broadband

NTCA, the Rural Broadband Association, said it is pleased that the Supreme Court announced it would review a decision from the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court regarding the federal Universal Service Fund.  Specifically, the nation’s highest court will look into the constitutionality of the mechanism for contributions to the Universal Service Fund.     “The...

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin as well as Iowa's Joni Ernst recently announced their “Access to Capital Creates Economic Strength and Supports Rural America Act” unanimously passed in the Senate.  The ACCESS Act expands rural broadband access by easing the burden of regulatory costs for smaller broadband providers that rural communities rely on.  Baldwin said access...

Money is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act to expand broadband access in Oregon.  Nick Batz, Director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said there are more proposals than the money will cover.   "We received 63 applications totaling $440 million.  So, highly c...

Earlier this week, southwest Washington representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez announced that $4,881,150 has been secured in USDA Community Connect Program funds to expand rural broadband in west Lewis County.  With the funding, Lewis County PUD will deploy 47.3 miles o...

October was National Cooperative Month, giving many across the nation an opportunity to see the intricate part the cooperative model plays in the nation’s economy, particularly in rural America.   “Whether you belong to a credit union, you get electricity in a rural area, or even if you drink milk or eat candy that has sugar from sugarbeets, you’re probably benefiting from a cooperative.”   Under

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says his agency is providing $759 million to improve internet access for people living and working in 24 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Palau.  The investments include funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provides $65 billion to help expand reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access to communities across the United States.   “...

USDA will invest $7 million in a rural Clackamas County internet provider, with the hopes of providing broadband service to 500 unserved households.  USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh made the announcement Tuesday at Clear Creek Communications.   “...

On Thursday, the USDA awarded $502 million in loans and grants to provide high-speed internet access for rural residents and businesses in 20 states.  USDA is making the investments through the third funding round of the ReConnect Program.   ...

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is accepting applications for its ReConnect Program loans and grants to expand access to high-speed internet for millions of people in rural America.  The agency is making over $1 billion available for the program, a critical piece of the effort to connect every American to affordable and reliable high-speed internet.  ...

Broadband, soil health, and rail service are all topics before the House Ag Committee this week as the House returns from summer recess.  Broadband and soil health practices are before the full Ag panel, while rail service is in front of a pair of House subcommittees, though broadband, part of the Farm Bill, is probably the highest-profile of the three issues.  Congres...