1. Monthly archive
  2. November 2022

November 2022

Sponsor: 

Next Century Cities

Date: 
Thu, 12/08/2022 - 14:00

Digital Planet is an interdisciplinary research initiative of The Fletcher School’s Institute for Business at Tufts University. Using publicly available data from the US Census Bureau, BroadbandNow, and Microsoft, Digital Planet created an interactive broadband mapping toolkit to pinpoint broadband access gaps and affordability deserts by zip code nationwide.

A discussion on how local, state, and federal policymakers and community leaders can use data from the interactive tool to inform broadband strategies.


It’s No Time to Disarm in the War Against the Digital Divide

The pandemic spurred policymakers and community leaders around the country to create programs to connect those without home broadband service or computers. These programs have had an impact. New government data show sharp increases in broadband and computer adoption in the 2019-to-2021 time frame. Initiatives such as the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) have helped address “subscription vulnerability” for low-income households. With progress evident, it is time to extend and build on the ACP and local affordability programs.

In Satellites, Antitrust Could Lead to Less Competition

For stock investors, a new risk is orbiting the satellite market: By trying to preserve competition, antitrust regulators could end up placing even more power in the hands of a privately-owned behemoth—Elon Musk‘s Starlink. California’s Viasat announced a $7.3 billion takeover of British satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat in late 2021, making it a centerpiece in the long-awaited consolidation of the satellite market. Yet, despite the deal being cleared by the U.K.

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