 2011 – Google announced Wednesday that it would launch a ultra high-speed network – which is capable of speeds more than 100 times faster than typical residential broadband – in Kansas City, Kansas, with service expected to begin sometime in 2012.
Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition Holds Broadband Summit
WASHINGTON March 30, 2011- The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition assembled broadband stimulus award winners and government officials for their inaugural broadband summit on Tuesday to share solutions and success in solving digital literacy and adoption issues. The SHLBC, formed two
Former FCC Officials Evaluate Implementation of National Broadband Plan
WASHINGTON March 17, 2011 – The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation brought key former broadband plan authors together Wednesday to discuss how the federal government is enacting the plan.
Internet2 Upgrades Speed to 8.8 Terabits per second
WASHINGTON March 10, 2011 – Internet2, the nationwide ultra high-speed education network, announced that it will increase the network’s speed by a factor of nearly 900. The network’s existing speed is already approximately 1,000 times as fast as a the fastest widely-available high-speed residential
Obama Likens Broadband To Electricity, Rails In Michigan Speech
WASHINGTON, February 10, 2011 – President Obama drew comparisons between high-speed Internet, the railroads and the electric grid during a speech in Marquette, Michigan on Thursday afternoon, commenting on their essential nature to the economy and calling for a renewed investment in broadband infras
Obama to Outline High-Speed Wireless Plan Thursday in Michigan
WASHINGTON, February 10, 2011 – President Obama is scheduled to deliver a speech at Northern Michigan University, Thursday, detailing his plan to catalyze his State of the Union pledge to deliver wireless Internet to 98 percent of Americans within five years. In addition to spurring businesses to r
Levin, Settles Square Off On Broadband Funding Debate
WASHINGTON, February 7, 2011 – Blair Levin, head of the team that authored the National Broadband Plan and Craig Settles, a leading industry analyst, debated at the New America Foundation on Monday the best way to deploy broadband to unserved and underserved areas.
Dept. of Agriculture Announces $34.7 million in High-Tech Grants
WASHINGTON, January 27, 2011 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced earlier this week the dispersal of $34.7 million in grants through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program.
Rockefeller to Focus on Fraud, Cybersecurity
WASHINGTON, January 24, 2011 – The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), released his legislative agenda for the upcoming year on Friday. The senator plans to prioritize three broad areas: economic security and growth, proactiv
E-Rate Report: Speed Problems Linger
WASHINGTON – A widely supported program intended to subsidize internet access for schools and libraries continues to fall short of its goals, according to a recent report from the Federal Communications Commission. The E-Rate program offers subsidies for schools and libraries to obtain broadband con
Hewlett-Packard to Pay $16.25 Million for Alleged E-Rate Fraud
WASHINGTON, November 11, 2010 – The Justice Department revealed Wednesday that it has reached a $16.25 million civil settlement with Hewlett-Packard for alleged E-rate fraud, following an investigation with the Federal Communications Commission. The program funds internet connections in schools and
Commerce Report Shows Diminishing Digital Divide
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.
Research Shows Broadband Adoption Related to Clear Need for Its Use
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.
Motion Picture Group Bolsters Online Safety Efforts
WASHINGTON, September 29, 2010 – The Family Online Safety Institute has announced that the Motion Picture Association of America has become its newest member.
E-Rate Enters 21st Century
WASHINGTON, September 24, 2010 – The Federal Communications Commission has decided to allow the E-rate program to subsidize more than basic internet service.
NTIA Gives $6.1 Million in Grants to North Carolina, Washington
WASHINGTON, September 16, 2010 – The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Thursday announced two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments, totaling $6.1 million in grants, to North Carolina and Washington.
Hawaii Wins $35.9 Million in BTOP Funds
WASHINGTON, September 13, 2010 – Hawaii has won broadband grants worth $35.9 million. The funds largely will be distributed to the University of Hawaii system.
FCC Lays Out Plans to Overhaul Universal Service Fund
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.
Human and Civil Rights Group Pushes FCC to Move Forward on Broadband Plan Proposals
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.
NTIA Institute Offers Training and Educational Videos for the Public
WASHINGTON, August 27, 2010 – Ever wanted to know how to build your own radar or the science of signal strength? The Institute of Telecommunications Sciences has released a collection of online training and educational videos [http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/video/] for the public that explain various te
FCC Heads to L.A. to Boost Broadband Awareness Among Asian Communities
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.
New Mexico to Receive $74.4 Million in Broadband Grants
WASHINGTON, August 16, 2010- New Mexico entities received a $10.6 million broadband stimulus grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and support for a $63.8 million project from the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture. The NTIA grant will be g
Chicago Receives $9 Million BTOP Grant
WASHINGTON July 30, 2010- The City of Chicago has won the latest Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant for $9 million. The money will be used to upgrade and expand public computing centers across the city.
Smithsonian, FCC and USDA Announce Online Learning Registry
WASHINGTON July 21, 2010- More than 150 rural education stakeholders and technology experts from 26 states came together to learn from one another and provide feedback to federal officials today. “Knowledge knows no boundaries and we cannot allow distance to stand between students, education and op
Levin Encourages Digital Citizenship
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2010 – The principal author of the National Broadband Plan has several suggestions on how to achieve universal first-class digital citizenship.
Genachowski Extols Broadband at International Telecommunications Union
WASHINGTON, May 27, 2010 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski spoke about the United States’ broadband development and challenges regarding education at the World Telecommunications Development Conference in Hyderabad, India. He addressed the International Telecommunicatio
An Organized Broadband System at the State Level
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2010 – The elements of an organized broadband system at the state level will vary depending upon geographic and economic characteristics. Urban and more populous areas will require middle-mile infrastructure to serve larger institutions, while existing last mile coverage may be
Report: Students Increasingly Use Digital Devices for Learning
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2010 – Project Tomorrow, a group advocating for better availability and use of digital technology in schools, visited Capitol Hill this week to discuss results of its annual survey of thousands of K-12 students across the nation.
White House Increases Funding for Math and Science Education
WASHINGTON, January 8, 2010 –President Obama on Wednesday expanded upon his “Educate to Innovate” campaign and announced an increase in funding for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. “Our future is on the line. The nation that out-educates us today is going to out-compete
Report: New Innovative Schools Should Work Outside of ‘No Child Left Behind’
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2009 – Information technology can enable 21st century schools by creating a student-centered learning environment where students learn at their own pace and help teachers guide students as they actively pursue their own learning path, rather than simply present information to a passive audience.
That was the message
Connecting Broadband Networks and Applications in NTIA Proposals
LAKE FOREST, Ill., July 19, 2009 – The NTIA’s BTOP program tracks the old NTIA Technology Opportunities Program. There are going to be maximum awards for those applications which attempt to solve multiple policy objectives, on the “biggest bang for the stimulus buck” theory. And states are going to
Economic Progress in India Depends Upon Rural Telecommunications
WASHINGTON, July 2 – In order for India’s phenomenal economic success to continue, telecommunications must be extended into rural areas, an Indian expert said during a Wednesday discussion about the growing economic clout of India.
Baller: McCain and Obama Should Issue Joint Statement on Broadband
WASHINGTON, June 23 – Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama should issue a statement underscoring the importance of broadband in the United States, said one proponent of a national broadband strategy.