On July 20, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 156 into law, setting the stage for a $6 billion investment in California’s broadband infrastructure. The legislation includes $3.25 billion for a statewide open-access middle-mile network and $2 billion for counties for last-mile service initiatives. Additionally, the legislation establishes a $750 million broadband loan loss […]
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) recently released a new mobile coverage map. This map shows, based on data from the nation’s four largest carriers, where a user can expect to receive 4G LTE service. With the release of this map, the Broadband Data Act requires the Commission to create a new challenge process
A simple and easy mobile map challenge process will promote municipal participation. Read More »
As companies continue to develop and deploy 5th Generation wireless technologies, many are repurposing legacy spectrum to accommodate new bandwidth demands. AT&T announced that in order to continue deploying its 5G network, it would need to repurpose the spectrum it currently utilizes for 3G wireless services. The company intends to shutter its 3G network by
On September 21st, NCC’s Lukas Pietrzak joined the National Head Start Association (NHSA) for a panel discussion as part of their 2021 Fall Leadership Institute. The NHSA is a coalition of local Head Start chapters and organizations funded and supported by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Head Start. Through their work
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a COVID-relief benefit program designed to ensure that cost is not a barrier to getting and maintaining a broadband subscription. Eligible households can receive a monthly discount of up to $50 per month for broadband service from a participating provider or up to $75 per month if on Tribal lands.
Many states and local governments view digital connectivity as a necessary prerequisite for economic development. Small businesses, agricultural production, and manufacturing all require broadband to conduct daily activities. The pandemic shed light on the many ways in which disparities in broadband access and adoption can impact employment opportunities, vocational training, and job searches. Both have
The Link Between Labor and Broadband Read More »
Every year, back-to-school elicits a feeling of excitement and nervousness for over 50 million students across the country. This year, those feelings are even more potent. For a year and a half, over 90% of students in the US participated in some form of distance learning and they are stepping foot in new classrooms and
Back-To-School: Re-Connecting with America’s Disconnected Students Read More »
On August 10, 2021, the Senate passed a landmark $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The proposed legislation includes a $65 billion investment in fast and reliable broadband infrastructure. States and municipalities would also have access to resources that support affordability, adoption, and digital inclusion programs. As Kathryn de
As the new school year begins and COVID-19 variant cases are on the rise, some school districts decided to continue utilizing remote learning applications. Even schools that have returned to in-person learning see the benefits of using online learning software that students and teachers relied on during the pandemic. Hybrid learning models amplify the importance
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