FOCUS Broadband’s Post

Expanding Connectivity through the Value of Collaboration   TxDOT’s collaboration with the Texas Comptroller's Broadband Development Office (BDO) has been key for building relationships with broadband providers and other public entities. This allowed TxDOT to establish an agency broadband program to advance the broadband infrastructure across the entire state to bridge the digital divide, benefiting both TxDOT and all Texans. Faster data sharing leads to:  - better traffic management  - shorter commute times  - enhanced public transportation schedules   - better economic opportunities for rural areas Learn more about: - TxDOT Broadband Program: https://lnkd.in/g9evgQEv - Texas Comptroller's BDO: https://lnkd.in/gV3-RZ6f What other benefits do you see coming from broadband upgrades across Texas?  #BroadbandForAll #PublicService #InternetAccess #TxDOT  

Today, Vernonburg Group updated its Broadband Funding Optimization Tool with the FCC's January 2024 Broadband Data Collection release. In addition to allowing users to manipulate data with sliders and see how that impacts broadband funding availability, the tool also now allows users to compare data from different time periods and see how funding needs change over time. The latest data shows that the number of unserved and underserved locations in the US continues to decline thanks to the deployment of high-speed fiber and fixed wireless networks. This means that more BEAD infrastructure funds can be freed up for broadband deployments, as well as for digital equity programming. The tool continues to demonstrate that states and territories can achieve Internet for All, as envisioned in the bipartisan federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, by setting a reasonable upper per-location limit on what they are willing to spend on fiber builds, using a mix of fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite technologies, and freeing up sufficient funds for connecting community anchor institutions and providing digital equity programs. #broadband #infrastructure #digitalequity #digitalinclusion #internetforall #NTIA #FCC #IIJA #BEAD https://lnkd.in/eH_xDS3G

One of the latest federal efforts to increase internet access nationwide is taking place in New York. The ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program is backed by $288.2 million in federal funding and will provide grants allowing new fiber to be installed across thousands of properties in the Empire State. https://hubs.la/Q02jwxdJ0 Atkore - United Poly Systems is committed to helping bridge the digital divide by providing the essential tools for broadband infrastructure and expansion. Read more about the role of our HDPE conduit in these efforts here: https://hubs.la/Q02jwvZt0 #InternetAccess #DigitalEquity #DigitalDivide #BroadbandExpansion #InternetForAll #HDPEConduit #Atkore #UnitedPolySystems #BuildingBetterTogether

Check out the first paper we've published this year! There is so much on the line around the billions of $$ flowing into broadband investment. With a mix of local, federal, private and philanthropic support, it's essential to understand how partnerships can play a role in connecting #municipalresources, #anchorinstitutions, and the #unconnected. #scc24

"Vermont's broadband expansion receives national recognition" reads the Claremont, NH's Eagle Times' June 15, 2024 headline. "A new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Benton Institute for Broadband & Society gives a detailed and glowing review of Vermont’s Communications Union District (CUD) model of meeting the challenges of rural broadband. The 50-page report describes the history of the struggle for reliable internet service and shows how CUDs have become the solution. It starts with the state’s first CUD, ECFiber, and then profiles the nine CUDs that followed. CUD leaders, state officials, and VCBB Board Members were interviewed for the report, which also serves as a guide and suggests that other states or countries could benefit from a similar approach to rural broadband." Read the entire article with quotes from local officials. https://lnkd.in/enHx-QXd #ECFiber #CUDs #Vermont #localbroadband #communityowned

The Wyoming Broadband Office published helpful resources + opened a portal to pre-register to make challenges to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. BEAD provides federal funds to support broadband infrastructure grants to Wyoming providers. Learn more and pre-register at wbc.pub/BEAD #wyconnected #broadband #infrastructure #federalfunding #challengeprocess #portalopen #preregister #internetforall

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Jessica Rosenworcel proposed relaunching a rural wireless broadband plan which would distribute up to $9 billion for 5G in underserved areas of the US. The 5G Fund for Rural America was unveiled by the FCC in 2019, but Rosenworcel stated the new plan would be based on more granular data from the agency’s improved national broadband coverage map, which indicates more than 14 million homes and businesses in rural areas lacking 5G coverage. In 2020, the FCC agreed rules to create the 5G Fund for Rural America by using a reverse auction process to allocate $9 billion from its Universal Service Fund, but decided to wait until the new broadband maps were created. For more on this proposal, via Mobile World Live, click here: https://bit.ly/3PCwIXX #RuralAmerica #telecommunications #FederalCommunicationsCommission

Fiber is good for you. But we're only really qualified to talk about your fiber needs when it comes to high speed Internet. EnerTribe can help your tribe work through the pros and cons of fiber, wireless, and everything in-between! Take a look at our existing resources and articles over at EnerTribe.com/blog. #enertribe #broadband #broadbandresources #indiancountry

Wondering whether to pursue #BEAD funding? With the current landscape, this might be your best shot at securing crucial US #broadband infrastructure funds. Dive into our VP of Broadband Policy and Funding Lori Adams' insights in her latest article featured on Broadband Breakfast for guidance on whether to BEAD or not to BEAD. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dfshVwBu

Earlier today, AT&T was selected by the state of California to expand AT&T Fiber to nearly 7,500 residential and business locations in Riverside, San Bernardino and San Mateo Counties as part of a $30 million public-private project to help bridge the digital divide. We will also invest additional private capital for the project’s costs in each of the three counties. We are extremely excited about this public-private partnership opportunity to continue to work with the state and local leaders to deploy broadband to home and businesses to help close the digital divide. We are looking forward to bringing our fast, reliable, and affordable fiber broadband network to parts of these counties. Today, more than 3.23 million residential and business locations have access to AT&T Fiber in urban and rural communities across California and we are continuing to expand in other parts of California through our own investments and in public-private projects just like this one. https://lnkd.in/gTjPGq4A