Thursday, January 4, 2024
Headlines Daily Digest
Guiding Texas' Digital Opportunity Investments
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Funding for Broadband through Advance Colorado Broadband Grant Program
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FOCUS Broadband announced the completion of its ReConnect Grant in Columbus County (NC). With the project’s completion, more than 2,750 homes and businesses in rural parts of the county surrounding Tabor City, Hallsboro, Bolton, Lake Waccamaw, and areas north of Whiteville now have access to high-speed fiber optic internet services. This project was made possible through a $7.9 million ReConnect grant awarded to the company by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in December of 2019. As part of the project, FOCUS Broadband matched the grant funding with an additional $7.9 million for a total investment of nearly $16 million for this project. To date, FOCUS Broadband has been awarded more than $28 million dollars in state and federal grant funding to make high-speed internet available to over 10,000 homes and businesses in Columbus County. The company has also contributed an additional $15 million dollars in matching funds since 2011.
Governor Polis and Colorado Broadband Office Announce Unprecedented Funding for Broadband through Advance Colorado Broadband Grant Program
Governor Jared Polis (D-CO) announced the first of multiple investments using stimulus funding from the US Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF) program. The Polis administration will use $113 million from CPF to make major, long-term improvements, including expanding the state’s broadband infrastructure and connecting Colorado homes without internet access. CPF will connect nearly 19,000 homes and businesses across all of Colorado with these funds. The biggest positive impact will be in the south and southwest parts of the state, where there is the largest number of unserved and underserved locations. Colorado is committed to connecting 99 percent of households to broadband by 2027. Awarded projects at the link below.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) awarded a total of more than $7.9 million through the second round of the Cell Towers Grant Program. Grants will be awarded to 14 projects to construct new towers that provide quality cellular service and greater 911 connectivity to high-cost areas. The program, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), is focused on investing in the expansion of cellular service statewide. Projects receiving funds through the Cell Towers Grant Program’s second round are expected to serve more than 18,000 high-need locations that previously lacked quality cellular service. The program, administered by DED’s Office of Broadband Development, was launched in May 2023 and awarded competitive grants to applicants who also contributed private funding in addition to grant funds. Each project awarded through this round will result in the construction of one cellular tower, for a total of 14 new towers built statewide.
FloridaCommerce Announces More Than $13 Million Available in Broadband Grant Funding to Equip Communities with Digital Devices
FloridaCommerce announced that more than $13 million in broadband grant funding is available through the Capital Projects Fund Digital Connectivity Technology Program to connect communities with digital devices. The program connects communities in need of broadband Internet access with funds for devices and equipment for digital workforce, education, and healthcare opportunities — like applying for a job, securing a degree, and attending a telehealth appointment. Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, non-profit organizations, and community action agencies serving high poverty areas. Funding through the Digital Connectivity Technology Program expands broadband access by making computers, laptops, tablets and routers available for loan through local community centers like libraries and schools and equips Multi-Purpose Community Facilities with the devices necessary to ensure full connectivity throughout the facility. Eligible entities are encouraged to apply by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time on March 4, 2024, at FloridaJobs.org/Broadband.
I’m working with several small cities that were recently notified that the existing cable company plans to upgrade its network. In these cities, the cable company still operates a DOCSIS 3.0 network. The networks have download speeds a little faster than 100 Megabits per second (Mbps), and upload speeds are under 10 Mbps. These cities are currently considered to be underserved and are eligible for BEAD grants. I talked to the State Broadband Offices in several states about the issue of announced upgrades coming just in front of the final BEAD map challenges. I was told that this is suddenly a common issue, and they are seeing claims of upcoming upgrades across their state. Part of this issue comes is due to the FCC mapping rules about how providers are allowed to claim broadband speeds. Internet service providers are allowed to declare marketing speeds instead of actual speeds. If your city or county is currently BEAD eligible and you are told by providers that upgrades are coming soon, you should talk to your state broadband office. The claims of upgrades could be real. But the worst possible scenario is for an internet service provider to claim an upcoming upgrade to eliminate the BEAD funding and then make no upgrade.
The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO), under the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, developed the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan to guide non-infrastructure-related digital opportunity investments. Another aim is to position the BDO to receive State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration (NTIA). The focus is on closing the digital divide in Texas and ensuring every Texan has the skills and abilities to fully and safely utilize broadband access provided by the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and other sources of funding. BDO is accepting public comment through January 5, 2024.
The next chapter in cable and fiber networks will see cable operators focus on a new phase of their widely deployed hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks as telephone companies – and some cable operators – maintain their pursuit of speedier passive optical network (PON) and Ethernet technologies. DOCSIS 4.0 represents the next generation of HFC, enabling symmetrical multi-gigabit speeds, enhanced security and lower latency. The products and technologies that will underpin DOCSIS 4.0 are expected to mature in the coming year as modem makers start to develop devices that are powered by a new generation of chipsets. Out on the network, expect suppliers to continue pushing amplifiers and other outside plant equipment focused on 1.8Giga Hertz technology – a key component of future D4.0 upgrades that will utilize the ESD option.
T-Mobile’s planned satellite-to-cellphone service came a step closer now that SpaceX Starlink has begun launching satellites that will support the service. Field testing is expected to begin soon. When available, the service will enable T-Mobile customers to have cellphone connectivity in areas where traditional service is not available, and may never be, because of land use restrictions or difficult terrain. T-Mobile and SpaceX announced plans for the satellite-to-cellphone service in August of 2022. Implementing those plans is taking longer than expected, as the companies said at that time that they expected to begin supporting initial communications, supporting text only, in 2023. A launch date for the service has not yet been set. According to a press release from SpaceX and T-Mobile, the service will support voice and data coverage in “the coming years.”
Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) introduced the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act, ambitious legislation to promote transparency in artificial intelligence foundation models. The AI Foundation Model Transparency Act would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to set standards for what information high-impact foundation models must provide to the FTC and what information they must make available to the public. Information identified for increased transparency would include training data used, how the model is trained, and whether user data is collected in inference. The AI Foundation Model Transparency Act would also:
- Direct companies to provide consumers and the FTC with information on the model’s training data, model training mechanisms, and whether user data is collected in inference; and
- Protect small deployers and researchers, while seeking responsible transparency practices from our highest-impact foundation models.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Federal Register Notice to seek expressions of interest from individuals who would like to serve on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority Board or Board). The Board works closely with the FirstNet Authority management and is responsible for providing overall policy direction and strategic guidance. The FirstNet Authority is responsible for the deployment and operation of the FirstNet Network, a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network based on a single, national network architecture. In 2024, there will be 11 board seats with expiring terms, making these positions available for new appointments and reappointments of existing Board members for a three-year term. Expressions of interest must be emailed on or before February 2, 2024, and need to include:
- Full name, title, organization, address, telephone number, email address;
- Current resume;
- Brief bio;
- Statement of qualifications that references how the candidate satisfies the Act’s expertise, representational, and geographic requirements for FirstNet Authority Board membership, as described in this Notice; and
- A statement describing why the candidate wants to serve on the FirstNet Authority Board, affirming their ability and availability to take a regular and active role in the Board’s work.
Benton (www.benton.org) provides the only free, reliable, and non-partisan daily digest that curates and distributes news related to universal broadband, while connecting communications, democracy, and public interest issues. Posted Monday through Friday, this service provides updates on important industry developments, policy issues, and other related news events. While the summaries are factually accurate, their sometimes informal tone may not always represent the tone of the original articles. Headlines are compiled by Kevin Taglang (headlines AT benton DOT org), Grace Tepper (grace AT benton DOT org), and Zoe Walker (zwalker AT benton DOT org) — we welcome your comments.
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