The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition and New America’s Open Technology Institute (OTI) released a new report and case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of connecting low-income students and households to the internet by extending school, library, and other “anchor institution” networks into the community. The case studies show that both large and small school districts, including Council Bluffs (Iowa) and Fresno (California), are using a variety of wireless technologies and partnerships to permanently close the homework gap. During the pandemic, an estimated 15 to 17 million students were cut off from remote learning due to a lack of home connectivity. In response, SHLB, OTI and other advocates petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to allow off-campus use of services funded by E-Rate and permit local schools and libraries to use these funds to directly connect student households to affordable broadband. The case studies describe how changes in wireless technology allow anchor institutions to become hubs for extending affordable internet service to the surrounding community, often by partnering with the private sector. Lead researcher, Dr. Raul Katz of Telecom Advisory Services, concludes that building broadband networks “to-and-through” anchor institutions is often the most cost-effective and financially sustainable option to connect students in rural and underserved areas, challenging a narrative that claims this approach is too costly.

Fort Worth, Texas, is partnering with Cisco Systems to offer free Wi-Fi within five of the city's underserved neighborhoods, potentially providing Internet access to as many as 40,000 residents this fall. The outbreak of COVID-19 exposed connectivity challenges in Fort Worth, illustrating the importance of residents having access to a reliable Internet connection at home to participate in education, healthcare and employment opportunities. The idea is that the five neighborhoods — Ash Crescent, Como, Northside, Rosemont and Stop Six — will receive free Wi-Fi under an expanded city network called CFW Neighborhood, which is already active at libraries and community centers in Fort Worth, an approach new research has found value in. This new public-private partnership will basically extend the existing network much further, making it cover the homes in the five neighborhoods, too, which are home to roughly 40,000 residents. To achieve this, the city is using radio technology to amplify the existing fiber-optic infrastructure. The city decided to expand wireless internet connectivity because of how quick the process is to expand Wi-Fi networks compared to traditional fiber infrastructure deployment.

Two new programs will help leaders and local government officials address their community’s needs in practical, efficient, clear-eyed ways, with sensitivity to all the things that make their community unique: the "Urban Digital Equity Bootcamp," (UDEB) and the "Let's Get Going Broadband Program" (LGGB).

• Modeled after the Tribal Broadband Bootcamp, and having learned lessons from the Digital Equity Leadership Lab and Broadband Accelerate approaches, the UDEB is a two-day event that will develop skills and relationships as well as the needed expertise and partnerships to set and achieve digital equity goals. The UDEB will begin in the fall.

• The LGGB helps cities and counties struggling to find the best tools and methodologies needed to address infrastructure and digital inclusion. This eight-week, cohort-based program is designed to help local governments, elected officials, nonprofits, foundations, and digital equity advocates orient themselves and develop solutions. The LGGB will begin begin in September.

See more information about the programs here.

Omnispace, based in Tysons, Virginia, wants to be the first company to deliver a global 5G non-terrestrial network with connectivity directly to mobile devices from its low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The company believes the future of communications is hybrid — where satellites extend and augment terrestrial mobile networks. Despite competition from similar companies — such as AST SpaceMobile — Omnispace’s Chief Commercial Officer Brian Pemberton said that what differentiates Omnispace is that from the beginning it has taken a standards-based approach. The company has been working with the 3GPP to operate its future satellite constellation in accordance with non-terrestrial network (NTN) specifications as defined by the 3GPP in its Release 17 for 5G.  Both Omnispace and AST SpaceMobile plan for their satellite networks to be combined with terrestrial mobile networks to provide ubiquitous mobile device connectivity. Omnispace announced a partnership with Philippine wireless operator company, Smart Communications, who is interested in using 5G connectivity in remote areas, incorporating Internet of Things and sensors for use in monitoring weather disturbances and natural calamities, and augmenting network coverage for disaster relief.