Broadband

Pennsylvania Gov. Touts Plans to Connect Rural Areas, Seniors

A statewide effort aimed at linking rural areas with more reliable broadband won't just target rural areas, but also senior citizens and low-income families statewide, Gov. Josh Shapiro said this week.

The Affordable Connectivity Program will likely run out of funding in 2024 if no action is taken to sustain it. Experts held a congressional briefing this week to discuss what the end of the program might mean.

Plus, organizations urge Congress to support legislation for rural communities; a report explores redundancies in federal broadband programs; and much more.

St. Landry Parish, La., residents were recently left without Internet for days after a line was inadvertently cut during construction. The incidents highlighted the lack of other Internet options in the area.

After the pandemic sent digital equity skyrocketing up civic priority lists, some of the nation’s major Internet service providers have started teaming with advocates in unprecedented ways.

The resources come via the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The money will be used to connect un- and underserved parts of the state.

Plus, Houston is hiring a broadband director; more governors issue comments on the federal BEAD funding for high-speed Internet; and U.S. senators are fighting for a broadband strategy.

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority will soon have $1.16 billion in funds to upgrade Internet service — and that effort was moving forward on Tuesday by collecting community stories.

A new publication released today by the Aspen Institute's Latinos and Society Program offers four key principles for Latino digital success in an attempt to guide digital equity work across different sectors.

It’s been nearly four months since Congress let the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to auction spectrum lapse, potentially hindering the deployment of broadband or expanding 5G capabilities.

Plus, more state leaders react to recent federal funding decisions on broadband, the National Tribal Telecommunications Association will hold an event in August, and more.

Pennsylvania's share of BEAD funding is $1.16 billion, and work so far demonstrates that the universal broadband project must be accompanied by a key reform at the federal level.

Plus, one Florida city is launching a new digital navigators program; Nebraska names a new state broadband director; a Texas city is launching a digital inclusion art contest for students; and more.

Gov. Gavin Newsom this week signed Senate Bill 101 omnibus, formalizing the approval of the $310.8 billion state budget. The legislation outlines hundreds of millions for broadband expansion and IT efforts in the state.

The federal government has announced that Washington state will get more than $1.2 billion to expand Internet access. But how big of an impact will the money actually make for residents?

The state is set to receive more than $196.5 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration as part of the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.

Washington state will get more than $1.2 billion from the federal government to deliver high-speed Internet to communities with slow, unreliable or nonexistent service, the Biden administration announced Monday.

Kansas and Missouri will collectively receive more than $2.1 billion in federal funding to expand broadband Internet under the infrastructure law passed by Congress in 2021 and signed by President Joe Biden.