State
Governor Lamont Announces $28 Million To Increase Broadband Access in 88 Towns and Cities in Connecticut’
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.
Beware these common pitfalls that can bedevil BEAD projects
Procurement, permitting and people. Those are the three Ps to remember if you want to ensure a smooth broadband build. Steven Greene, Technical Program Manager at the Utah Broadband Center, said broadband builders often assume they can readily get the supplies they need for their projects. But without a solid procurement plan in place, shortages can quickly become problematic. That’s especially true of upcoming Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) projects.
With BEAD looming, workforce safety remains a big problem
The United States needs way more workers to support the upcoming flurry of federal-funded broadband projects. But the broadband industry’s also got catching up to do with its labor standards. In fact, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is the first federal broadband grant program with “any type of language” concerning labor practice requirements, according to Marcus Chambers, network telecom technician for CWA and state broadband lead for Maryland.
Biden-Harris Administration Approves Alaska and Ohio’s "Internet for All" Initial Proposals
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Alaska and Ohio’s Initial Proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The approval enables Alaska and Ohio to request access to funding and begin implementation of the BEAD program. This action allows states to request:
- Alaska: Over $1 billion
- Ohio: Over $793 million
Pennsylvania public spaces are getting $45 Million to boost internet access and close the digital divide
Public spaces across Pennsylvania are about to get an internet upgrade. The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) announced $45 million in funding for the Multi-Purpose Community Facilities Program, which provides money to community organizations and local governments to upgrade public facilities. The program will provide grants to 49 projects in 26 counties across the commonwealth. The grants will go toward building and improving public spaces such as schools, libraries, community centers and healthcare facilities for free, high-speed internet.
Affordable Broadband is the Way to Improve Lives and Grow the Economy in Nebraska
Nebraska is aiming to connect 99 percent of homes and businesses with reliable and affordable high-speed internet access by 2027. Based on June 2023 data, 12-15 percent of Nebraska’s locations are unserved or underserved, and approximately 105,000 households lack acceptable access to the internet. An unfavorable business case for investment, especially in rural areas, has resulted in limited access.
Impact of the Election on the Broadband Sector
Let’s discuss the current Broadband Policy State of Play and how the election may affect it. There are four fundamental goals of broadband policy:
No bridge. No power. Slow internet. Is the East Bay an infrastructure wasteland?
It's easier to look past a slow internet connection when you can see Narragansett Bay sparkling outside your living room and hear the clink of sailboat rigging in the distance. Maybe that's why some residents of Rhode Island's East Bay and Newport County have put up with broadband infrastructure the state says doesn't stack up to what's available in the more dense areas north and west. And it's not just internet.
Governor Walz Announces $52 Million to Expand Broadband to nearly 8,000 Minnesota Homes and Businesses
Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) announced $52 million in grants to expand broadband access to an estimated 7,700 homes and businesses throughout Minnesota. The grant awards will help broadband providers expand high-speed broadband service in 24 counties across Minnesota. The grants come from two Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) programs:
Rhode Island Commerce Announces Selection of GoNetspeed, Verizon for First Round of $25 Million Broadband Infrastructure Investment
The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation announces the selection of internet service providers (ISPs) to complete preapproved infrastructure projects that will improve broadband service for an estimated 6,700 locations in Jamestown, Newport, and Westerly. This round is the first of two to award nearly $25 million in Capital Projects Fund (CPF) investments. Three proposals were selected in a competitive bid process which prioritized speed and affordability by requiring buildouts to include end-to-end fiber networks that can deliver speeds of 100/100Mbps without exceeding $53.09/month.