USDA

USDA

USDA Needs Greater Flexibility in Deployment of Broadband Authority, Says RUS Administrator Andy Berke

Director of RUS called for more flexibility in how it administers federal funds.

USDA

Community Broadband Bill, USDA Technical Assistance Funding, Brian Vo on Public Knowledge Board

Bill by Rep. Anna Eshoo and Sen. Cory Booker would preempt state laws prohibiting municipal broadband projects using public funds.

Expert Opinion

Todd Rigby: How to Troubleshoot Digital Infrastructure Networks Across Industries

In a mesh network, individual devices act as both clients and routers, creating a decentralized digital ecosystem that can expand.

USDA

Sen. John Thune Launches Broadband Oversight Effort

Thune distributed a letter dated Tuesday seeking stakeholder input.

USDA

States and Municipalities Should Move Quickly on Infrastructure Funding, BEAD or Not

Beginning financial planning early and allow time to tweak statutes that may stand in the way of certain funding options.

Infrastructure

Rural Broadband Author Touts Local Ownership of Networks

Christopher Ali wrote a book about the failures of rural broadband policies and leadership last year.

FCC

ReConnect Funding, More Emergency Connectivity Fund Money, 5G Training Grant in South Africa

The Agriculture Department announced $502M will go to service providers in 20 states.

Rural

FCC Urged to Address Overbuilding and Broadband Tech Neutrality in Agency Coordination

The FCC should incorporate the mapping data from local governments to avoid overbuilding, ensure technology neutrality.

ReConnect

Agriculture Department Announces Fourth Round of ReConnect Funding

The announcement is the second round of ReConnect funding in fiscal year 2022.

USDA

FTC Sues Meta, USDA Awards $401M for Broadband, Ookla Acquires CellRebel

‘Meta in recent years has set its sights on building, and ultimately controlling, a VR ‘metaverse.’

Broadband Live

Broadband Breakfast for Lunch on June 8, 2022 — Preparing for Federal Broadband Funding with the Rural Utilities Service’s Christopher McLean

Join Acting Rural Utilities Service Administrator Chris McLean on June 8 at Broadband Breakfast for Lunch

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021

Christopher Ali: How the U.S. Department of Agriculture is Quietly Reshaping Broadband Policy

In the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress reversed USDA’s ReConnect criteria in three crucial ways.

Infrastructure

NTIA Urging Partnerships with Local Broadband Officials for Infrastructure Money

The NTIA held a webinar urging local partnerships for applicants of the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act.

Broadband Live

Broadband Breakfast for Lunch on March 9, 2022 — Preparing for the IIJA’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program

We will explore what the government, states and infrastructure builders – public and private – should be doing to prepare.

ReConnect

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.

USDA

USDA Hires Lumen, Ligado Marketing Services, IRS Facial ID, New Public Knowledge Hire

The Department of Agriculture awarded Lumen a $1.2-billion, 11-year contract for data services.