Broadband

Construction has commenced on a high-speed Internet network that will connect 34 city facilities including City Hall. Kingman, Ariz.-based Wecom Fiber will build 1.1 million feet of fiber to nearly all of the city.

Officials have expanded the service to seven parks and a four-mile stretch of business corridor, in a bid to improve digital literacy and quality of life. An additional rollout is planned later this year.

Plus, North Carolina announces broadband funding, Barriers to Broadband fellows will tackle several research projects, a campaign eyes device upcycling to drive online access, and more.

Plus, the Supreme Court is addressing the Universal Service Fund, Idaho is changing its Broadband Advisory Board structure, Boston funds digital literacy and more.

A plan to expand high-speed fiber-optic Internet service to rural portions of six nearby counties was unanimously endorsed by the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners Wednesday.

Plus, Baltimore has a new broadband report, Seattle awards funds for digital equity, the FCC has announced staffing changes, a survey found trust in digital government services is under 50 percent, and more.

Officials will advance digital equity work in coming months, and initiatives to improve residents’ experience — in person, using artificial intelligence for translation services, and online with a website refresh.

Evan Feinman, director of the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, has stepped down. He offered advice to stakeholders to mitigate any impacts on states from its pause.

Plus, Vermont has started work on its Digital Empowerment Plan; a new bill aims to prevent FCC from censoring broadcasters; Sonoma County, Calif., has approved offering some residents free Internet; and more.

The state’s Broadband Development Office is advising entities that are considering applying to await clarification on the program’s future.

North Carolina’s Office of Digital Opportunity director has been elevated to deputy secretary for NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity. There, she will oversee state and federal broadband investment.

The Willmar City Council voted 4-3 this week to move ahead with a $24.5 million broadband project that would see the construction of an open-access, city-owned fiber-optic network.

A conservative-leaning FCC, coupled with legal and congressional challenges, have created uncertainty around the E-rate program that funds school broadband. Experts say districts will need local funding and community partnerships to fill the gap.

For years, residents of remote Beaver Island more than 30 miles offshore from the mainland in northern Lake Michigan have said they want better Internet access.

A massive federal program meant to expand broadband access to underserved areas across the country is falling behind schedule, state broadband officials and experts say.

Advancing broadband deployment and equity means expanding the technology to institutions like correctional facilities, panelists said at the recent Expanding Digital Opportunity: Charting a Path Toward Full Inclusion conference.

An interactive online map shows progress made by a handful of Internet service providers laying fiber optic cable to reach homes and businesses in southeast Michigan with high-speed Internet.

Plus, the FCC is investigating Comcast for its diversity commitment, the Houston Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy held its second digital symposium, Mississippi has awarded funding for 12 broadband projects, and more.