Coverage of how Internet service is deployed, used and regulated.
Internet/Broadband
US says internet services are exempt from Russian sanctions
The US Department of the Treasury is exempting telecommunications services from ongoing sanctions against Russia. The move, confirmed April 7, follows requests from advocacy groups who feared a disruption would cut off Russian activists’ access to the outside world. It may not, however, cause companies that voluntarily cut off access to restore it.
Charter Pursues More Rural Broadband Funding
Charter said it has applied to receive $21 million in funding through the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund – American Rescue Plan program to cover the majority of the costs for a rural broadband build in Henderson County (TN). The company has become quite aggressive on rural broadband, which it sees as an opportunity to gain broadband and video subscribers in markets with little or no competition. The company was one of the biggest winners in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) rural broadband auction.
The US is quietly paying millions to send Starlink terminals to Ukraine, contrary to SpaceX claims
After Russia launched its invasion, Ukrainian officials pleaded for Elon Musk’s SpaceX to dispatch their Starlink terminals to the region to boost Internet access. “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,” Musk replied to broad online fanfare. Since then, the company has cast the actions in part as a charitable gesture.
Commerce Department Fact Sheet for Rural Communities
The Department of Commerce has a number of programs that provide support to rural communities across the country in expanding rural broadband and supporting rural environments and climate resilience. Thanks to President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Department of Commerce has made historic investments in rural communities through a host of new and existing programs.
Connect America Fund Phase II Auction Deployment Data
The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau, in conjunction with the FCC's Rural Broadband Auctions Task Force, announced that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), has posted the total locations deployed to by Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) Auction support recipients, reflecting deployment as of December 31, 2021.
Path to Digital Equity: Why we need to address the digital divide with solutions around adoption
The Digital Equity Education Roundtables (DEER) Initiative, led through a partnership between the Office of Educational Technology (OET) at the US Department of Education and Digital Promise, encourages every learner and community to be equipped with connected devices, learning content, digital literacy skills, technical support, and a reliable
How Treasury’s Implementation of American Rescue Plan Programs Prioritizes Equity
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) represents a historic commitment to support those most impacted by COVID-19. While the legislation itself embodied this commitment in numerous ways, the key to the success of the ARP’s programs lies in their implementation. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Recovery Programs has worked closely with the White House and across federal agencies to execute a coordinated strategy to support people in underserved communities across the country.
Associations Urge NTIA to Prioritize Fiber for Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) should prioritize funding for fiber broadband in rules for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, said NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association and the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) in a letter to Alan Davidson, head of NTIA, which will be administering the BEAD program in conjunction with individual states. NTCA and FBA recommendations for the BEAD program include:
Public-Private Partnerships Funded by NTIA's Broadband Infrastructure Program
On February 25, 2022, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the grantees which will receive a collective total of $277 million in Broadband Infrastructure Program funding. NTIA has since published further information on the 13 Broadband Infrastructure Program grantees.