Network

Andrew Butcher, director of the Maine Broadband Coalition, will be nominated to head a new state agency tasked with rapidly accelerating efforts to make broadband Internet service available to all residents of the state.

Students at Ashland University and Youngstown State University will have the opportunity to get 80 non-credit hours of workforce training for careers involving next-generation telecommunications infrastructure.

The surge of government aid to expand broadband in Iowa is much needed, experts say, but the goal of universal coverage by 2025 remains formidable with the most challenging areas yet to enjoy high-speed Internet.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has outlined his billion-dollar strategy to bring broadband access to underserved parts of the state. At least 200,000 homes and businesses are expected to benefit.

Congresswoman Elise M. Stefanik is asking the Federal Communications Commission to step in and stop the New York state Department of Transportation from charging providers for high-speed Internet infrastructure.

Plus, the Federal Communications Commission has committed an additional $1 billion to the Emergency Connectivity Fund program, California looks to improve its procurement processes for tech services, and more.

Placer County just approved a project that aims to expand high-speed Internet access to 1,500 households in Auburn, North Auburn and Penryn. The project is expected to be finished by October 2022.

The project is part of the company's $4.8 million federal Rural Digital Opportunity Fund grant, awarded in January, that will expand its Cumberland County network to an estimated 5,900 homes and small businesses.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is poised to make millions by selling excess space on its network. The agency has nearly completed two projects totaling $95 million to install fiber-optic cable along roughly 220 miles of the highway.

Leslie Chaney, CIO of New Hanover County, has retired after 17 years with the regional government. Sunny Hwang will start as the county’s CIO in November, bringing a mix of public- and private-sector IT experience.

Las Vegas has entered into a partnership with Cox Communications to set up a “managed private network” in a public park. The system uses video surveillance, sensors and other technology to evaluate park activity.

County officials approved a $175,000 consulting contract to develop a strategic plan to expand broadband accessibility. Thousands of residents are without access to high-speed Internet service.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week that the MITRE Engenuity Open Generation 5G Consortium will bring 5G to the 50-mile drone corridor between the cities of Syracuse and Rome.

Plus, a new report addresses ways the country’s largest county can get all of its citizens connected; San Jose, Calif., launches a new initiative to aid with Internet affordability; and more.

Shortly after a state legislative audit found many Kansas school districts lacked basic network security features, the Manhattan-Ogden school board approved security upgrades to the district's network.

City officials this week allowed an electronic cooperative in Northeast Mississippi the option to use its utility poles to provide broadband services more efficiently to some Tupelo residents.

Under a recently proposed Wisconsin bill, lawmakers are considering the use of federal relief funds to create a grant program aimed at expanding the state's wireless broadband and cellular service.

Within about two years, East Hartford, Conn., expects to have the capacity to offer 10GB Internet speeds to every household and business. The project is possible due to a $40 million private investment.