1. Monthly archive
  2. December 2024

December 2024

Commitment to Connect Every Household and Business to the Internet Advances

Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), the agency leading the statewide expansion of broadband and digital opportunity in Maine, announces the enrollment portal for the Working Internet ASAP (WIA) Program is now open. Approximately 1.5 percent of Maine homes and businesses have no access to any type of internet service or technology, and this program provides the option for connectivity to these previously unreachable locations.

Charter CEO thinks satellite has an edge in rural areas

Low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite is poised to play a bigger role in the broadband landscape come 2025, and Charter seems to be all for it. Charter CEO Chris Winfrey said although satellite broadband is even more “capacity constrained” than fixed wireless access, he acknowledged it could provide “decent service” in rural areas. Deploying satellite broadband makes sense if there’s not much financial incentive for operators like Charter to come into those markets. Charter is currently building at around “10 homes per mile” in its subsidized rural footprint, said Winfrey.

Charter CEO: 'We need to break through' against FWA

Charter Communications is "not standing still" as it explores new ways to compete with fixed wireless access (FWA), says CEO Chris Winfrey. But Charter's top executive also stressed that the cable industry still needs to do more to demonstrate how it matches up on price, reliability and performance. He said the relatively low price of FWA services is often combined with a bundle that includes a high-priced mobile service.

Biden-Harris Administration Approves and Recommends for Award Rhode Island's Digital Equity Capacity Grant Application for More Than $4.5 Million

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved and recommended for award an application from Rhode Island, allowing the state to request access to more than $4.5 million to implement its Digital Equity Plan. This funding comes from the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, one of three Digital Equity Act grant programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Rhode Island will use the $4,540,059 in funding to implement key digital equity initiatives, including:  

FCC Modifies Letter of Credit Rules to Facilitate Broadband Buildout

The Federal Communications Commission adopted changes to rules governing letters of credit to relieve administrative and financial burdens on broadband providers receiving certain types of high-cost support from the FCC’s Universal Service Fund. Letters of credit are an important safeguard for certain high-cost programs and today’s approved changes will increase the number of banks qualified to issue letters of credit and ultimately free up capital for deployment.

FCC Opens Entire 6 GHz Band To Very Low Power Device Operations

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to expand very low power device operations across all 1,200 megahertz of the 6 GHz band alongside other unlicensed and Wi-Fi-enabled devices. This added flexibility in the 6 GHz band will bolster a growing eco-system of cutting-edge applications like wearable technologies and augmented and virtual reality, which will enhance learning opportunities, improve healthcare outcomes, and bring new entertainment experiences.

The Digital Equity Researcher Inventory

The Digital Equity Researcher Inventory is a listing of researchers who have published research about broadband adoption and digital inclusion. Researchers from a multitude of academic disciplines and types of organizations have contributed to what we know about digital equity. The diversity of disciplines and sectors that researchers come from represents a rich variety of approaches to research and it demonstrates the importance of digital equity across fields.

Attorney General Michelle Henry Leads Coalition in Letter to the FCC Seeking Better Customer Service from Internet, Cable, and Voice Providers

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry (D-PA) is leading a coalition of Attorneys General in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of rules that would require internet, cable, voice, and broadcast satellite providers to take some of the pain out of routine customer service calls and allow for better consumer choices. Attorney General Henry and the coalition are supporting efforts by the FCC to expand existing requirements—that are currently only applicable to cable providers—to all providers.

Starlink in the News

There is a lot of speculation that Starlink is positioned to get a lot more federal subsidy from the BEAD grant program. There are a few things that have to happen for that to come to pass, but that is not the only news about Starlink these days. Starlink announced in September that it reached four million customers worldwide. What is most impressive about that announcement is the rate of growth, with the company just hitting the three million customer mark in May of 2024.

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