Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Dickson, Tennessee, Aims to Bring Community-Powered Fiber Across Seven Counties (Institute for Local Self-Reliance)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 15:40Podcast: Local Organizing Efforts Are Reframing the Digital Divide (Institute for Local Self-Reliance)
Submitted by benton on Thu, 02/10/2022 - 14:31The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction: One Year Later
The Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Reverse Auction was completed a little more than a year ago to much fanfare and spilled ink, and though we’ve seen irregular updates over the last twelve months, we thought it worth the time to round up what we know so far in an effort to see where we’re at and determine what is likely to come. The RDOF was built to award up to $20.4 billion in grants over 10 years using competitive reverse auctions generally won by the lowest bidder.
Shopping for Broadband: Failed Federal Policy Creates Murky Marketplace
In a large number of communities across the United States, shopping for Internet access is really challenging. In recent years, groups like Consumer Reports and New America have called attention to the challenge and pushed for the explicit disclosure of service details like download speed, upload speed, monthly service cost, and other information that helps potential subscribers compare providers.
Christopher Mitchell: FCC Commissioner Carr Gets It Wrong in Treasury Rule Comments (Institute for Local Self-Reliance)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Mon, 01/24/2022 - 10:22Treasury Improves Rules for Rescue Plan Aid for Broadband Networks
Communities across the United States have gotten an unexpected gift from the Biden Administration in the form of additional flexibility to use American Rescue Plan funds for needed broadband investments, particularly those focused on low-income neighborhoods in urban areas. When Congress developed and passed the American Rescue Plan Act, it tasked the Treasury Department with writing the rules for some key programs, including the State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF).
Harlingen, Texas Looks to Build Bridge its Digital Divide (Institute for Local Self-Reliance)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Wed, 01/12/2022 - 12:15Monopoly Internet Service Providers Mire Grant Process With Costly, Empty Challenges
Over 230 communities have applied for National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Infrastructure Program grants. But community leaders increasingly say they’re facing costly, unnecessary challenges from incumbent broadband providers, who are exploiting unreliable US broadband maps to overstate existing coverage and defend the status quo.