1. Monthly archive
  2. May 2024

May 2024

$3.3 Billion Investment in Racine, Wisconsin, and How Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is Driving Economic Comebacks in Communities Across the Country

On land left vacant by Foxconn’s failed investment in Racine County (WI), Microsoft will invest $3.3 billion in a new datacenter. Microsoft is committed to creating good-paying jobs with growth pathways and comprehensive benefits such as paid family leave. Microsoft will pair its datacenter investment with a commitment to investing in innovation and workforce in Racine and statewide.

Wireless Infrastructure Associaton Partners with HBCUs to Connect Minority Communities with Careers in Broadband

As a national leader in developing the broadband workforce, the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) is proud to announce it has launched a new Connecting Minority Communities Apprenticeship Consortium (CMCAC) with three HBCUs: Central State University, Tennessee State University, and Virginia State University. Apprenticeships are a proven model for building a diverse and highly skilled workforce to meet the demands of broadband and 5G buildout.

Sponsor 

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Date 
Wed, 05/22/2024 - 13:00 to 14:00

A discussion about the crucial role broadband champions play in addressing the connectivity needs in their communities.

Dr. Pierrette Renee Dagg, Director of Research at Merit Network and an inaugural Marjorie & Charles Benton Opportunity Fund Fellow, will present her research based on in-depth profiles of six Michigan communities that organized themselves to address their broadband needs.


The Affordable Connectivity Program Has a Lifeline in the Senate

There’s a new plan to revive the Affordable Connectivity Program, a pandemic-era initiative that provides low-income households in the US with discounts on high-speed internet access. A bipartisan group of senators, led by Sen Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) have proposed using a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization measure as a vehicle for funding the ACP and other telecom programs for a combined $6 billion.

Analysis

Understanding What Makes Broadband Champions

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Understanding What Makes Broadband Champions

Broadband champions can be the decisive factors in efforts to improve community connectivity. The work of broadband champions has been shaped by the particularities of their broadband contexts: the local political will, the existing providers, the topography, and the wide-ranging motivations and strategies. What they have in common is their dedication, which has proved to be crucial in helping their communities get high-speed broadband.

Proposed bulk billing ban takes heat at Broadband Communities Summit

Linda Willey, who delivered a keynote address discussing the state of the multifamily industry on behalf of the National Multifamily Housing Council at the Broadband Communities Summit, said a current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposal to ban bulk billing offers a “serious threat for industry operations and the future of affordable broadband access for residents.” Out of over 92,600 units offered at Camden’s properties, Willey said less than .05 percent of residents moved out because of the bulk technology packages offered by Camden, according to recent data from the company.

© 1994-2025 Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. All Rights Reserved.