Funding

FAA

NTIA Head Says Agency Is Currently Testing Military Equipment’s Sensitivity to 5G

Davidson said that he hopes to avoid inter-agency conflicts such as last month’s dispute with airlines over 5G interference.

Infrastructure

Applicants for Infrastructure Bill Money Should Get to Know State Broadband Offices

Those interested in federal money should engage in outreach, build solid teams, Broadband.Money head Jase Wilson said.

Expert Opinion

Mike O’Rielly: Don’t Repeat Past Mistakes, or How to Wisely Spend Federal Broadband Money

Universal broadband has not been achieved, in part, because previous grant funding has often been misspent.

Tribal

ReConnect Rep Warns of ISPs Asking for More Subsidies Than Needed for Builds

Shekinah Pepper said Wednesday tribal communities should be on alert for service providers asking for chunks of subsidies upfront.

IIJA

Stakeholders Argue Over Whether Middle-Mile Should Receive Infrastructure Bill Funding

Debate at an NTIA event over whether or not funding should go to the middle-mile.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Bill Brings New Focus on Decision Making at Community Level

Funneling of infrastructure funds through states differs from Obama-era broadband programs.

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.

IIJA

NTIA Official Says Rural Broadband Funds Do Not Disqualify Area from New Broadband Monies

While NTIA will interpret grant funding under the law, it’s up to states to determine where to allocate money.

IIJA

Digital Equity the Focus at NTIA’s Listening Session on Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act

Attendees questioned how digital equity progress can be measured and how underserved populations are educated on technology use.

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.

Marsha Blackburn

Senate Confirms Davidson as National Telecommunications and Information Administration Chief

Bipartisan vote confirms Davidson atop the Commerce Department agency. It has a large pile of money to spend on broadband.

Cybersecurity

Congress Must Avoid ‘Overly Prescriptive’ Incident Reporting To Avoid Missing Larger Cyberattacks

Too many reports could burden federal officials, said the executive director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation.

Marsha Blackburn

CES 2022: Multiple U.S. Senators Highlight Rollout of Biden Infrastructure Bill as a Top 2022 Tech Priority

Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Shelley Moore Capito listed infrastructure fund disbursement among their foremost focuses for the coming year.

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.

Commerce

Commerce Department’s NTIA Issues Request for Comment on IIJA

Comments are due on February 4, 2022, focused on the infrastructure grants, middle-mile program, and digital equity planning grants.