House Appropriations
Luke Hogg: To Close the Digital Divide, Streamline Federal Funding
‘It is time for the United States to end its haphazard approach to closing the digital divide.’
Funding
Lawmakers and GAO Call for National Strategy to Address ‘Fragmented’ Broadband Programs
The GAO report identified 25 different broadband-focused funding programs, but some lawmakers argued that all are important.
Expert Opinion
Johnny Kampis: Federal Bureaucracy an Impediment to Broadband on Tribal Lands
18% of people living on Tribal lands lack broadband access, compared to 4% of residents in non-tribal areas.
FCC
Library and Education Technology Groups Pan FCC Proposal for New E-Rate Procurement
Responders fear that updating the E-Rate process will increase complexity for applicants.
FCC
National Broadband Plan Legislation Introduced in Senate
The strategy would identify gaps and limitations that would hinder coordination across federal broadband programs.
Infrastructure
Watchdog Report Calls for National Broadband Strategy to Reduce Broadband Fund Inefficiencies
The GAO report found many different federal broadband programs prone to inefficiencies.
Athena
GAO on Broadband Subsidy Strategy, Facebook Departure, Advocacy Groups’ Tech Antitrust Push
The federal agency says Congress must develop a new national strategy on broadband programs.
House Transportation
Congressional Witnesses Say Lack of Agency Resources is Holding Back Government Cybersecurity Efforts
House Freedom Caucus Rep. Scott Perry calls GOP supporters of the bipartisan infrastructure measure “socialist-voting members.”
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
Will Rinehart: Early Reports Show the Emergency Broadband Benefit is Not Reaching Its Intended Audience
A new county-level data and maps will help researchers and leaders understand impacts of the EBB program.
RUS
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Discuss Broadband at Senate Hearing
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2018 – Questions about how the federal government will be involved in rolling out the next-generation infrastructure for wireless, known as 5G (for 5th generation) remained after a Wednesday infrastructure hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee. “With the rise of the internet
FCC
Broadband Roundup: Incumbents Defend Data Caps, Comcast Cites Competition for Merger, and Wheeler Seeks Diversity of Media Ownership
WASHINGTON, September 24, 2014 –Verizon Communications and AT&T are urging the Federal Communications Commission to include the use of data caps in the agency’s definition of broadband. Including usage-based pricing in its definition is important because companies that use universal service funds to
Broadband Mapping and Data
GAO Study Finds that Broadband Data Caps are Causing Customer Confusion and Less Internet Use
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2014 – Internet service providers are adopting more usage-based pricing models and consumers may be using the internet less as a result, according to preliminary results from a Government Accountability Office study. Consumers may also be neglecting benefits of lower-cost models
Infrastructure
GAO Report Sees Tough Implementation of National Broadband Plan
WASHINGTON, October 13, 2010 – The United States plans to take actions to promote broadband similar to other nations, but achieving the goals will be challenging, says a new government report.
FCC
GAO Report Addresses Benefits, Concerns of Wireless Industry Consolidation
WASHINGTON, August 26, 2010 – A new government report released publicly on Thursday reviews changes in the wireless industry since 2000 and addresses its effects, including carrier consolidation and competitiveness.
Broadband's Impact
House Passes Telework Bill
WASHINGTON, July 14, 2010- With a vote of 290-131 the House of Representatives has passed the Telework Improvements Act of 2010 which expands telework options for federal employees. During the snow storms which occurred this past winter the federal government lost $71 million in productivity for eac
Infrastructure
At Kickoff of FCC Workshops, Genachowski Calls Broadband ‘Infrastructure Challenge of the Generation’
WASHINGTON, January 5, 2010 – BroadbandBreakfast.com has been actively covering the workshops of the Federal Communications Commission as the agency prepares its national broadband plan. We have covered all of the workshops since late August. In preparation for assembling the complete collection of
