Internet/Broadband

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is thrilled by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s publication of the National Spectrum Research and Development Plan. Whether you’re talking about 5G, WiFi, advanced manufacturing, or missions to the moon and beyond, 21st-century American innovation often depends on sufficient access to spectrum.

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) celebrates the growing number of Tribal nations exercising digital sovereignty by building Tribally-owned broadband networks.

One of the enduring ironies of antitrust law is that governments often step in to solve perceived problems that market forces are already addressing. A prime example: the breakup of AT&T in 1984 didn’t bring about the demise of the Bell telephone monopoly. The real shift came from new fiber optic networks—launched around 1984—and the development of cellular networks. Now, we see the same pattern with Google.

Tornadoes, heavy rain, hurricane-force wind, and storm surge. Any of these could devastate a community.

In 2021 Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) agreed to lead the administration’s $42 billion plan for expanding high-speed internet to millions of Americans. That year, she tweeted that “we can bring broadband to rural America today.” Today, nearly three years after Congress passed the infrastructure bill that created the program, not one home or business has been connected through it.

The federal government has set aside $42 billion to connect last-mile communities and just under $1 billion for the middle mile networks that will provide the backbone to reach those unserved homes.

At what point is it too expensive to deploy fiber? That's a key question for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program participants looking to deploy alternative technologies in hard to reach areas of the country.

State officials have been working hard to suss out what kinds of skills ISPs need and how best to attract and train up new workers, said Edyn Rolls, Chief Strategic Officer for the Oklahoma Broadband Office. For instance, Oklahoma State University conducted a nationwide study to identify what areas of the broadband workforce need the biggest boost, she said. GIS mapping and engineering skills would be most in demand, the study found.

The Indiana Connectivity Program announced the 11th round of awards on Oct. 8, 2024. The 11th round of the program awarded $1,489,320 to expand broadband to 326 addresses across 34 counties. Of these addresses, 310 are homes and 16 are businesses. Internet providers carrying out the projects matched $5,286,195 for a total investment of $6,775,515.

Governor Ned Lamont (D-CT) and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes announced the release of $28 million in grants awarded under the first round of the state’s ConneCTed Communities Grant Program. Administered by DEEP, these grants will support the buildout of broadband infrastructure in more than half of Connecticut’s communities.