Broadband

The state’s new Digital Equity Plan highlights goals and strategies to provide IT capabilities to all individuals and communities. It’s now being reviewed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Plus, Maine is the first state to have its digital equity plan accepted, the NTCA is calling for a more effective challenge process for the national broadband map, and more.

North Carolina is making $14 million available to nonprofits, government agencies and others as part of the Digital Champion grants to expand digital equity. Some 230 applicants have applied.

A human error reportedly exposed thousands of U.S. Internet’s customer email addresses online. The company said Thursday that the problem has been resolved, and it's assessing how much data may have been accessed.

Plus, the state of Washington has appointed Aaron Wheeler to serve as the new broadband director, a digital navigator pilot program has been launched in the city of Cambridge, Mass., and more.

Internet service provider Fidium Fiber is expanding services to more than 4,800 additional homes and businesses in the Monadnock Region. The project will include new fiber-optic lines in at least four towns.

Nearly 100,000 Erie County residents, and millions more in rural communities nationwide, will lose low-cost Internet service if Congress fails to reauthorize the Affordable Connectivity Program in the coming months.

The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council is seeking input on current Internet access. This survey is being conducted as part of Project Broadband Breakthrough, which focuses on how broadband access impacts rural life.

Plus, Alabama announces $188 million for broadband; California sees digital discrimination legislation introduced; Phoenix opens a digital skills training center; and more.

Google’s Internet service arm has been approved to start its multiyear engineering and permitting process in some areas of Clark County, Nev., and could launch by mid-2025.

The Willmar City Council is set to consider a proposal for an open-access broadband network throughout the city. The network would be owned by the city and managed by Internet service provider Hometown Fiber.

Google Fiber representatives are going before the Clark County Commission next week to get approval to build the infrastructure needed to provide another Internet option for Las Vegas residents.

Plus, registration has closed for Net Inclusion 2024, Oklahoma and Kansas get funding for broadband, and a report seeks to uncover the best broadband technology investment.

The deadline to sign up for benefits under the Affordable Connectivity Program is looming. Applicants have until Feb. 7 to enroll in the program that is set to expire later this year without legislative action.

During a meeting last week, the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board approved $374 million in ARPA funds to go toward 142 broadband service expansion projects in 57 counties.

As states work to make use of federal broadband funding, a stipulation that the money can't be used for wireless networks is shortsighted and could hinder high-speed Internet access for those who need it now.

Plus, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has launched a digital equity challenge, a report found that nearly 90 percent of Michigan jobs require digital skills, North Carolina gets $82 million in broadband funding, and more.

At least 2,000 customers in Portland, Ore., have been without Internet or cable TV service since snow, ice and windstorms hit the region Jan. 13. Internet service providers say they expect to restore all service within the next few days.