The state has devoted $350 million to a rural broadband initiative over the past four years but seen little progress due to fights between telecoms and utilities over access to poles.
While states and localities still have a long way to go toward getting everyone access to high-speed Internet, efforts at all levels of government, and especially federal funding, promise positive progress.
The county Legislature recently approved plans to create a county-controlled organization to oversee and manage a $20 million, county-sponsored fiber-optic network called ErieNet.
Millions in Washington state still do not have reliable access to high-speed Internet, making online life nearly inaccessible. Local and tribal governments will soon be able to apply for federal grants to expand broadband services.
Billions of dollars available to state and local governments might be enough to bring affordable broadband to all Americans. But some states have yet to produce plans for these funds.
Smart cities’ focus on technology has made the digital divide worse, not better. The new infrastructure law could change that.
For rural communities like St. Helena, the billions the state will receive from the infrastructure bill for Internet and road repairs could have a massive impact. The community sits about 34 percent below the national income average.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has named three officials to oversee the $3.7 billion in federal infrastructure money, which the state will prioritize for broadband, transportation and water system projects.
With $65 billion on the way from Washington to expand Internet access, it’s time for businesses, research organizations and others to join with the public sector to shape strategies to make the most of the funds.
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission has been working with several other organizations to establish a regional clearinghouse for broadband policy development and implementation with federal infrastructure funds.
After a long wait, the federal infrastructure bill is headed toward President Joe Biden's desk. How can states and local areas take advantage of the $65 billion set aside for broadband? Here are some details.
With 34.4 percent of its households lacking a broadband connection, Harlingen is one of the worst connected cities in the nation. The broadband expansion project will begin next year, but the service won’t be free.
Billions of federal dollars for broadband came with the stipulation that they benefit underserved populations. New projects that link last-mile access with affordability are paving the way for universal Internet service.
If passed, the proposed legislation would prevent Internet providers from blocking, throttling or engaging in the paid prioritization of providing Internet service to Massachusetts residents.
The problem is not just with access to broadband, but also reliability. Still, the city has been making progress, cutting the number of Detroiters without access from nearly 40 percent in 2016 to 25 percent today.
The multibillion-dollar proposal would represent a “once in a generation” investment in broadband networks. Here’s what it would do, and what it leaves out.
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