Press Release

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) awarded grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) ‘Internet for All’ Initiative, including the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Workforce Planning Program and Digital Equity Outreach Program.

Treasury approved $540.2 million for high-speed internet projects in California under the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF)—the largest single-infusion of broadband funding to a state under CPF. California will use its funding to connect approximately 127,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet. California’s Last Mile Broadband Expansion grant program is a new competitive grant program designed to provide internet access to areas of the state currently lacking access to reliable broadband at speeds of 25/3 Mbps.

UTOPIA Fiber,  America’s largest open access fiber network, built more than 4,387 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure in 2022 throughout Utah, Idaho, and Montana. This impressive feat was accomplished facing fierce headwinds from supply chain constraints and labor market shortages. Additionally, UTOPIA Fiber inked the deal to provide residential services to its 20^th Utah city, while also completing fiber buildouts in 14 cities, including UTOPIA’s 11 original cities.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch (R-IN) and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced more Hoosiers will gain access to high-speed broadband as a result of $842,865 awarded in the fifth round of the Indiana Connectivity Program (ICP).

The Federal Communications Commission is committing over $2.5 million in a new funding round through the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program, which provides digital services for students in communities across the country.

Consolidated Communications will bring Fidium fiber internet to 22,000 rural Maine homes and businesses as part of the Connect Maine Partnership, supported by a $18.3 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This project will bolster Consolidated’s ongoing work to build fiber-to-the-premises broadband networks to more than 70% of the Company’s service area by 2025.

Kansas City's Digital Equity Office is proud to receive the Missouri Office of Broadband Development's Digital Demonstration Project Grant for $25,000. Kansas City's Digital Equity Office will utilize this grant money to promote participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The Digital Equity Office will partner with Essential Families, a not-for-profit community-based organization, to help enroll eligible Kansas City residents into the ACP. This money will specifically go toward the city's outreach efforts, including:

The Aspen Institute and HP Inc. announced the selection of ten not-for-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations in Malaysia, Mexico, and South Africa for the 2023 Digital Equity Accelerator. Each organization is working toward the digital inclusion of marginalized populations and, with the support of the Accelerator, is poised to expand its reach and impact over the next six months. Selected organizations include:

The Federal Communications Commission officially launched its new Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs on April 11, 2023.

The United Kingdom announced its wireless infrastructure strategy on April 11, 2023. As part of this effort, the UK aims to deliver nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030, ensuring that it can bring its full benefits to villages and rural communities well beyond cities and towns. The Prime Minister has set out 5 priorities for the UK government - to build a better, more secure, more prosperous future for the UK, including growing the economy, and creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country, which this strategy is focused on delivering.