Broadband

Plus, Michigan’s High-Speed Internet Office launches a $238 million grant program to support connectivity in unserved areas, new research examines steps needed to close the digital divide in Black communities, and more.

Despite claims that states can close the digital divide in five years, digital equity is a long-term problem that requires long-term solutions, and states must plan accordingly.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development this week announced that more than $5.6 million was awarded for projects in Lawrence County and more than $9.5 million was awarded for projects in five counties.

The cities of Lewiston and Auburn will be at the center of a new fiber-optic broadband network being built by GoNetspeed. The work is expected to begin later this year, the company said.

The county’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance to become a certified Broadband Forward! Community. The designation is part of a state effort to encourage the development of broadband access across the state.

Four projects across three townships are being planned to expand Internet access, county officials announced this week. Ligonier, Fairfield and Derry townships will be seeing upgrades under the plans.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted this week announced $12 million in funding for two programs meant to bolster the telecommunications workforce in the state. The funding is part of a larger strategy released in September 2021.

Plus, Michigan launches a connectivity listening tour; Kansas announced $45 million in broadband funding for underserved counties; Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser signs digital equity legislation, and more.

The upgrades come as a followup to a study by the county last year that, according to preliminary results, determined as much as 71 percent of the area is underserved by existing broadband infrastructure.

As more of San Diegans' work, school and medical care take place online, rural communities are falling behind because of deficient broadband access, a new report from the county finds.

With the completion of the city’s fiber-optic network approaching, city staff have recommended that a public-private partnership would be much more cost effective to operate when compared to a city-run service.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar this week released the Texas Broadband Development Map, which sought to identify the availability of various types of high-speed Internet access across the state.

Through a new contract with Alabama Supercomputer Authority, General Dynamics Information Technology will manage high-performance computing, cybersecurity, broadband and other services at K-12 and higher ed institutions.

Pennsylvania counties have been mounting challenges to the accuracy of the FCC’s maps so that they get a fair share of $42.45 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment money.

An overview of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program’s goals, requirements, and other considerations.

Nevada Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto sent a joint letter to the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday urging the agency to consider fixing its broadband map of Nevada.

Plus, a new piece of legislation would create a digital equity division for Washington, D.C.; an Indiana data map includes 12 different digital equity variables within the state’s counties; and more.

In a succinct farewell address, Gov. Charlie Baker offered his thank you as he rattled off his administration’s accomplishments over the last eight years, including bridging the digital divide in Western Massachusetts.