Jun 21, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, State Policy
State Lawmakers Proposed New Prohibitions on Municipal Networks On June 9, 2021, the Ohio Senate Finance Committee and Senate approved amendments to the state’s annual appropriations legislation which could cut municipalities off from federal funding...
Jun 10, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Ryan Johnston, FCC, Federal Policy
Since enrollment for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (“EBBP”) began in May 2021, 2.3 million people have signed up to receive assistance with their broadband bill. However, eligible participants have faced significant challenges to enrollment such as the...
Jun 8, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Francella Ochillo, Digital Divide, Digital Inclusion
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that serves economic development officers nationwide. Its 2021 Future Economic Forum conference focused on fostering regional innovation, economic...
Jun 3, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Francella Ochillo, Digital Inclusion, Federal Policy, Financing
Due to the COVID pandemic, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s (“NDIA”) annual conference had a different look and feel this year. It is traditionally a production fueled by volunteers where digital inclusion practitioners and other stakeholders gather in...
Jun 2, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Filing, Last Mile, Middle Mile, Open Access, State Policy
On May 18th, NCC joined allied organizations in a letter to the California State Assembly Committee on Budget, supporting Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to invest $7 billion in broadband infrastructure for a publicly-owned open access middle mile fiber network....
Jun 1, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Francella Ochillo, Digital Inclusion
On May 19, 2020, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Kansas City, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency co-hosted a webinar, “Collaborating for Digital Inclusion Success in New Mexico.” Next Century Cities’...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Ryan Johnston, Maryland, State Policy
States play a critical role in bolstering local efforts to expand affordable and reliable broadband. All 50 states have taken steps to respond to increased demand and have prioritized expanding access. As of 2018, 25 states had already explored the utility of...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Digital Divide, State Policy
In 2017, the West Virginia legislature created the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council within the West Virginia Department of Commerce. The Council has since released its Broadband Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 and a companion Broadband Development Guide, which...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, Digital Divide, Local Policy
The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to some of the greatest geographic and economic diversity in the country. From the nation’s capital to the Chesapeake Bay and the Appalachian Plateau, Virginia can feel like a different state at all four corners. Despite this...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, Digital Divide
To appreciate challenges associated with closing the digital divide, readers need only to turn their attention to Tennessee. Across the state, local leaders, advocates, and Internet service providers have been working for years to plan and implement broadband...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Digital Divide, Digital Inclusion, State Policy
Since 2013, E2D (“Eliminate the Digital Divide”) has worked to refurbish devices, promote digital literacy, and work toward the goal of ensuring that everyone in Charlotte, North Carolina, has equitable access to the digital tools and training they need to succeed in...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, Broadband Mapping, By Ryan Johnston, Digital Divide, State Policy
It’s no mystery that the quality of the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) mapping data leaves something to be desired. The FCC’s 14th Broadband Deployment Report estimated that 96% of Americans have access to broadband. However, organizations such as...
