- FCC Report May Miss Key Info
- U.S. Senator Demands Action From New NTIA Administrator
- Federal Broadband Funding Legislation Introduced
- Kansas Invests in Internet Skills
- Wi-Fi Investment in South Carolina Parks
- California Muni Breaks Ground on City-Owned Fiber
FCC REPORT MAY MISS KEY INFO
This week, the FCC voted to launch its annual review of the pace of broadband deployment. The commission’s Notice of Inquiry (NOI), however, adjusts its approach to the report, which troubles experts.
Gomez argued that, as the administration aims to win the AI race with its new AI Action Plan, connectivity plays a crucial role in meeting the bandwidth needed to support AI data centers.
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) joined Public Knowledge and X-Lab in urging the FCC to measure all barriers to digital equity, including digital skills and affordability, in this report, as directed by Congress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“The proposed reinterpretation of Section 706 is similar to grading our nation on a curve as it invites self-congratulations for incremental progress which will ultimately harm the millions of Americans ... who still, in 2025, are unable to access broadband,” their statement explained.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s proposed NOI would also abolish the long-term speed goal of 1,000/500 megabits per second. NDIA’s joint statement argued this would “inevitably lower the bar,” leaving the U.S. behind in a technology leadership race against other countries — “particularly against China.”
Digital inclusion advocates are urging the FCC to expand the scope of the inquiry to ensure U.S. connectivity competitiveness.
U.S. SENATOR DEMANDS ACTION FROM NEW NTIA ADMINISTRATOR
The U.S. Senate confirmed Arielle Roth last month to serve as the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)’s assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information. Now, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján has called on Roth to implement programs authorized and funded by Congress, as she affirmed she would do during her confirmation process.
Specifically, Luján is calling on NTIA to fully implement the Digital Equity Act and the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, both of which have been subject to challenges under this administration.
“Your first act as Administrator should be to immediately restore the suspended digital equity grants and swiftly approve and release BEAD funding to states like New Mexico,” Luján said in a statement, underlining that funds set aside by Congress for the Digital Equity Act and BEAD program are “not optional.”
FEDERAL BROADBAND FUNDING LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Two U.S. Senators — one Republican and one Democrat — introduced the Modernization, Accountability, and Planning (MAP) for Broadband Funding Act last week. The legislation would provide oversight to the FCC Broadband Funding Map to ensure it is working as intended.
The map was originally created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. If the MAP for Broadband Funding Act is adopted, it would ensure federal agencies are reliably reporting their funding data to the FCC. The FCC would be directed to conduct a Notice of Inquiry on the map’s function and data, and the Government Accountability Office would be compelled to evaluate the way federal agencies are populating the map.
“While I’m pleased the FCC launched the Map in 2023, it is clear oversight is needed here to ensure all federal agencies are utilizing the Map to its full potential,” U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer said in a statement. Fischer introduced the legislation with U.S. Sen Catherine Cortez Masto.
KANSAS INVESTS IN INTERNET SKILLS
In state news, Kansas is investing $10.4 million into broadband and digital literacy initiatives through the Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program. The state’s Office of Broadband Development will partner with Kansas organizations to make public Wi-Fi — and the skills and devices needed to use it — accessible in underserved areas.
“We will continue investing in the broadband infrastructure necessary for Kansans to participate in the digital economy, but our efforts should not — and will not — end there,” Lieutenant Governor and state Secretary of Commerce David Toland said in a statement.
For example, the city of Pratt received $21,737 to offer free public Wi-Fi in the city’s two largest parks. The Emporia Public Library received $48,989 to install five solar-powered Wi-Fi benches in key locations in the community such as near the recreation center. Two of the grant recipients, Russell County USD 407 and SnapIT Solutions, each received more than $700,000 to support device distribution and digital literacy training.
The initiative aims to support the Kansas Digital Opportunity Plan’s implementation. Applications for the second round of the ADOPT program opened in 2024. The full list of awards can be found on the program website.
WI-FI INVESTMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA PARK
South Carolina residents and tourists can access free Wi-Fi at 15 state parks. Now, a public notice indicates that the state’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is investing nearly $100,000 in fiber and Internet installation in Lake Greenwood State Park.
The park already offers free Wi-Fi, but only in its office area and Drummond Center event space.
The public notice indicates that the investment will go to Upcountry Fiber, a high-speed fiber Internet provider based in South Carolina. Fiber Internet has been deemed the “gold standard” for its speed and reliability, which experts affirm.
Investing in Wi-Fi access in parks is a trend gaining ground in communities across the U.S., from Detroit, Mich., to St. Louis, Mo., to Long Beach, Calif. State parks are no exception; West Virginia started the work to get its state parks connected years ago.
CALIFORNIA MUNI BREAKS GROUND ON CITY-OWNED FIBER
In local news, the city of Chico, Calif., broke ground Monday on its city-owned fiber-optic network. North Valley Fiber is a multiphase project intending to offer high-speed Internet service to the Chapman Elementary School area.
The project will deliver up to 10 gigabit Internet and is expected to benefit local businesses and municipal service delivery. It is also expected to be an aid to smart city initiatives. Construction is slated to take about 18 months, and the first customers may have connectivity by Oct. 1.
The project is leveraging funding from the Federal Funding Account Grant, awarded through the California Public Utilities Commission, with additional funds from the city and the American Rescue Plan Act.
