National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) announced a multi-year, $10M grant from Google.org to create a National Digital Navigator Corps. The Corps will span 18 rural and tribal communities across the United States and impact thousands of people through one-on-one technology training and community outreach to connect people to the internet, appropriate devices, and training.
Internet and the Pandemic in the Americas
Is your state ready to handle the influx of federal funds for expanding broadband?
With recent funding for broadband being directed to individual states, how does each state stack up in it’s ability to efficiently utilize those funds?
Historic Investment in Broadband
Today marks a historic moment for all Americans with the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, that includes an enormous $65B investment for broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas and adoption by in-need consumers.
The Largest U.S. Investment in Broadband Deployment Ever
One aim of the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is to ensure that every American has access to reliable high-speed internet service. Here we begin a multi-part series looking at the major broadband-related provisions of the legislation. First up: over $42 billion for broadband deployment grants to the states. We look at why new broadband maps are so critical to these efforts, what the grants can be used for, the process for states to receive the support, and a timeline moving forward.
FCC COMMITS OVER $421 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING THROUGH EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND PROGRAM
The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it will commit over $421 million in the latest round of Emergency Connectivity
Fund announcements, bringing total program commitments to over $3.05 billion. The funding is supporting schools and libraries in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework and virtual learning, as schools and libraries continue to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Bluebird Network Acquires New, Diverse Fiber Route Over the Mississippi River
FCC is Taking Steps to Accurately Map Locations That Lack Access
While most Americans have broadband internet access, many do not—a gap known as the digital divide. Federal efforts to bridge it rely on data FCC collects from broadband providers. We have raised concerns that this data overstates service.
FCC COMMITS OVER $1.1 BILLION IN SECOND FUNDING WAVE OF EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND PROGRAM, FUNDING OVER 2.4 MILLION DEVICES AND 1.9 MILLION BROADBAND CONNECTIONS
The Federal Communications Commission today announced that it is committing $1,159,681,350.34 for 2,471 schools, 205 libraries, and 26 consortia that applied for support from the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. Combined with the first funding wave, students, school staff and library patrons in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands will receive access to the devices and broadband connectivity they need to support their off-premises educational needs.
FCC OPENS SECOND FILING WINDOW FOR EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND TO HELP CLOSE HOMEWORK GAP
Starting Today, Schools and Libraries Will Have 15 Days to Apply for Emergency Connectivity Fund Support