Broadband

Plus, Idaho will soon end its digital navigator helpline, an Illinois county is distributing software licenses for digital skills training, Cleveland State University supports digital skills and more.

The Pennsylvania city has recently launched two new interactive devices, a dashboard and a free Wi-Fi locator. They’re intended to help expand awareness of the free Internet service available to residents.

Many millions have been allocated to high-speed Internet endeavors. A more than $3 million project is nearly complete, while several others remain to be done. One initiative required “quite a bit of engineering work.”

The Massachusetts capital has released results of an assessment to inform its 2025 Digital Equity Plan’s development. It outlines the city’s progress and offers suggestions to address remaining barriers to access.

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.