Internet/Broadband

5G users report higher performance satisfaction than 4G users, but face issues in high-traffic locations, meaning that 4 in 10 users are no longer willing to accept best-effort 5G performance. Further, 35 percent of surveyed 5G users show a growing appetite for elevated connectivity beyond standard 5G performance, signaling a strong willingness to adopt and pay extra for differentiated connectivity. So, what can differentiated connectivity do for them?

Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) is pleased to announce the availability of $8 million in additional funds for the state’s broadband buildout. The money is interest earned on initial American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money that the General Assembly entrusted to the Vermont Community Broadband Fund.

This paper aims to introduce the 'Subsidy Allocation Efficiencies' (SAE) metric as a practical tool for policymakers to evaluate subsidy programs for universal service provisioning. Using a qualitative case study approach, the paper investigates various subsidy allocation methods adopted by the Universal Service Fund, comparing them in terms of SAE. The SAE metric is validated by applying the ‘similarity index’ to Milgrom's optimal auction design.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released the 5th version of the National Broadband Map, with data as of June 2024. At a high level, the trend continues of fewer and fewer unserved and underserved locations: in the previous version, 8.8 million locations were unserved or unserved. Now, with six months more data, we’re down to 7.5 million locations needing better broadband service. That’s an 15 percent decrease over one six-month period.

There has been a lot of speculation since the election that the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program is going to get revamped. This raises the interesting question if it’s too late for a new administration to make major changes to the BEAD program. There is also the question of the process needed to change the BEAD rules. The BEAD rules were created by Congress, and it seems that Congress would have to act to change the rules. There are several ways the administration could give more funding for satellite.

The Justice Department and a group of states asked a federal court to force Google to sell Chrome, its popular web browser, a move that could fundamentally alter the $2 trillion company’s business and reshape competition on the internet. The request follows a landmark ruling in August by Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S.

When it comes to broadband usage growth rates, downstream is down and upstream is up. While the total volume of downstream and upstream usage continues to climb, the 3Q24 edition of the OpenVault Broadband Insights (OVBI) report indicates a continuation of a trend that OpenVault analysis has identified throughout the modern broadband era: With the exception of the pandemic year of 2020, downstream growth rates have slowed each year, while the rate of increase in the upstream has trended steadily upward.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration understands that expanding digital equity advances Native nations and Indigenous communities’ access to critical services such as education, healthcare, and economic development. This year, NTIA is highlighting a key funding opportunity through our Digital Equity Act Programs, which provide vital support to Native entities working to bridge the digital divide.

In an era where internet access is as essential as water and electricity, many residents in Los Angeles remain digitally left behind due to rising costs, poor service quality, and discrimination. This report delves into the growing movement for publicly owned internet services, highlighting successful municipal broadband for all initiatives across the nation. These initiatives have proven effective in increasing access, lowering costs, and fostering stronger community engagement.

Today, internet connectivity is critical for everyone. But for many, having a reliable connection can mean the difference between life and death. This is especially true in communities facing natural disasters. From hurricanes to wildfires, droughts to tornadoes, the crises that hit households across the country each year highlight the need for reliable, affordable internet to keep families connected and emergency services accessible.