Network

The state has received final federal approval on how it plans to spend nearly $149 million to expand Internet access statewide. The funds come from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.

Plus, federal legislation supporting rural Internet access gets introduced, Utah’s legislature will consider a law establishing digital literacy education, Texas is investing millions in broadband expansion, and more.

Hawaii has received federal approval to begin spending nearly $149 million to expand high-speed Internet statewide, marking one of the largest digital infrastructure investments in state history.

The City Council approved giving OnLight Aurora, set up to manage the city’s fiber network, $80,000 via either a loan or grant. A key issue, an alderman said, is getting the organization back on track.

Plus, New York has reopened applications for grants through its ConnectALL program, New Mexico celebrated progress on connectivity expansion, fiber networks continue expanding to new locations, and more.

All middle-mile construction is now either built or funded, an official said. The next step is last-mile work, bringing actual connections to homes, and meeting with stakeholders to gather infrastructure data.

The broadband and telecommunications company Brightspeed, which is based in the North Carolina city, is probing multiple reports its customers may have been victimized by a data breach.

TDS Telecommunications LLC has announced that Mooresville High School, part of the Mooresville Graded School District in North Carolina, is the recipient of its $10,000 TDS STEM-Ed grant.

Plus, New Mexico has launched its three-year broadband plan, North Carolina has debuted a program to expand Internet access in rural communities, a report shows progress on broadband expansion, and more.

The City Council is set to consider financial support for OnLight Aurora, a city-connected organization established to manage Aurora’s fiber network, amid ongoing budgetary issues at the organization.

State committees have, in the last year, examined topics ranging from agricultural security to cybersecurity. The annual threat assessment is required to precede the governor’s State of the State address.

After launching a fiber-optic broadband network, Chattanooga, Tenn., has seen robust economic development and better Internet service for residents. Chico, Calif., recently broke ground on its own fiber project.

Plus, New York is investing in digital literacy, an area which is evolving as practitioners integrate AI skills; research suggests a “Dig Once” policy can save on broadband deployment costs; and more.

A break in service Thursday morning, which has been attributed to a domain name system service degradation, affected all state agencies. Its precise impact is unclear; however, an analysis is ongoing.

A new report from the Urban Institute outlines how many of the projects developed as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including technology work, have been slow to finish and deploy.

The state Department of Development’s BroadbandOhio office is poised to take proposals to build a middle-mile fiber network east from Mansfield to Canton, and west to Lima along Route 30.

Plus, legislation could improve digital skills training in workforce development programs, the bipartisan Wi-Fi Caucus relaunched, digital literacy work continues at the local level, and more.

The state Office of Science, Innovation and Technology is partnering with a vendor to deliver broadband to Laughlin and Cal-Nev-Ari. American Rescue Plan Act funds are driving the work.