federal funding

Content tagged with "federal funding"

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Starlink, Caps, and Consumer Concerns - Episode 621 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, Christopher Mitchell is joined by freelance reporter Karl Bode to discuss pressing broadband issues, including the practicality and limitations of Starlink for rural areas, challenges with current broadband policy, and the ongoing efforts to ensure affordable access.

They explore the impact of recent political discussions on broadband funding, misunderstandings around satellite Internet’s role in rural connectivity, and why affordability remains a crucial barrier. They also delve into FCC initiatives, such as the investigation of data caps and new broadband “nutrition labels,” aimed at transparency in pricing and services.

Their conversation underscores the importance of consumer-centric policies and the need for regulatory action to break monopolistic control in the broadband market.

This show is 42 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

Ry Marcattilio

on Wed Aug 7, 2024

On July 24, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 9-7 that the Universal Service Fund is unconstitutional.

The decision throws a whole raft of federal broadband programs - including those which help schools pay for connectivity, those which help homes pay for home Internet access, and more - into a state of uncertainty.

All signs point to a stop at the Supreme Court for final ruling on the future of the program. On the most recent episode of the Connect This! Show, hosts Christopher Mitchell (ILSR) and Travis Carter (USI Fiber) were joined by regular guests Doug Dawson (CCG Consulting) and Kim McKinley (UTOPIA Fiber) as well as special guest Casey Lide (Keller and Heckman Law Firm) to talk about the decision. They discuss the impact of the decision in the long-term, including how the USF fits into the jigsaw puzzle of federal broadband funding programs and what we can expect to see if the decision is upheld.

Watch the segment below.

Email us at [email protected] with feedback and ideas for the show.

Subscribe to the show using this feed or find it on the Connect This! page, and watch on LinkedIn, on YouTube Live, on Facebook live, or below.

In this episode of the podcast, Chris engages in a discussion with Lindsey Skolnik, Project Manager for the California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE). They delve into the critical efforts of CADE to close the digital divide in California, highlighting legislative and regulatory priorities aimed at achieving digital equity.

Lindsey shares the origins and mission of CADE, formed in May 2022 to advocate for digital equity at the state level. They discuss key initiatives such as the Middle Mile and Last Mile projects, Senate Bill 156, and the strategic allocation of $6 billion towards broadband infrastructure.

The conversation also covers the groundbreaking digital discrimination legislation making its way through the California legislature, focusing on the disparate impact standard and the importance of addressing outcomes over intent. Lindsey explains the significant progress of Assembly Bill 239 and the collaborative efforts with various partners to combat digital discrimination.

Furthermore, they explore the impact of the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, its budget challenges, and the latest updates on the project's progress. The discussion also touches on the Federal Funding Account's role in supporting new broadband investments, with insights into the application process and awarded projects.

Join us as we unpack the complexities and triumphs of advancing digital equity in California, aiming to create a future where all communities have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet.

This show is 35 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

A new report published today by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) reveals how the sovereignty of Tribal Nations and their own efforts to solve connectivity challenges on Tribal lands can be undermined by the poor design and maze of bureaucracy associated with some federal broadband programs.

The report – Native Nations and Federal Telecom Policy Failures: Lessons from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund [pdf] –shows how even as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) takes over administration of the largest federal funding programs and re-situates Tribal closer to where they belong, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues its long-standing practice of scant engagement and infrequent consultation, complicating the terrain and stymieing Tribal efforts to close the digital divide in Indian Country.

Completed in December 2020, the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction underscores the pernicious consequences of federal policy. While the report begins with a real-life example of how Tribal nations now working to build their own broadband networks can be blindsided by bureaucratic neglect and non-Tribal ISPs, it goes on to detail why the FCC’s approach to broadband funding has fostered tension between providers and Tribal ISPs, and why RDOF has earned a particularly bad reputation among many Tribes.

The report also examines how RDOF impacts the roll-out of the federal government’s major broadband infrastructure funding program known as BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment), which is being administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Read Native Nations and Federal Telecom Policy Failures: Lessons from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund [pdf].

Jessica Auer

on Mon Aug 5, 2024

The report – Native Nations and Federal Telecom Policy Failures: Lessons from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund [pdf] – begins with a startling example of how one Tribe learned about the plans of a major fiber Internet provider to serve “a handful of locations in the heart of the Tribal Reservation.”

Authored by Dr. Jessica Auer, Tribal Broadband Policy Analyst with ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks initiative, the report captures the pernicious consequences of a program that was supposed to help bring high-speed Internet service to rural communities who lacked access:

A non-Tribal telecommunications company had received federal funding to build broadband infrastructure on Tribal lands without consent, had appeared to shirk required federal Tribal engagement requirements, had ignored the Tribe’s attempt to raise concerns about it, and now seemed to be expecting to dictate what would happen next.

While the report begins with a real-life example of how Tribal nations now working to build their own broadband networks can be blindsided by bureaucratic neglect and non-Tribal ISPs, it goes on to detail why the FCC’s approach to broadband funding has fostered tension between providers and Tribal ISPs, and why RDOF has earned a particularly bad reputation among many Tribes.

“Some recent federal broadband programs do actually require ISPs to secure Tribal consent prior to receiving funds,” Auer says. “But, the FCC still has not adopted this approach. The problems outlined in this report reinforce the need for such a requirement.”

In this episode of the podcast, Chris speaks again with Sean Gonsalves on recent developments in broadband infrastructure, focusing on efforts in California and Massachusetts to address digital equity and expand access to high-speed internet.

Sean and Chris discuss the California Public Utilities Commission's recent awards from the Federal Fund Account aimed at building last-mile fiber networks in cities like Oakland, San Francisco, and Fremont. These awards are significant for underserved communities and highlight the importance of public ownership in major cities. Sean provides insights into San Francisco's Fiber to Housing program, which aims to connect 30,000 affordable housing units to high-speed internet by leveraging the city's municipal fiber network.

The conversation also covers Massachusetts' broadband funding, including unexpected outcomes like substantial funding for Verizon and its implications for municipal broadband projects. They discuss the challenges cities face with the BEAD program and emphasize the need for creative public-private partnerships to solve connectivity issues.

This show is 39 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris speaks with Eric Sasaki, Manager of Major Programs for the Internal Services Department at the County of Los Angeles. They delve into the ambitious efforts by Los Angeles County to address digital equity and broadband access for its diverse and populous communities.

Eric shares insights on the county's vision for solving the digital divide, highlighting the historical context of infrastructure investments, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the strategic use of federal funding from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act.

The discussion covers the county's innovative approaches, including the deployment of community wireless networks and the importance of public-private partnerships. Eric also emphasizes the county's commitment to affordability, multilingual support, and collaboration with cities and community-based organizations.

Tune in to learn about the significant strides being made to ensure quality, affordable internet access for all residents of Los Angeles County.

This show is 38 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

In this episode of the podcast, Chris speaks with Jade Piros de Carvalho, the former head of the Kansas Office of Broadband Development. They delve into the complexities and challenges of addressing the digital divide, reflecting on Jade’s experience leading the office during a period of significant investment in broadband infrastructure.

Jade shares her journey from working in rural broadband expansion to being tasked with overseeing a historic influx of funding aimed at improving broadband access in Kansas. They discuss the multifaceted nature of broadband deployment, the importance of community-driven solutions, and the hurdles encountered, including navigating federal guidelines, local policies, and the practicalities of fiber deployment in underserved areas.

The conversation also touches on the personal and professional challenges of public sector work, the scrutiny faced by public officials, and the intense workload required to meet ambitious broadband goals. Jade highlights the critical role of collaboration and support in achieving lasting impact and her commitment to ensuring that broadband initiatives benefit Kansans for decades to come.kan

This show is 32 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.

Transcript below.

We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.

Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license

Sean Gonsalves

on Wed Mar 15, 2023

The White House, in coordination with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Commerce Department, has kicked off a major push to get more of the estimated 52 million eligible households across the nation to take advantage of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Established with the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law, the ACP provides a $30 monthly subsidy for qualified low-income households to pay for home Internet service, as well as a one-time $100 subsidy to help pay for an Internet-connected device. (Eligible households on Tribal land get a $75/month subsidy).

The FCC recently announced $66 million in grant awards to help states boost ACP enrollment, which has come to be seen as being notoriously complicated among those working in the field.

And on Monday, the White House hosted a webinar with three national nonprofit organizations to announce the launch of an “Online for All” campaign aimed at helping more families enroll with what they called “user-friendly tools” and digital navigator support for community organizations and state governmental entities.

Call to Boost Anemic ACP enrollment

The nationwide push to get more ACP-eligible households enrolled in the program comes because, even a year after the ACP was first established, only “16 million (of 52 million) households are participating. We need to double down on that. We need your help more than ever,” one White House official told digital equity advocates and Internet service providers invited to Monday’s webinar.

Sean Gonsalves

on Wed Jan 18, 2023

As we head into the holiday break, we present you with a bit of commentary made possible by a practical gift created by our GIS and Data Visualization Specialist Christine Parker.

You can read about it in The Daily Yonder, who published our piece on the challenge process for the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) new Broadband Availability Map.

It details why it’s important to make the map as accurate as possible and points readers to Christine’s short videos and PDF walk-through guide on how to file a challenge.

You can find it here.

Happy Holidays!

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federal funding

Content tagged with "federal funding"

Starlink, Caps, and Consumer Concerns - Episode 621 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

What Happens Now That the Fifth Circuit Has Ruled the Universal Service Fund is Unconstitutional?

Inside CADE's Mission to Closing California's Digital Divide - Episode 611 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

Native Nations and Federal Telecom Policy Failures: Lessons from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

New Report: Native Nations and Federal Telecom Policy Failures: Lessons from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

California and Massachusetts' Road to Digital Equity - Episode 609 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

Bridging the Digital Divide in LA County - Episode 608 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

From Zero to 600 Million: Tackling Broadband Development In Kansas - Episode 605 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast

Nationwide Push to Address ACP Anemia

Daily Yonder: Do You Really Have the Broadband the FCC Thinks You Have?