1. Monthly archive
  2. June 2024

June 2024

Windstream Offers Free Upgrades to Kinetic Fiber

Windstream is offering free upgrades to its Kinetic fiber broadband service to 33,000 customers currently served by slower speed DSL infrastructure. The company is calling the initiative “Project Glass Echo.” Eligible DSL customers can get speeds of 300Mbps at no extra charge on their monthly bills, regardless of what speed they were previously receiving, said Ben Midanek, Windstream’s chief marketing officer for Kinetic. There are eligible customers throughout Windstream’s 18-state footprint.

FCC Maps versus Broadband Labels

I have been complaining for years about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mapping rule that allow internet service providers (ISPs) to claim marketing speeds instead of something closer to actual speeds. That allows ISPs to report speeds that benefit them in some manner rather than being truthful to the public. There have been big consequences as a result of this FCC decision. Historically, the maps didn't mean much, as they were only used for the FCC's reports to Congress.

ACP: The Fight Isn’t Over

Starting in June, 23 million households in the US will have to make a difficult decision: pay more for their monthly internet bill or cut their budget somewhere else to pay for it or go without internet access. This is because the federal subsidy that one in six households has relied on to connect to the internet each month ran out of funds at the end of May. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has lapsed but isn’t dead yet.

Workshop 297 Report: Digital Inclusion Through a Multilingual Internet

On October 13, 2023, in Kyoto, IGF Workshop #297 brought subject matter experts together with interested members of the IGF Community to discuss the policy issues involved in achieving a multilingual Internet.

Talking BEAD Rounds, State’s Big Investment and More with Wisconsin Broadband Director

Wisconsin broadband director Alyssa Kenney acknowledges that leading a state broadband office might not be for everyone. But she described the job as exactly what she is looking for because it’s “challenging, exciting and feeds my need to be constantly learning.

FCC Commissioner Starks Adds Flynn Rico-Johnson to Staff

Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks announced that Flynn Rico-Johnson has joined his office as Policy Advisor for wireless, space, and international issues. Mr. Rico-Johnson previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Ranking Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Prior to his service in the House, Mr. Rico-Johnson was Legislative Assistant to Senator Amy Klobuchar, and managed government affairs for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

Connections and Collaboration in the Mountains

On June 4, the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at North Carolina State University, in partnership with the Dogwood Health Trust, hosted Digital Opportunities: Growing Connections Across North Carolina at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock.

ACP vs Private Low-Income Plans

I applaud private efforts to address low-income adoption, particularly Comcast’s Internet Essentials, which is the oldest and most extensive program. Comcast started the program in 2011 and has continually studied and changed the program to improve its outcomes. That is the path the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress should follow with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

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