What you need to know about the municipal broadband debate

As communities around the US work to close their digital divides, more and more are pursuing municipal broadband networks as a solution. As a recent example, in mid-January 2024, the state of New York was awarded $228 million by the Treasury Department for a grant program that will provide funding to "municipalities, non-profits, and other entities to construct open and accessible public broadband infrastructure." The program is expected to connect "tens of thousands of homes statewide," according to the state. New York is not alone. In this short video documentary, Light Reading looks into the current state of municipal broadband, why and where it's helping to close the digital divide, and why certain groups are trying to stop it.