1. Monthly archive
  2. March 2022

March 2022

The American Rescue Plan People Difference

On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act into law, an unprecedented $1.9 trillion package of emergency assistance measures. 20 states have already invested Fiscal Recovery Funds to expand broadband access—in addition to $10 billion Capital Projects Fund which they can use to help ensure that all communities have access to the high-quality, modern infrastructure needed to access critical services, including broadband. Even with more on the way, states and territories have already announced about $9 billion in ARP investments to expand high speed intern

Provider Associations Urge FCC Not to Complicate Broadband Labels

In comments filed with the Federal Communications Commission, broadband service provider associations urged the FCC not to complicate the consumer labels that will be required at the point of sale for broadband services.

Northwest FiberworX and Lamoille FiberNet announce plans to expand broadband internet in Vermont

A publicly owned, open-access fiber network could be on the way for 31 Vermont communities. Northwest FiberworX and Lamoille FiberNet are two communications union districts that have agreed to build and own an open-access fiber network. The network would host multiple service providers with the intention of serving everyone in its communities on the grid, both homes and businesses. Sean Kio, the executive director of Northwest FiberworX, says 50 to 60 percent of the estimated $109 million in costs will come from state and federal grants.

Hamilton, Ohio, to offer broadband to all businesses

Hamilton (OH) has offered broadband services for some businesses during a beta test, but now is opening it up to any business in the city. City Council approved legislation that will implement a permanent offering for broadband services. “The intent is to provide local, reliable, affordable utilities to our customers and to provide those at a level of service that’s requested by our community,” said Edwin Porter, Hamilton’s executive director of Infrastructure.

FCC Announces Additional Program Integrity Measures to Protect Consumer Choice in the Affordable Connectivity Program and Lifeline Program

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announced that it is implementing additional measures to strengthen program integrity surrounding the enrollment of households in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) who also qualify for the Lifeline benefit. Consumer choice and consent are fundamental principles for both the Affordable Connectivity Program and the Lifeline program. No provider should undermine those principles or take advantage of consumers.

Tippecanoe County, Indiana, invests $15 million in American Rescue Plan funds for broadband

Broadband internet will reach nearly all parts of Tippecanoe County (IN) after work finishes on a multi-million-dollar project. It's one of several county projects paid for by President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan. "Tippecanoe County will be one of the first to be able to say that we have that type of service to every single parcel," County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh says. "These are remote areas.

Q&A with Shirley Bloomfield: How Broadband Will Drive a Rural Renaissance

As the CEO of NTCA, Shirley Bloomfield represents an organization that supports 850 independent telecom providers driving broadband service opportunities in the rural and small-town US. With more than 30 years of experience representing the nation’s most rural operators, Bloomfield is an expert on how federal communications policies can sustain the vitality of rural and remote communities and the benefits rural broadband networks offer to millions of US families, businesses and the national economy.

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