1. Monthly archive
  2. June 2022

June 2022

What $2.5 billion can buy: The effect of the Broadband Initiatives Program on farm productivity

This paper investigates whether the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), implemented as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) had a positive impact on farm productivity, defined as farm sales per farm employment, in the counties that received any BIP funding. The effect of BIP on the growth of farm sales was examined for the 2008–2010, 2008–2011, 2008–2012 and 2008–2013 periods.

Baltimore Looks to Expand Internet Access by Building Its Own Network

Baltimore has an audacious goal to build a city-owned broadband service that could give its poorest residents equal access to digital resources for education, medical services and jobs. The plan lands the port city an hour from the nation’s capital squarely in the middle of a national debate over who deserves a chunk of the $95 billion in federal funding Congress allocated to close the digital divide. It also pits local officials against Comcast, the cable giant that already serves the city. “Access is too important to leave to the market and private actors.

Amidst aging infrastructure, Ashland seeks to modernize city-owned internet

Ashland, Oregon, created the Ashland Fiber Network in the late 1990s, after discovering the city’s only internet provider wouldn’t upgrade its infrastructure to meet rising demands. Ashland decided to offer its own internet service. Now all this equipment is starting to become outdated. While AFN was a pioneer for city-owned internet at its inception, the service has since fallen behind other municipal fiber networks.

$400 million in COVID recovery funds will bring broadband to rural Tennessee communities

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is using $400 million worth of coronavirus recovery funds to fund new broadband infrastructure projects in remote areas. 218 internet service providers applied for the grant money, which is more than double what it’s been in previous years. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development plans to announce the grant winners during summer 2022.

$13 million in broadband grants will support 86 Massachusetts entities

Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA) announced that $13 million in Community Compact Grants will support 86 entities within the Municipal Fiber grant program. The funds are to be used to construct or complete municipal fiber networks to create efficient management of information technology infrastructure while creating opportunities to progress economies of scale through bandwidth purchases and other security programs. Lt. Gov.

Pennsylvania’s definition of broadband hasn’t changed in nearly 20 years

Everyone in Pennsylvania has access to broadband—at least, according to the definition set by state lawmakers in the early 2000s. But ask residents of rural areas about their internet speeds, and you’ll likely hear about slow connections and outdated technology. In 1993, the state legislature approved a sweeping measure they hoped would guarantee universal access to high-speed internet in Pennsylvania.

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