What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
This virtual training series provides attendees with the foundational knowledge necessary to develop effective and sustainable broadband ecosystems in their communities. The broadband landscape in Appalachia is one that is ever evolving and remaining current on the resources, challenges, and opportunities is imperative to fostering growth, affecting positive change, and improving outcomes throughout the region.
SESSION 1 – JUNE 18, 2024: Broadband as an Investment
This virtual training series provides attendees with the foundational knowledge necessary to develop effective and sustainable broadband ecosystems in their communities. The broadband landscape in Appalachia is one that is ever evolving and remaining current on the resources, challenges, and opportunities is imperative to fostering growth, affecting positive change, and improving outcomes throughout the region.
SESSION 1 – JUNE 18, 2024: Broadband as an Investment
This virtual training series provides attendees with the foundational knowledge necessary to develop effective and sustainable broadband ecosystems in their communities. The broadband landscape in Appalachia is one that is ever evolving and remaining current on the resources, challenges, and opportunities is imperative to fostering growth, affecting positive change, and improving outcomes throughout the region.
Join the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology (OET) for insightful discussions on digital equity and education as interrelated and complementary goals. The three-part webinar series will spotlight states that are effectively leveraging partnerships with educational institutions to advance digital equity.
Join the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology (OET) for insightful discussions on digital equity and education as interrelated and complementary goals. The three-part webinar series will spotlight states that are effectively leveraging partnerships with educational institutions to advance digital equity.
Broadband connectivity can help small and rural communities become more economically competitive and create opportunities for sustained and prosperous growth. This webinar will look at the unique challenges small and rural communities face and innovative solutions that are improving access and digital equity in these communities.
What the End of ACP Could Mean for BEAD
Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) asked New Street Research Policy Advisor and Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Blair Levin to clarify remarks Levin made about the negative impact the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will have on the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Levin answered saying that BEAD does not fund the cost of deployment broadband to an unserved or underserved area; rather it funds the difference between the cost of deployment and what a provider would be willing to invest to serve that area.
FCC Seeks Comment on EMPOWER's ETC Expansion Application
The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB or Bureau) seeks comment on the petition of EMPOWER Broadband (EMPOWER) to expand its Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) designated service area in Virginia. EMPOWER seeks to expand its ETC designated service area to become eligible to receive Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II Auction (Auction 903) support associated with certain census blocks (constituting complete census block groups (CGBs)) in Virginia, a subpart of an original CAF II support award authorized to RiverStreet Communications of Virginia.
At this meeting, CAC members are expected to (i) discuss current and emerging challenges and opportunities in the area of artificial intelligence (AI); (ii) receive updates from the working groups; and (iii) address any other topics relevant to the CAC’s work.
The meeting agenda will be available at https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-advisory-committee and may be modified at the discretion of the CAC Co-Chairs and Designated Federal Officer (DFO).
The FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) will hold a virtual Tribal Consultation and Listening Session regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would add a new “Missing and Endangered Person” (MEP) event code to the nation's Emergency Alert System. Further information about the FCC’s MEP event code proceeding can be found online at FCC.gov/MEP.