Network

More than 2,200 homes and businesses in Armstrong County are now eligible for high-speed fiber Internet through a $2 billion multiyear, multistate investment by Internet service provider Kinetic.

The university is working with state officials and others to identify where broadband funding is most needed, according to a recent announcement. The effort comes amid increasing societal reliance on high-speed Internet.

The city issued a request for qualifications for vendors to provide a fiber-optic network and broadband Internet service with upload and download speeds of at least 1 gigabit per second within two years of a signed contract.

The project includes 134 miles of line construction, funded through a $23.5 million grant from the Washington State Broadband Office and an additional $2.35 million matching funds from ISP ToledoTel.

The Monongalia County Commission has issued a request for proposals seeking partners to get high-speed Internet to all corners of the county. An unserved area in the western part of the county has been identified as an area of pressing need.

Plus, NTIA is calling for strong rules to prevent digital discrimination, the FCC has set dates for broadband providers to display consumer labels, and more.

The Biden administration is urging the Federal Communications Commission to adopt strong rules to address shortfalls in broadband service. The position sets up a possible clash with large broadband providers.

A federal grant is helping to fund efforts to connect residents with affordable Internet service. Several community groups are involved in the work, which includes assistance navigating Affordable Connectivity Program eligibility.

Cleveland is preparing to strike an agreement with fiber developer SiFi Networks, in pursuit of high-speed, citywide Internet infrastructure that promises to serve every household and business that wants it.

Plus, the federal digital discrimination task force is holding a listening session this week in New York City; Charlotte is launching a pilot program to increase tech transparency; and more.

Federal funds are helping rural southwest Wisconsin expand access to Internet service. The Reedsburg Utility Commission received a $28 million loan in August for nine underground fiber-optic projects.

Bamberg County is working to develop a broadband system that will make high-speed Internet affordable for underserved communities with the help of a $12 million federal grant.

Plus, Maryland’s governor attends an ACP training session; Seattle has opened applications for its annual digital equity grants; new findings about Internet access; and much more.

Nate Denny, the deputy secretary for broadband and digital equity with the N.C. Department of Information Technology Division of Broadband and Digital Equity spoke about broadband expansion.

The damage to an undersea fiber-optic cable happened in the middle of June when sea ice severed the cable, causing Internet and cell outages in several North Slope and Northwest Arctic communities.

Residents of the state will have until Oct. 10 to weigh in on a proposed five-year plan to upgrade broadband Internet availability, reliability and affordability statewide.

Some $386 million in state funding is set to be distributed to counties throughout the state to expand Internet service. The governor has awarded 56 grants totaling more than $196 million from the Broadband Deployment Fund so far.

The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians and AT&T held a groundbreaking ceremony this week for a project that will expand access to high-speed Internet service to more than 500 new customers in Valley Center, Calif.